19th century clipper ships that sailed in Australian waters

Australia Post set sail with the release of four new stamps depicting four 19th century clipper ships that sailed in Australian waters. Australia Post Philatelic Manager, Michael Zsolt said both stamp collectors and maritime enthusiasts alike have a fascination with clipper ships and this evocative period of maritime history.

“The sailing ships featured in this issue have played a role in Australia’s maritime history. We trust everyone, especially maritime history enthusiasts, will ‘hoist their sails and set sail’ to collect these beautiful clipper ship stamps,” Mr Zsolt said.

“From the earliest days of European exploration, sailing ships were crucial in the development of Australia.” Clipper ships were widely used in the mid-19th century due to being fast, yacht-like vessels. The clipper route from England to Australia and New Zealand, returning via Cape Horn, although subject to dangerous weather conditions, generally offered captains the fastest circumnavigation of the world.

The clipper ships at the helm of this new stamp issue featured on this lovely set of maxicards (designed by Lisa Christensen of the Australia Post Design Studio) are:

(70c) Frances Henty – was constructed in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1852 and named after the wife of Thomas Henty. The vessel carried passengers, gold and wool between London and Victoria until at least 1869. The stamp is based on a painting by EC Moore, titled The Frances Henty, 1854.

 (70c) Phoenician – was the first clipper ship to come to Australia, arriving in Port Jackson on 21 July 1849 - taking 91 days from England. The stamp design is based on a painting by Frederick Garling, titledClipper barque Phoenician, 1850s.

(A$1.40) Arabian – was one of many clipper ships that sailed in Australian waters. The stamp design is based on the 1840s lithograph by John Raphael Isaac, after a painting by CP Williams.

 (A$1.40) Monkchester – was a clipper barque built in 1865 by Messrs. Peverill for Messrs. A. Strong of North Shields, England. The stamp design is based on the 1865 painting by John Scott, a noted English oil painter from Newcastle.

Thank you Dear Merja for this wonderful set of maxicards.