Starting with the first meter in 1927 Australia used licence numbers rather than meter numbers in a complex series of steps:
1st series (1927): A1-A9 through Z1–Z9
2nd series (1930): 10–999
3rd series (1949): A10-A99 through Z10-Z99
4th series (1956): AA1-AZ9 through ZA1-ZZ9
5th series (1966): 10A-99A through 10Z-99Z
6th series (1969): 2A1-2Z9 through 9A1-2Z9
Since 1969 manufacturer-assigned meter numbers began replacing the licence numbers in the stamps. The meter number with prefix can resemble a licence number, and the two can be confused. Additionally, many meters with licence numbers also show a manufacturer’s prefix.
Licence numbers are occasionally found colorless on a solid ground. This variety is not recognised in the listings. Other varieties worth noting but which are not catalogued are:
• TM varieties such as inverts, negative lettering
• TMs containing “RELIEF” indicating a meter on loan while a customer’s machine is being serviced
• TMs containing “TRIAL” indicating a meter in live testing
• TMs containing “DATE POSTED” instead of a town name
• Meter numbers boxed or unboxed
• £sd value figures with capital or lower case pence indicator (D/d) with or without a dot below
• Variable size digits in the F/V on fixed value (FV) and limited value (LV) machines
• Date with month in letters, Arabic digit, or Roman numeral
The stamps are grouped according to appearance and usage:
A – Upright rectangle with straight-line frame
B – Curved ribbon frame
C – Flag inside wide rectangle with simulated perforation frame
D – Straight-line frame containing large map of country
E – Frameless rectangle with pictorial design at left
F – Frameless rectangle with flowers at sides
G – Wide rectangle with kangaroo design and straight or dashed-line frame or with-out frame
H – Square with simulated perforation frame
I – Horizontal rectangle with straight-line frame
J – Square with herringbone pattern at sides
K – Square frank made up of mostly horizontal lines
L – Horizontal frameless frank with Koala bear
M – Designs containing a data matrix field (2D barcode)
PO – Special stamps for Post Office use
X – Early experimental stamps
The country converted from Sterling (£sd) to decimal currency on 1 October 1965.
NOTES: Variable rate Post office stamps with pre-printed animal designs were introduced in 1993. The stamps do not include a post office ID or a date. They are not covered in this catalogue.
For specialised information about the meter stamps of Australia, see History of the Franking Machine in Australia, by Richard Peck, Australian Postage Label & Meter Catalogue, by Richard Peck, Collect Meter Stamps, Part 1 and Part 2, by Richard Peck, Profiles of Australian Franking Machines and Postage Meters a CD publication by Richard Peck, and Handbuch der Australischen Absenderfreistempel und Machinen by Heinz Bossert.
GROUP A: Upright to nearly square frank with straight-line outer border and separate circular TM
Kangaroo in centre. ID# with boxed “N” and later “VE”, “VX”, and "WA" prefixes.
TM: DC, SC
£sd Values: 1d to 2/-
£sd Values: 4/-, 6/- [Very rare]
Decimal Values: 01 to 25
a. Kangaroo and ID# "N" removed. Value moved up to central position and box removed. One meter only, Licence number GG8.
b. Without box around "N" prefix
c. With a small segment of simulated perforations below the value figure. These appear on stamps with "WA" prefix that had British type value figures. They are known used between 1959 and 1965.
B2. Neopost “Frankmaster” (MV), 1956.
Sheep at top centre, outline of country at bottom centre.
Licence number with “RN” prefix.
A. Sheep and country outlined
B. Sheep and country solid (Licence number “RN BE3” only) [Uncommon]
C. As A, but without inner box around the value figures
£sd V/F: =0/0=
Decimal V/F: ·00 0·00 =0·00
NOTE: Spacing between frank and TM can vary due to slippage as the mail item passes through the machine.
B3. Roneo Neopost “205” (MV), 1963.
As Type B2 but smaller frank.
“NE” prefix at left.
TM: BIC with tall, narrow date figures
£sd V/F: ’0 —
Decimal V/F: 0.00
a. With slogan in different color from the frank
B4. Roneo Neopost “205” (MV).
As Type B3 but value figures partially or completely boxed.
A. Meter number with “NE” prefix
B. Meter number with “RN” prefix
TM: BIC, SC
£sd V/F: ’0 —
Decimal V/F: .00 .00 0.00 0 00
a. With slogan in different color from the frank
B5. Roneo Neopost “105” (LV-10), 1965.
Very similar to Type B4 but narrower frank.
“N” and later “X” prefix at left. Date figures short.
TM: DC
£sd Values: 1d to 2/1
Decimal Values: 01 to 25
a. Military stamp, with “NAVAL P.o.” in the town mark
Type B6 has been relisted as Variety B1a as it is a modified LV8 machine and not a Model 105
GROUP C: Flag design inside wide rectangle with simulated perforation outer border
POSTAGE PAID AUSTRALIA at bottom left. Impressions may include a service indicator, e.g. "PRIORITY", below the value and above the date.
NOTE: Inkjet versions of these stamps appear occasionally as half (top or bottom) impressions due to one inkjet malfunctioning". This variety can occur with most of the types listed.
MB1.1 Neopost “SM26” (digital), 1999.
Meter number with “2060” or “2070” prefix vertical at right of data field.
TM: SL
V/F: 00.00o
MB1.2. Neopost “IJ25”, "IJ35", "IJ40" and "IJ45" (digital), 2001.
As type MB1.1 but the value figures and town line are closer to the 2D data field.
Meter number with “2040”, "2050", "8030" or "8040" prefix.
TM: SL
V/F: 00.00o
MB1.3. Neopost “IJ65”, "IJ70", "IJ80", "IJ90" and "IJ110" (digital), 2000.
A. Data field with simulated perforation outer frame line with small break in the middle of each side
B. Without the outer frame line
Meter number with “2080” or "8090" prefix.
TM: SL
V/F: 00.00o 000.00o
MB2.1. Francotyp-Postalia “T1000” and "OptiMail" (digital), 2000.
Data field as with Types MB1.1 and 1.2.
Value figures heavier than on Types MB1 and 2.
Meter number normally with “FT1” or "FT2" prefix, but a few machines were assigned "ET1" or "ET2" prefixes.
Very similar in appearance to MB2.2 but with six bank value figures.
As shown in the image below, the machine can print an extended slogan much wider than the stamp.
A. PostBase model, Meter number with "MP6654" prefix
B. PostBase Mini model, Meter number with "MM74754 prefix
V/F: 000.00o
MB3. Frama (digital).
Value figures narrow and medium in height, 9 mm tall.
A. “EcoMail” model, Meter number with "1010" prefix
B. “OfficeMail” model,. Meter number with "1110" prefix
C. “MailMax” model, Meter number with "1220" prefix
D. “Matrix” model, Meter number with "131" and "141" prefix
V/F: 00.00o
MB4.1. Pitney Bowes “DM500”, "DM550", "DM800" and "DM900" (digital).
Value figures 11 mm tall.
Meter number with P1111 or "P1211" prefix.
V/F: 00.00o
MB4.2. Pitney Bowes “DM100/100i” or "DM100 series Enhanced" (digital).
As Type MB4.1 but Meter number with "P1715" or "P2551" prefix.
V/F: 00.00o
a. Printed in blue rather than red (P171503292 only)
NOTE: The area of Hutt River, population 23, seceded from Australia in 1970 and established The Principality of Hutt River. The Principality is not recognised by Australia or any other entity in the world. Although it issues its own stamps they are not valid anywhere and so the Hutt River Postal System must use Australian stamps to get anything mailed and delivered. Starting in 2016 they began using a postage meter with the slogan Royal Hutt River Postal System. The stamp from the meter is shown above. Hutt River is one of several so-called rogue territories in Australia that despite their pretence to being independent states appear to exist only out of crankiness and to sell souvenirs.
MB4.3. Pitney Bowes “DP100", "DP200" and "DP400" (digital).
Simulated perforation frame around data field.
Meter number with "P14" or "P15" prefix.
V/F: 00.00o
MB4.4. Pitney Bowes “K700" (digital).
As types MB4.1 and 4.2 but Meter number with "P1919" prefix.
V/F: 00.00o
MB4.5. Pitney Bowes "DM300" (digital).
Similar to Types MB4.1 and MB4.2 but Meter number with "P2331" prefix.
V/F: 00.00o
MB4.6. Pitney Bowes "Connect+" (digital).
As Type MB4.5 but the meter number height is same as the data matrix height.
Meter number with "P3011" prefix.
This is the first meter with Group MB frank allowing stamps with postage value of $100 and above.
The Connect+ model can print multi-colored slogans across the entire top of the envelope left of the frank.
V/F: 000.00o
NOTE: A company called Officeworks produced and sold packets of ten envelopes prepaid with dateless stamps from meter P301155230. Denominations known at this time are 60 cents, $1.20 and $1.80.
Sub-group MC: Horizontal data matrix at lower left
As Type PO10 but with koala bear and kangaroo replacing the brackets.
V/F: $0.00
PO12. Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) “A” (digital), 1991. [Uncommon]
Dotted bars at top and bottom of stamp. “AUSTRALIA” underlined
below top bar, “Postage Paid” above bottom bar. Postage value in red.
Printed by ink-jet on white tape with underprint design at sides.
V/F: $0.00 (red)
a. Value in black [Very scarce]
PO13. EPOS “Ezipost” (digital), 1992.
Similar to Type PO12 but with dashed lines instead of dotted bars at top and bottom.
“AUSTRALIA” not underlined. Value in gray-black instead of red.
Printed on tape with overall underprint in gray or pink or with underprint at the sides only.
A. “From” and post code below value figures
B. Weight and “to” destination country below value figures.
V/F: $0.00 $00.00
a. In purple instead of gray-black [Scarce]
b. With “GST Free” above value figures
PO14. “Postal Services Unit” (digital), 1995.
With dotted line at top and bottom as with Type PO13 but the top line has a 6-digit number at right.
Sequence of inscriptions between the dotted lines:
“POSTAGE PAID”/ post office name / “AUSTRALIA”/ value figures/ date, time, machine ID, transaction ID
V/F: 00¢ $00.00
NOTE: For this stamp with “CHRISTMAS ISLAND” above “AUSTRALIA”, see CHRISTMAS ISLAND.
PO15. EPOS (digital), 2008.
Unframed stamp on plain, white self-adhesive label with rounded corners.
Sequence of inscriptions from top: "AUSTRALIA" / post office name / value figures / weight and destination / machine ID, time, 4-digit postal code, single number code of uncertain meaning, and transaction ID / "Postage Paid"
A. Country name with or without mail class alone at top
B. With image of hand holding a stylus added at top centre (2013)
V/F: $0.00 $00.00
a. With bar code at left. Two types:
* Until June 2011, a generic barcode possibly identifying the origin or destination (shown)
* After June 2011, a tracking or registration barcode
b. Stamp generated at philatelic or public event showing name of the temporary show post office
c. "Additional Paid" rather than "Postage Paid"
NOTES:
On some stamps the weight can show as "xxxx". Also on some stamps an extra line line of text identifying extra services can be found. Known: Optional Extras, Express Post, Priority Letter
The stamp normally does not have a barcode. Shown is a stamp for registered mail that includes a barcode.
Although generated by a machine at the Post Office counter this stamp is nearly identical to stamps generated by self-serve kiosks within post offices. The differences between the stamps are very slight.
PO16. EPOS (digital).
One stamp seen appearing as a registration label except that it includes "This is not a receipt" and a postage value.
The two lines of text below "This is not a receipt" (at centre) are as follows:
"SAT" (for satchel), weight, value figures
13-digit code (tracking number / counter position / cumulative transaction number)
The country of origin is identified only in the value figure prefix of "AU".
machine ID, time and transaction ID/ "Postage Paid".
This stamp was used only on prepaid stationery sent overseas.
V/F: AU$00.00
NOTE: The stamp is reported to fade quickly.
PO17.1. EPOS (digital), 2013.
As Type PO15 but with replacement printer.
The text font is taller, and the arrangement of elements is slightly different.
A. With tracking or registration barcode at left
B. With square 2D barcode
C. Without barcode, blank on left side of label
V/F: $0.00 $00.00
a. Used in Norfolk Island
b. Without post office name below "AUSTRALIA" [appears to be rare]
PO17.2. EPOS (digital).
As Type PO17.1 but the value figures are thicker and wider.
A. With tracking or registration barcode at left
B. With square 2D barcode
C. Without barcode, blank on left side of label
D. Express Post stamp (This is the first digital PO meter stamp available for this service.)
V/F: $0.00 $00.00
a. With tracking number above the barcode (A, B, or D) and the article number below
PO18. EPOS (digital), 2016.
As Types PO15 and PO17 but the printing is of higher resolution with smooth diagonals to the letters and numbers.
The value figures are repositioned lower on the stamp, just above "Postage Paid" at the bottom.
Between the years 1903 and 1920 eight different types of franking machines were trialled in the cities of Brisbane, Melbourne, and Hobart. From all of these trials only a single stamp is known to exist in the marketplace. Most of the illustrations below are of drawings or proofs residing in the Australia Post archival collection. None of the stamps are priced since all but one are unlikely to exist or ever appear on the market.
X1. W. Hollinworth, May 1903.
Mr. William Haly Harpur Hollinworth invented a public coin-in-the slot stamp franking machine that was trialled in the Brisbane GPO from 8 May to 6 June 1903.
No examples of the stamp are known to exist. Shown is an image of a sheet that Hollinworth submitted to postal authorities during his negotiations with the Post Office Department. The actual stamp may be similar to one of the four ink-drawn designs on the sheet.
A Hollinworth machine was subsequently sent to New Zealand where it was further developed then trialled by Robert Wales. See New Zealand Types A4 and A5.
Value: 1d
X2. "Mr. Gray", November 1904.
The Tasmanian Patent Purchase Association proposed a public coin-in-the slot stamp franking machine that was developed by a "Mr. Gray."
Three different tests of the machine were made at the Hobart GPO as follows:
9-12 November 1904
23 November to 8 December 1904
30 March to 3 April 1905.
During the three tests approximately 500 to 600 articles of mail were franked.
Shown at left is an image of a proof in postal archives. Shown at right is a scan of a poor photocopy of an image of the stamp that appeared in a Premier Philatelic Auction catalogue in 2001. This is the only known postally used Group X stamp to have survived.
Value: 1d
X3. John Husband's "Automatic Letter and Newspaper Franker, November 1904.
Over the course of one and a half days, from 23 to 24 November 1904, a public coin-in-the slot stamp franking machine invented by Mr. Husband was trialled at the Melbourne GPO. No stamp, proof, or drawing of the stamp is known.
X4. J.A. Brown, December 1905.
From an unknown date in December 1905 to 10 January 1906 a public coin-in-the slot stamp franking machine invented by Mr. J.A. Brown was trialled at the Brisbane GPO. The only surving examples of the stamp are from a sheet with four proof impressions in the Australia Post archival collection.
Value: 1d
X5. Russell, Young and Butler, October 1906.
Starting on an unknown date in October 1906 and concluding after a "short period of use" a public coin-in-the slot stamp franking machine invented by Mr.'s Russell, Young and Butler was trialled at the Hobart GPO. No stamp, proof, or drawing of the stamp is known.
X6. Automatic Franking Machine Company "Model B" (Ernest Moss) of New Zealand, June 1908.
A meter design being used successfully in New Zealand was trialled in the Australia Department of External Affairs in Melbourne starting on 15 June 1908.
This machine was capable of printing five different postage values.
The trial lasted one month and ended probably on 15 July 1908. Although the trial was successful with the Department praising the machine, it was not approved for further use due to a legal technicality.
Although possibly hundreds of covers were franked by the machine during the trial, no examples are known to exist and no examples have been located in postal archives. The stamps are probably similar in appearance to New Zealand Type A9.
Values: ½d, 1d, 2d, 6d, 1/-
X7.1. R.J. Price and H.A. Beswicke, 26 May 1908.
Messrs. Price and Beswicke's public coin-in-the slot stamp franking machine was trialled at the Melbourne GPO on 26 May 1908. Possibly as many as a thousand pieces of mail were franked by the machine over the course of the day. The test was not continued on the next day possibly due to technical problems.
No examples of the stamp are known to exist. Shown is a drawing of the stamp along with a drawing of the machine itself.
Value: 1d
X7.2. R.J. Price and H.A. Beswicke, December 1908.
In early December 1908 an improved version of the Price and Beswicke machine was trialled for "a short period".
The stamp was completely different. Replacing the circlular design, the new frank resembles a machine postmark. It consists of four lines of unframed text (MELBOURNE / PAID 2D / time / date) with horizontal bars at the sides, short at left and long at right with "VICTORIA" embedded in the lines at right.
s with the first trial, this one probably lasted only a matter of hours. No actual examples of the frank are known to exist.
Value: 2d
X8. Automatic Franking Machine Company "Model D" (Ernest Moss) of New Zealand, 1920.
A meter from Moss's firm (see Type X6) was trialled again in 1920, this time in the Bulk Postage section of the Melbourne GPO.
The exact dates of the test are not known, nor are the number of stamp impressions generated during the trial. The scan is of a proof strip from Moss's company archives.