Australia 2005 Rotary stamp sheetlet of 10 IMPERFORATE and individually numbered.  Only 10,500 ever printed.

The sleeper official issue of the past decade.  Indeed of the entire Decimal era for Australia.  Sold openly at face value at the huge "Pacific Explorer" International Exhibition in April 2005, and thereafter by Australia Post Philatelic Sales mail order until stock was exhausted. 

There was a strict limit of 3 copies per customer.  The same design perforated sheetlet sold in the usual large new issue number, and via national Post Offices – but even those are in strong demand due to global “Rotary” topical buyers. 

Australia Post did NOT publicise anywhere in advance that these IMPERFORATES would be individually numbered, nor were they even illustrated or noted on their website as being numbered, or even during the Exhibition.  The numbering appears to have been a very last moment decision.

These are first numbered stamp items Australia Post had ever issued and sold at face value in the near century since the first Kangaroo stamps in 1913 - either perforated or imperforate.  (The expensive 1970 'Anpex' sheet was not sold by Australia Post, nor sold at face value, and there were 50,000 sold.)

Being on open sale at face value from Australia Post counters and for a short time via mail order means they will be listed and priced in major world stamp catalogues.  And spaces are made for these in major hingeless album supplements - local and overseas brands.  This is MOST important.  Stanley Gibbons will only list stamps (a) sold at face value (b) freely available for sale from the issuing country.

The huge bonus for their future is that masses of countries worldwide have also issued stamps for the 100th Anniversary of Rotary.  I understand this Australia Post numbered sheet is the 'Key' to the entire worldwide omnibus set.

There are 1.3 million Rotary members worldwide, so if only .1% of them buy the stamp issue as a souvenir and it stays off the market for years, no more will be on the Australian market for future collectors at any price. 

Large USA stamp dealers have secured most of the stamp trade supply of this issue to assemble "Omnibus" collections for Rotary 2005 - which are proven to be surprisingly popular.

I feel nearly all copies sold were to visitors to the Exhibition, who will not sell.  10,500 is a tiny number globally to have made.  The balance have gone to mail order sales from AP Philatelic, and to overseas dealers and collectors assembling complete Omnibus sets.

A colleague and I have scoured the stamp market to obtain a small MUH supply of this issue.  These are offered STRICTLY SUBJECT UNSOLD.  We reserve the right to adjust the price at any time.

I wrote about a USA 2005 new issue that went from $20 to about $2000 within 3 months of being issued - www.glenstephens.com/snoctober05.html  So do not miss these kind of items whilst prices are still affordable and have not skyrocketed! 

I only have a small number, and when they are sold I'll remove this offer, so order fast if you need these is my advice.