The leading edge technology debuted March 19th at the massive "Australia 99" World Stamp Expo in Melbourne Australia. A very large crowd attended what was possibly the large attendence show worldwide in 1999. (See last magazine for complete details.)

Collectors and dealers were able to buy blocks of 10 domestic letter rate 45˘ "Polly Woodside" ship thematics issued specially for the exhibition, printed with their photo alongside. The regular issue 45˘ "Polly Woodside" stamps have an unusual perforated, gummed, vertical "tab" to the side of the design, one half the regular stamp size, each bearing the "Australia 99" Koala Bear logo.

Special sheetlets 10 of these stamp were printed with this fully perforated design tab totally blank, alongside the 45˘ ship stamp. A secret trial campaign spanning several months allowed full colour photo images of a person or persons to be rapidly printed upon this blank "stamplike" tab.

YOUR FACE ON A STAMP

The most remarkable part of the issue is that Australia Post waived the usual rule that only official standard design postage stamps are postally valid in Australia. For example, a normal non-postal coloured label, charity seal, or stamplike "cinderella" will not be deliberately be hand cancelled by Australia Post staff, this being against regulations.

These "personalized" tabs were decreed to be 100% postally valid whilst still attached to the 45˘ "Polly Woodside" stamps, and were thus eligible to be hand postmarked with any official postmark, or even passed through the regular mails, where a machine postmark is normally applied. Postally used examples dated March would be very nice items to seek out, and will one day be worth good money if kept on cover.

Readers who obtained a sheet or sheets can use them on Registered, Insured or even overseas mail as single units, or in multiples of any size up to 10 units. ($A4.50). Think how great they would be to send out your Christmas cards! Note that the photo labels must at all times remain affixed to the 45˘ stamp to be postally valid.

The personalized "real photo" stamps could of course have been affixed on March 19 to Post Office First Day Covers and cancelled quite legally at the show, making them one of the most amazing FDC’s in any reader's album. It adds new meaning to that quaint American term "socked on the nose" cancels!

David Maiden, National manager of Australia Post Philatelic Division told me today: "we are very excited to have pioneered a totally different type of stamp onto the world market".

Maiden continued: "Australia 99" was the largest stamp exhibition ever held in the southern hemisphere, and it is expected to be the largest philatelic event worldwide during 1999. We really wanted to offer something special to show our leading edge technology to the world."

I asked David whether he can envisage these items being offered by mail order in the months after "Australia 99". Perhaps produced by collectors posting in colour photographs for scanning. He replied: "we have no firm position on that right now. We will see what kind of response we get in the ensuing months after the "Australia 99" debut, and take that as a pointer to whether we proceed any further with this novel concept. I will keep collectors advised on our position. We seek the views of your readers as to whether they want to buy this type of product."

HOW WAS IT DONE?

For the technically minded, here is how state-of-the-art modern technology made these unique stamp items possible. The cost of the trials and software, and special stamp print runs must have ran way into a 6 figure sum. I think Australia Post are to be congratulated on beating the Americans and Europeans and better still, the Japanese to this end product.

Collectors stood in front of one of several expensive digital cameras on site at "Australia 99". Their personalized image or "photograph" was captured using an expensive Agfa digital camera. This digital image was then processed through customized software using a new range of iMacs supplied by Design Wyse.

After graphic manipulation, the image was printed digitally in sharp full colour by a Fuji Xerox Docucolor model 40/40. The image was printed upon the conventionally pre-printed and perforated gummed stamps, thus giving the recipient a block of valid postage stamps bearing their own likeness.

Extensive trials of this exciting process were conducted over recent months by the Australia Post owned Sprintpak, and Excel Digital, a design reproduction company located in Melbourne Australia.

Michael Laurence, publisher of Linn's Stamp News said in his editorial March 1, that 15 years ago he felt the computer was a threat to our hobby, but now felt it was leading us into a golden age. He also said "we live in exciting times" and this new innovation certainly bears this comment out! I posted Michael a few examples for his files.

WHAT DID IT COST?

What did all this technology cost the collector or dealer waiting in line, and how long did it take to print out the stamps?? At "Australia 99" World Stamp Expo March 19-24, collectors were invited to use one of 4 cameras able to deliver this new technology.

Cost was $10 for each personalized sheet of 10 x 45˘ stamps, along with their own color photo on each attached perforated "tab". There was a maximum 5 sheets supplied per person, i.e. 50 "photo stamps" in total.

The same photo image appeared on each of the 10 stamps - there were no changes of pose possible within each sheet. Collectors or dealers could of course choose to go back in line and strike other poses, or pose alongside a friend or family member - the photos allowed two persons posing together within each "tab".

Australia Post claimed that the photographic image was transferred and printed "in less than one minute". A humorous notation was made in the instructions that were handed to each potential stamp subject, after advising them that they took "no responsibility for any person’s personal presentation".

The notation read : "Anyone deliberately making inappropriate gestures during photography will automatically forfeit their order and a refund will not be provided".

Use your imagination as to what MAY have happened, but I did not hear of any photos getting confiscated, so presumably everyone behaved themselves!