Acsc 343 Tasman Flight Commemorative - Plate/Inscription Block.

This is a block which should not exist:



APO stopped making inscription blocks available in 1952 as the demand for these meant that a lot of orphaned stamps were left unsold. This, apparently, created an accounting problem. The sole exception to this, according to ACSC is 266z - the 2/6 aborigine issue, originally printed under KGVI - for which there was an emergency reprinting in 1956.

ACSC list neither plate block, nor inscription blocks for this issue. It is also a bit unusual for me in that it is the only inscription block I have that says "Printed by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia / Note Printing Branch", and has a plate number in addition to the inscription.

Can anyone comment of this unusual item?

It is the New Zealand issue of the same design as the Australian issue.

In regard to the imprint on the 2'6 Aborigine, the emergency ssue was 1965 (not 1956 as you have typed). The old printing plates (with imprint attached) were pulled out of storage for emergency use.

As theses are NZ stamps they would not be listed in the ACSC as it caters only for Australian stamps. NZ issued the stamp in 1958 at the same time Australia issued its twin.

Imprints ceased to exist when Elizabeth became Queen, as this is a NZ issue, it may have been added to reprints to celebrate an anniversary. I have a friend who is versed in NZ issues, I have sent a copy of the image to him.

Rob

wow, is my face red. I guess I was running on autopilot

He he he. We all do it.

You may say that, but I could not possibly comment.