This joint stamp issue between Australia and Papua New Guinea, a first between the two nations, commemorates the heroic stand by Australian soldiers against an enemy force during WWII.

These five stamps depict the relationship forged between the two nations from the Kokoda Campaign of 1942. Two stamps portray the difficult conditions and the close bonds forged through adversity. Another shows the memorial at Isurava, while the final two stamps reveal relationships today through the eyes of veterans and travellers.

To mark the 60th anniversary of Kokoda, a memorial was built at Isurava, where the Australian soldiers had temporarily halted the Japanese advance. The memorial is centred on a tablet inscribed with the following words: “In remembrance of those Australians and Papua New Guineans who fought and those who died on the Kokoda Track 1942″. It is surrounded by four Australian black granite plinths, each of which is inscribed with one of the following words: “courage”, “endurance”, “mateship” and “sacrifice”.

Issue Highlights
This special joint stamp issue includes a prestige booklet with a unique combination of stamps, a decorative gutter showing images of the Pacific medal and a medallion. The issue also includes a joint first day cover, a joint stamp pack containing both the Papua New Guinea and Australian stamps..

Technical Details

Issue date: 20 April 2010
Issue withdrawal date: 31 October 2010
FDI withdrawal date: 18 May 2010
Denominations: 4 x 55c, 1 x $1.45
Stamp design: Brian Clinton
Product design: Lynette Traynor
Printer: McKellar
Paper (gummed): Tullis Russell
Paper (s/a): B90
Printing process: Lithography
Stamp size: 26mm x 37.5mm
Minishett size: 160mm x 90mm
Perforations: 13.86 x 14.6
Sheet layout: Sheets of 50
National postmark: Kingsbury, VIC 3083

published February 21st, 2010