Heavy posting and thoughtful franking

Just to prove that it isn't hard to come up with thoughtful commercial franking when posting heavy parcels.

Here is a block of four of the recently issued Ten Dollar Kangaroo and Map stamp, issued as part of the Australia 2013 International Stamp Show.

The heavy parcel presented a great opportunity to use these in a block of four as the price for the postage came in at a touch just under forty dollars.

Nicely centered, clean postmark and sent to the recipient as "full gum" - but most definitely not CTO (Cancelled To Order) as this has seen genuine postal use carrying its heavy contents from Western Australia to Queensland.

So next time you have to send a heavy parcel, please say no to the counter printed labels and ask kindly for real stamps. Who knows, maybe we will see more commercial uses of stamps like this beauty !

Some modern covers arrived this week

Here is a selection of covers that I have received in the mail this last week - all of them utilising recent issue sheet stamps.

First up is the Coronation Issue - a large format stamp with a very attractive design. In addition to the 60c letter rate stamp, a $2.60 International rate stamp was also issued along with a miniature sheet and special sheetlet of 10 stamps.

Commemorating the first banknote - released at the Australia 2013 Stamp Exhibition - another use of the large format, this time in the upright, vertical position. There was also a $2.60 International rate stamp issued and a miniature sheet. 

Australia - Israel Joint Issue Stamp - there was also a $2.60 International rate stamp issued.

The 60c letter rate stamp from the Pardalotes Stamp Issue. Issued in a set of four, the other values are $1.20, $1.80 and $3.00

And lastly, one of my favorite issues this year so far is the Fishes of Christmas Island. Also in this series is another 60c letter rate stamp along with the $1.20 and $1.80 values. 

It's nice to see current day commemorative stamps being used and especially sheet stamps as opposed to peel & stick.