Week (Brisbane, Qld.), Friday 8
September 1899, page 3
New Postage Stamp. Half-penny
Issue. Design Deferred Back for Improvement.
The half-penny
postage stamp in use in Queensland has not given satisfaction particularly
because of the smallness or indistinctness of figures, and also because of the
smallness in size as compared with other postage stamps. A design for a new
stamp has been prepared at the lithographic and stamp printing branch of the
Government Printing Office, under the direction of J. T. Costin, the officer in
charge. In this instance the work has not been done from the drawing of Mr. McKellar,
by the aid of engraving, but by electrotyping process work, for which Mr. Smallman
was responsible. Who is responsible for the design we are not aware, but it
will be generally conceded that it has not satisfied the artistic sense, and
that the lettering might with advantage be sharper and clearer. The best
feature in the design is the boldness of the price or denomination. It is
understood that the design has been referred back by the postal authorities for
improvement.
