Values by country
Australian Stamp Values: Which Old Australia Stamps Are Worth Money
Updated · 5 min read · By the StampGo team
Quick answer
Australia's valuable stamps are the colonial issues of the 1850s–1912, the Kangaroo and Map series from 1913, and pre-decimal key values such as the 1932 Sydney Harbour Bridge 5 shillings. Decimal stamps, issued from 1966 onward, are generally common and worth close to face value.
Key facts
- First stamps
- The colonies issued their own from 1850, before federation
- First national issue
- The Kangaroo and Map series, from 1913
- Dividing line
- Decimal currency arrived in 1966. Earlier stamps are the collectable ones
- Key pre-decimal stamp
- The 1932 Sydney Harbour Bridge 5 shillings
- Famous rarity
- Western Australia's 1855 Inverted Swan
- Usually common
- Decimal-era commemoratives and definitives
What are Australian stamps worth by era?
Colonial and early Commonwealth issues carry the value. Pre-decimal stamps are mixed, with the high values and a few commemoratives standing out, while decimal issues from 1966 are mostly common.
| Era | Key issues | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| 1850–1912 (colonies) | New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania | Often valuable, especially early issues and on cover |
| 1913–1945 | Kangaroo and Map series, King George V heads, 1932 Harbour Bridge | High values and key commemoratives are the money |
| 1945–1965 | Pre-decimal definitives and commemoratives | Mostly modest, with some better high values |
| 1966–today | Decimal issues | Usually face value, apart from errors and varieties |
Which Australian stamps are worth money?
Colonial rarities, the high-value Kangaroo and Map stamps, the 1932 Sydney Harbour Bridge 5 shillings, and early airmail issues, especially unused and well centered.
- Kangaroo and Map high values. The pound denominations of the first Commonwealth series are the classic Australian rarities.
- 1932 Sydney Harbour Bridge 5 shillings. The key commemorative of the pre-decimal era, worth far more unused than used.
- Colonial issues. Each colony has its own scarce stamps, and Western Australia's Inverted Swan of 1855 is world-famous.
- Early airmail and flight covers, which connect to Australia's aviation history.
- Errors and varieties, including missing colours and perforation errors on later issues.
What does “pre-decimal” mean for Australian stamps?
It means stamps issued before Australia changed to dollars and cents in 1966. Pre-decimal stamps are priced in pounds, shillings and pence, and they're where most Australian value sits.
If a stamp shows a value such as 3d, 1/- or 5/-, it's pre-decimal and at least sixty years old. If it shows cents or dollars, it's from 1966 or later and almost certainly common. That single check sorts most family albums in a few minutes.
How do I identify an Australian stamp?
Look for “Australia” in the inscription, or a colony name such as New South Wales, Victoria or Tasmania on pre-1913 issues. The currency and monarch then narrow down the date.
- A colony name means the stamp predates the Commonwealth series of 1913.
- A kangaroo on a map of Australia identifies the first Commonwealth series.
- King George V, George VI or Elizabeth II narrows the reign, just as it does for British stamps.
- Watermarks and perforations separate many similar-looking Kangaroo and KGV printings, and they change the value substantially.
Stanley Gibbons and specialist Australian catalogues both cover these, and the differences matter. See how to identify stamps.
Are decimal Australian stamps worth anything?
Most are worth about face value. Australia has issued a lot of attractive commemoratives since 1966, and collectors saved them in quantity, so supply is high.
The exceptions are genuine errors, some booklet and coil varieties, and stamps on unusual covers. Unused decimal stamps still work as postage, which is often the best use for a shoebox of them. See commemorative stamps value.
What about Australian territory stamps?
Australia's external territories have issued their own stamps, including the Australian Antarctic Territory, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Most collectors file them with Australia, and catalogues list them separately.
- Australian Antarctic Territory: polar themes and expedition postmarks make these popular, and covers carried on Antarctic voyages are collected in their own right.
- Norfolk Island: long-running issues with strong local themes.
- Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands: small issuing programmes, which keeps some issues scarcer than mainland stamps.
- Papua and New Guinea: administered by Australia for much of the 20th century, and collected as a separate country with genuinely valuable early issues.
Territory stamps are a good example of why identification comes first: they look Australian, they're catalogued separately, and their values follow their own supply rather than mainland Australia's. See how to identify stamps.
Step by step
How to check Australian stamp values with StampGo
Colonial issues, Kangaroos and decimal commemoratives look nothing alike, so identifying the issue immediately tells you whether to keep going.
- 1
Scan the stamp
Tap Scan Now and photograph one stamp at a time, flat and filling the frame.
- 2
Check the issue and year
A pre-decimal date or a colony name is the signal to look closer at watermark, perforation and condition.
- 3
Use rarity to triage
Work through a shoebox quickly, setting aside anything with a high rarity score or a meaningful price range.
- 4
Save and total your collection
Add the keepers to your collection to track what the better part of the album is worth.
Free to download on iOS and Android
Frequently asked questions
What is the most valuable Australian stamp?
The high-value Kangaroo and Map stamps and the great colonial rarities, including Western Australia's 1855 Inverted Swan, lead the list. Condition matters enormously at that level.
Are old Australian stamps from the 1970s worth anything?
Generally no. Decimal-era stamps were printed and saved in large numbers, so most are worth about face value unless they're errors.
How much is a kangaroo stamp worth?
The low values of the Kangaroo and Map series are affordable, while the shilling and pound values, and scarce watermark varieties, can be worth a great deal. The specific printing decides it.
Can I still use old Australian stamps for postage?
Decimal stamps in dollars and cents are generally still valid. Pre-decimal stamps in pounds, shillings and pence are not, and they belong in a collection anyway.
What is a pre-decimal Australian stamp worth?
It depends entirely on the issue. Common King George VI and Elizabeth II definitives are worth cents, while Kangaroo and Map high values, the 1932 Harbour Bridge 5 shillings and scarce watermark varieties run from tens of dollars into the thousands.
Do Australian stamps have watermarks?
Many early ones do, and they matter. The same design was printed on paper with different watermarks, and some combinations are far scarcer than others, so a watermark tray is worth owning if you collect pre-decimal Australia.
Are Australian first day covers worth anything?
Most are worth a few dollars at most, because they were produced in large numbers from the 1960s onward. Earlier covers, unusual cachets and covers carrying pre-decimal high values are the ones worth checking properly.
