# AC551 - 1/26/1988, Australia #1052 Joint Issue United States Salutes Australia's Bicentennial
Get US - Australia Joint-Issue Cover Celebrating Australia's Bicentennial
In 1988, the United States and Australia issued joint-issue stamps commemorating the 200th anniversary of Australia. This cover includes Australia #1052, with a First Day of Issue postmark fromSidney, Australia.
The Australia Bicentennial Stamps
On January 26, 1988, the US and Australia released joint issue stamps honoring Australia’s founding. The stamps feature similar cartoon designs of a koala in Australia’s national colors and an eagle in America’s. The figures symbolize the long cooperation and friendship between the U.S. and Australia.
On January 26, 1788, the first British prisoners arrived in Australia, establishing an experimental penal colony. Though the colony struggled at first, it eventually thrived and became an independent commonwealth. There had been proposals to colonize Australia as early as 1717. Between 1718 and 1775, the British sent about 50,000 convicts to the New World. After the American Revolution, they lost most of their North American colonies and sought a new place to send their prisoners. As a temporary measure, they created floating prisons, but they quickly reached capacity. And the idea of building more jails in England was considered too expensive. In 1779 and 1783, proposals were submitted to establish penal colonies in New South Wales. A self-sufficient penal colony would begin that relied on subsistence agriculture. Trade and shipping would be banned, so the convicts would be isolated and not interfere with the British East India Company. The plan was approved, and the first settlers arrived at the colony of New South Wales in January 1788. They initially went to Botany Bay, but then moved to Port Jackson and officially established the first settlement at Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788. This date is celebrated as Australia’s national day, Australia Day. More than 1,000 settlers were part of that first wave, which included 778 convicts, of which 192 were women and 586 were men. Ages ranged from 9 to 82, with sentences of seven to 14 years. The new colony struggled in its early years. Agricultural efforts were largely unsuccessful, and supplies from Britain were scarce. Thousands more settlers arrived in the coming years, but many were sick and incapable of the hard labor required to run the colony. Over time, the colony’s free population grew, made up of emancipated convicts, children born there, soldiers whose service had ended, and even free settlers direct from Britain. By the time the last convict ship arrived in 1868, some 162,000 men and women had been relocated to Australia. Throughout the 1800s, the British established further colonies on the continent. Settlers entered into frequent conflicts with the aboriginals, greatly decreasing their population. With booms brought on by gold rushes and improved agriculture, the colonies prospered and began creating their own parliamentary democracies. On January 1, 1901, the colonies federated to become the Commonwealth of Australia, and it remains today. Now you can own this cover commemorating Australia's bicentennial and its long friendship with America. Australia Day
Get US - Australia Joint-Issue Cover Celebrating Australia's Bicentennial
In 1988, the United States and Australia issued joint-issue stamps commemorating the 200th anniversary of Australia. This cover includes Australia #1052, with a First Day of Issue postmark fromSidney, Australia.
The Australia Bicentennial Stamps
On January 26, 1988, the US and Australia released joint issue stamps honoring Australia’s founding. The stamps feature similar cartoon designs of a koala in Australia’s national colors and an eagle in America’s. The figures symbolize the long cooperation and friendship between the U.S. and Australia.
On January 26, 1788, the first British prisoners arrived in Australia, establishing an experimental penal colony. Though the colony struggled at first, it eventually thrived and became an independent commonwealth. There had been proposals to colonize Australia as early as 1717. Between 1718 and 1775, the British sent about 50,000 convicts to the New World. After the American Revolution, they lost most of their North American colonies and sought a new place to send their prisoners. As a temporary measure, they created floating prisons, but they quickly reached capacity. And the idea of building more jails in England was considered too expensive. In 1779 and 1783, proposals were submitted to establish penal colonies in New South Wales. A self-sufficient penal colony would begin that relied on subsistence agriculture. Trade and shipping would be banned, so the convicts would be isolated and not interfere with the British East India Company. The plan was approved, and the first settlers arrived at the colony of New South Wales in January 1788. They initially went to Botany Bay, but then moved to Port Jackson and officially established the first settlement at Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788. This date is celebrated as Australia’s national day, Australia Day. More than 1,000 settlers were part of that first wave, which included 778 convicts, of which 192 were women and 586 were men. Ages ranged from 9 to 82, with sentences of seven to 14 years. The new colony struggled in its early years. Agricultural efforts were largely unsuccessful, and supplies from Britain were scarce. Thousands more settlers arrived in the coming years, but many were sick and incapable of the hard labor required to run the colony. Over time, the colony’s free population grew, made up of emancipated convicts, children born there, soldiers whose service had ended, and even free settlers direct from Britain. By the time the last convict ship arrived in 1868, some 162,000 men and women had been relocated to Australia. Throughout the 1800s, the British established further colonies on the continent. Settlers entered into frequent conflicts with the aboriginals, greatly decreasing their population. With booms brought on by gold rushes and improved agriculture, the colonies prospered and began creating their own parliamentary democracies. On January 1, 1901, the colonies federated to become the Commonwealth of Australia, and it remains today. Now you can own this cover commemorating Australia's bicentennial and its long friendship with America. Australia Day