South AustraliaFirst Postage Stamp

It all began with the 2 pence

South Australia's first postage stamps were introduced in 1855, but not in the order most collectors expect. While many assume the 1 penny came first, it was actually the 2 pence carmine that entered circulation on 1 January 1855. The 1 penny and 6 pence followed in late October, completing the colony's first issue. Printed by Perkins, Bacon & Co. in London and engraved by William Humphreys, the stamps featured Queen Victoria's familiar side portrait. Line engraved, imperforate, and printed on distinctive Star watermarked paper, they set the standard for South Australia's earliest postal issues. Forgeries do exist. One useful identification point is the background: genuine stamps always show two small diamonds in the pattern directly above the first "S" and the final "A" of "SOUTH AUSTRALIA". While I think this detail should not be used on its own to authenticate a stamp, it is a well-known characteristic of genuine examples. An interesting footnote to the story is the 1 shilling violet. Although 500,000 were printed and shipped to the colony, it was never issued because its colour was considered too similar to the 6 pence blue. Almost the entire consignment was destroyed, leaving the surviving examples among South Australia's greatest philatelic rarities.