Papua Stamps
Papua, comprising the southeastern portion of the island of New Guinea, is geographically situated in Oceania, specifically within the Melanesian subregion. Its postal history is deeply rooted in its status as an Australian territory, initially managed by the British administration before being transferred to Australian control, leading to stamps often featuring English text and denominations in Australian currency equivalents.
- Issued stamps
- 1906–1939
- Region
- Oceania, Melanesia
- Currency
- AUD
- Languages
- English
- Issuer type
- Colonial postal administration
- Part of
- Australia
About Papua stamps
The region experienced significant administrative changes, particularly during and after World War II, which impacted the continuity and design of its postal issues before its eventual integration into the independent nation of Papua New Guinea.
Further reading: Wikipedia
Inscriptions to look for
Words printed on the stamp that point to this issuer. Search any of them in the issuer directory.
- PAPUA
How to identify Papua stamps
- Look for 'PAPUA' inscription, often at the top or bottom of the stamp.
- Denominations are typically in Australian currency (pence, shillings, pounds).
- Early issues may be overprints on 'British New Guinea' stamps.
- Designs frequently feature local imagery like the Lakatoi canoe or indigenous scenes.
Popular series
-
Small Papua Series
1906-1907
The first definitive series, featuring the 'Papua' overprint on stamps of British New Guinea, depicting a native village scene.
-
Lakatoi Series
1907-1932
A long-running definitive series featuring a traditional Papuan sailing canoe (lakatoi), often with King Edward VII or King George V portraits.
-
Anniversary of British Annexation
1938
A commemorative series marking the 50th anniversary of British annexation, depicting various local scenes and historical figures.
Value overview
Typical ranges as orientation, not prices for a particular stamp. Condition, variety and demand decide the value of your copy; for current asking prices, check listings or the app.
- Common stamps
- $1–$20
- Scarce stamps
- $100–$5,000+
Common stamps are readily available. Early issues, high values, and stamps with specific overprints or errors can command significant prices. Condition, especially for mint examples, heavily influences value.
Catalogs. Papua stamps are listed in the major world catalogs: Scott, Michel and Stanley Gibbons. Catalog numbers and groupings differ between them; the Stamp Identifier app shows the numbers it can find for your stamp.
Questions about Papua stamps
Papua stamps were issued for the Australian territory of Papua, located in the southeastern part of New New Guinea, between 1906 and 1939. They reflect the region's colonial history under Australian administration.
The value of Papua stamps varies widely. Common issues are generally affordable, ranging from $1 to $20. However, rare stamps, particularly early issues, high denominations, or those with specific varieties, can be quite valuable, fetching hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
You can identify Papua stamps by looking for the 'PAPUA' inscription, typically in English, and denominations in Australian currency. Many feature distinctive local imagery such as the Lakatoi canoe. A photo in the Stamp Identifier app gives a first identification; check the catalog number in a specialised catalog before relying on it.
Papua stamps are comprehensively listed in major international stamp catalogs, including Scott, Michel, and Stanley Gibbons. These catalogs provide detailed information on issues, varieties, and estimated values.
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