Beschreibung:

(x) Australian Commonwealth 1911 Stamp Design Competition In the absence of any satisfactory designs for the uniform stamps, the Postmaster-General, Josiah Thomas, announced that a public design competition would be held to obtain suitable designs. The official announcement, together with the rules of the competition, was made in the "Commonwealth Gazette" on 21 January 1911. The most important conditions were: 1) the designs should be submitted under a nom de plume; 2) the designs submitted should not exceed four times the size of the proposed stamp (1.125" x 0.675") - a stipulation that was frequently ignored, and be accompanied by a stamp-size photograph reproduction; and 3) the designs should contain features characteristic of Australia, and include the words "Australia" and "Postage". As of 31 May, 1911, the closing date of the competition, 1,051 designs had been received from 533 entrants. A first prize of £100 and two second prizes of £50 were awarded; two of the prize-winning entries have subsequently been lost. Designs not selected were to be returned to entrants. A relatively small number of these competition entries are recorded in private collectors' hands today "Mercury Messenger of the Gods" 1d. winged Mercury standing on map of Australia inset on globe watercolour in red-brown and red executed on card (102x134mm.), marked "Mercury messenger of the gods" ; also two stamp-size examples in reddish brown and in grey. BW E50, $2500. Photo