Description: This monochromatic, red-brown definitive postage stamp features the elegant first definitive postal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II issued for use across the Australian Commonwealth. Her profile faces left, adorned with the ornate George IV State Diadem. Her hair is beautifully arranged in detailed, classical curls. In the top left corner, the Tudor Crown stands out proudly as an individual symbol of royal authority. The bottom right displays the face value of "3½d" (three and a half pence), representing the standard domestic letter rate of the era. The name "AUSTRALIA" anchors the base of the design in clean, bold capital letters. This specific postmarked specimen shows horizontal ink cancellation lines crossing directly through the center of the Queen's face and neck, indicating it successfully passed through a mechanical postal franking machine.
Circa: 1950s
Condition: Used - Hinged
Notes:
This 3½d red-brown issue is highly significant to Australian philatelists because it belongs to the very first definitive series of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, replacing the previous King George VI postal issues. The engraving is based on an official photograph captured by the famous society photographer Dorothy Wilding, which was then carefully adapted by Commonwealth banknote and stamp designers.