Australian Antarctic Territory - Antarctic Krill
Issue date: 26 August 2025
A postmark is an inked rubber stamp, with an imprint that indicates the date and place. A postal worker will press the postmark onto your letter to show the stamp has been used for postage. The date on the postmark records where and when the item enters the mail system.
Postmarks are just as unique and fascinating as stamps themselves. Take a look at some of our latest ones, and learn how to perfectly place postmark ink onto your collectable items.
Latest postmarks
- First day of issue
- Temporary and permanent
- Stamp show
- CFCP Postmarks
Margaret Preston 1875-1963
Issue date: 12 August 2025
Ferdinand Von Mueller 1825-1896
Issue date: 5 August 2025
Cherished Celebrations
Issue date: 21 July 2025
Opals
Issue date: 17 July 2025
Opals (International)
Issue date: 24 June 2025
Norfolk Island - Nature
Issue date: 17 June 2025
Bark Painting of Arnhem Land
Issue date: 10 June 2025
Corals of Cocos (Keeling) Island Issue date: 20 May 2025
Endangered Freshwater Fishes
Issue date: 20 May 2025
World Heritage Islands
Issue date: 6 May 2025
AAT Aurora Australis
Issue date: 22 April 2025
Postcards from the Front
Issue date: 15 April 2025
Raptors – Birds of Prey
Issue date: 8 April 2025
50 Years of Colour TV
Issue date: 25 March 2025
Christmas Island Cultural Festivals
Issue date: 18 March 2025
Living Seashells
Issue date: 11 March 2025
Best Friends
Issue date: 18 February 2025
50th Anniversary of the Australian Honours System
Issue date: 11 February 2025
Norfolk Island Second Penal Settlement 1825 – 1855
Issue date: 4 February 2025
Native Orchids
Issue date: 21 January 2025
Ancient Lands
Issue date: 14 January 2025
Christmas Island Lunar New Year of the Snake
Issue date: 7 January 2025
Christmas Island Lunar New Year of the Snake
Issue date: 7 January 2025
Previous year's postmarks
The four types of postmarks
National First Day of Issue
Used to commemorate the release of a new stamp on a national level. The locality name is chosen for its link to the stamp issue.
Permanent Pictorial
Reflecting something distinctive to the locality, such as penguins for the town of Penguin in Tasmania or a lighthouse if one is prominent in the area.
Temporary
These postmarks are used on either single days or consecutive days commemorating a special event.
Individual location
Postmarks associated with a historical or geographical reflection of the local area but not necessarily pictorial and can be used to cancel first day of issue stamps only.
Applying a postmark
If you need a postmark applied to your philatelic item, head to your local Post Office. Only authorised Australia Post staff can apply postmarks. Make sure you’re getting the right kind of postmark applied. You’ll want a national postmark on a first day cover, the correct commemorative postmark for a special occasion stamp, and so on.
Request that the postmark impression is applied with clarity and precision - no smudging! Black is the only colour ink that should be used. Catch the corner of the stamp - don’t cover up the stamp design. Refer to the images below as a guide.
Single stamp
Place the postmark on the left hand side.
Pair of stamps
Should be centrally postmarked at the base of the stamps.
Minisheets
Cancel all the stamps, ensuring at least one postmark also marks the envelope.
Multiple stamps or strips
Use the least number of postmarks to cancel the most number of stamps.
