New South Wales issued a set of two special “Allegory of Charity” postage stamps in 1897 in honor of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee (her 60th year as queen). These stamps, bearing the legend “Consumptives Home”, were used as postage but had a surcharge, which was donated to a Australian consumptives home, i.e., place for patients with tuberculosis (called “consumption” at the time).
The two stamps had postal values of one penny and two and half pence.
The one penny “Allegory of Charity” stamp
The 1 penny consumptives stamp had a full value of 1 shilling (12 pence). With an ornate green border, in which the dates of Victoria’s reign (1837 and 1897) appeared in diamonds on either side, and the phrase “But the greatest of these is charity” at the bottom. In the middle of the stamp are two angelic figures in brown.
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The two and a half pence “Allegory of Charity” stamps
The 2 1/2 pence stamp was worth two pence for postage, but cost 2 shillings, 6 pence. This stamp is striking, very ornate and in several bright, cold colors. The phrase “Consumptives Home” is at the top in a nice banner, with “Redifico” underneath. Inside a design of colorful flowers, two figures in flowing robes connect in front of a blue diamond, behind which are the words “Diamond Jubilee”. The face and postal values are at the bottom of the stamp.
There are usually a few of these New South Wales charity stamps from 1897 for sale. Check the current listings, and check back often. We update this section daily!
