.K98 rolls off the bridge on a Hornsby bound service - 20-11-2002 - by Maikha Ly
Opened in 1932 as a combined road / rail bridge, Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the premier icons
of Australia. It appears on numerous postage stamps, miniature sheets ( including sheet borders ),
several items of postal stationery, a Parcel label and even a Commemorative Telegram.
Unlike many of the railway articles, this is an ongoing project, as new issues will, no doubt,
continue to appear. I hope it is reasonably complete, but please let me know of anything
omitted or when anything new appears.
Gutter Pairs: Many of the Australian stamps exist in gutter ( interpanneau ) pairs. I have included information on these only for the inaugural 1932 issue and later issues where the gutter is pictorial. I have only included one or two catalogue numbers ( SG ), where such detail might help to identify a stamp.
The scans in this article are immediately ABOVE the stamp, stationery or postmark descriptions. The listing has been produced in five sections:
Section 1 : Stamp Issues of Australia
Section 2 : Numerous worldwide m/s for Olympics 2000 with identical central label with the Bridge
Section 3 : Other world stamp issues
Section 4 : Postal Stationery and a Telegram
Section 5 : Postmarks relating to the Bridge.
A feature of the stamps of the Bridge is that only one of them actually shows a train - or even the
tracks, and the one that does, 2004 50c, shows only a distant view of a train. So, to illustrate the railway properly,
please find below
a very pleasing portrait of a train leaving the Bridge, reproduced by kind permission of
Maikha Ly of Australia. Please note that his photograph is copyright.
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K98 rolls off the bridge on a Hornsby bound service - 20-11-2002 - by Maikha Ly
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Above: 2d Recess ( optd. O S ); below: Typographed 2d ( with gutter ).
Note: The wavy-line appearance of the typographed 2d is not present on the stamps, but
was created by my scanner.
1932 ( Mar 14 ) : Opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge
[ . . ] 2d Scarlet ( typographed ) Watermark ' Crown C of A ', Perf 10½ ( SG 144 )
[ . . ] 2d Scarlet ( recess-engraved ) No watermark, Perf.11 ( SG 141 )
[ . . ] 3d Blue No watermark, Perf 11
[ . . ] 5s Blue-Green No watermark, Perf 11
[ . . ] - ditto - with vertical gutter ( horizontal pair )
[ . . ] 2d Scarlet POSTAL FORGERY Typographed Perf 11 No watermark
Note : This Forgery was produced to defraud the Post Office, not the collector.
1932 ( March ) : As above, overprinted O S ( for Official Use ):
[ . . ] 2d Scarlet ( recess-engraved ) No wmk. Perf 11
[ . . ] 3d Blue No wmk. Perf 11
John Ash Imprint : All the 1932 values above ( except for the forgery, I presume ! ) exist with the Printer's Name ( John Ash etc. ) in the centre of the bottom margin of the sheet. In the case of the typographed 2d, this imprint is across the gutter. Many Australia collectors are quite keen on these imprints.
[ . . ] 1979 35c Ferry Lady Denman under the Bridge
[ . . ] 1982 27c Stamp-on-stamp of 1932 5s Bridge
[ . . ] 1988 $1 Shakespeare and Bridge ( issued se-tenant with $1 cricket )
This stamp is part of a joint issue with Great Britain ( q.v. ). The Australian
version was printed with the rows offset, so that both horizontal and vertical se-tenant pairs
were produced. On the G.B. stamps, only horizontal se-tenant pairs exist.
[ . . ] 1988 2c Sydney Bridge charm on charm bracelet ( one of the more bizarre railway thematics! )
[ . . ] - ditto - Booklet ( value 80c ) 1 x 2c and 2 x 39c ( kettle )
Note: This stamp was ONLY issued in booklet form and is rouletted x imperf.
[ . . ] 1992 45c x 2 composite horizontal se-tenant pair Bridge ( and tunnel ) Perf 14½ ( SG 1375/76 )
[ . . ] 1994 45c Yachts under Bridge ( se-tenant with non-Bridge 45c ) Perf 14½ ( SG 1491/92 )
[ . . ] - ditto - Perf 15½ ( SG 1375b/76b )
[ . . ] - ditto - but self-adhesive and Perf 11½ (SG 1493/94 )
The sheet stamps ( Perf 14½ ) were arranged within the sheet to produce both horizontal and
vertical se-tenant pairs. The self-adhesive stamps came se-tenant in rolls of 100 stamps.
[ . . ] 1996 $ 1 Painting of Bridge under construction
[ . . ] 1999 45c Olympic Flame and Bridge
[ . . ] - ditto - sheetlet of 10 ( 5 x 2 )
[ . . ] 2000 Stamp Expo Sheetlet 45c x 10 ( Kangaroo ) - Bridge ( twice ) in sheet border
This sheet is a non-album-friendly A4 size, approx 11.75" x 8.25" ( 29.85 cms x 20.95 cms).
2000 From a set/8 with values to $10.00. Although definitives, the Bridge values also have olympic rings
[ . . ] 50c Opera House ( Harbour Bridge behind )
[ . . ] $1.50 Harbour Bridge by night
[ . . ] 2004 Set/5 bridges (all 50c ), one the Sydney Harbour Bridge, se-tenant strip/5, normal gum.
[ . . ] Sheetlet/4 ( all are Sydney Harbour Bridge ). Normal Gum. Bridge also in background design.
[ . . ] 2004 Set/5 bridges but as a SELF-ADHESIVE se-tenant strip/5
[ . . ] - ditto - booklet pane with 2 each of the five bridge stamps, self-adhesive, not se-tenant.
The sheetlet/4 comes from the Landmark Bridges ' Prestige Collection ' booklet, which includes several photographs
and some text on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as well as a night view of the Bridge on the booklet cover.
Note: The Lockyer Creek Bridge in this set is also railway ( and also comes as a sheetlet/4 in the prestige booklet )
[ . . ] 2004 $2 Shipping Lines: Aberdeen & Commonwealth Line and Bridge
[ . . ] 2005 Pacific Explorer sheetlet/10 self-adhesive 'ship' stamps - Bridge ( 3 times ) in sheet border
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Parcel Post Stamp ( for the Sydney area )
[ . . ] 1991 ( April 2 ) Undenominated ( sold at Aus $ 3.25 ) self-adhesive imperforate label ' Across Town Sydney '
Sold by Australia Post only in bulk quantities, I believe, principally to businesses and only for use
on parcels within the Sydney area. A similar
issue was made for Perth, but with the Bridge replaced by a Swan. These labels are not in the main
stamp catalogues, presumably because, technically, they are Local Post stamps. The road bridge
image is from a 1989 ( Sept 1st ) 41c Urban Environment booklet stamp ( SG 1216 ).
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[ . . ] Antigua (& Barbuda?) ** [ . . ]
[ . . ] Barbuda ?
[ . . ] Bhutan
[ . . ] Burkina Faso
[ . . ] Dominica
[ . . ] The Gambia ** [ . . ]
[ . . ] Ghana
[ . . ] Grenada
[ . . ] Grenada Grenadines
[ . . ] Guyana ** [ . . ]
[ . . ] Lesotho ** [ . . ]
[ . . ] Maldive Islands
[ . . ] Micronesia
[ . . ] Nevis
[ . . ] Palau
[ . . ] St. Vincent
[ . . ] Sierra Leone
[ . . ] Turks & Caicos Islands
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[ . . ] Anguilla 1984 $ 1.00 Stamp-on-Stamp of 1932 2d Bridge
[ . . ] - ditto - same with Ausipex 84 se-tenant label ( probably interpanneau label )
[ . . ] Barbados 1999 $ 4.00 m/s ( World Stamp Expo ). Bridge in sheet border
[ . . ] Belize 1984 $ 3.00 m/s Stamp-on-Stamp of 1932 5/- Bridge
[ . . ] Cocos Islands 1988 $ 3.00 Sydpex m/s. Bridge in sheet border
[ . . ] Great Britain 1988 34p Shakespeare and Bridge ( issued se-tenant with 34p cricket )
This stamp is part of a joint issue with Australia( q.v. ). Unlike the Australian
version, which was printed with the rows offset, providing both horizontal and vertical se-tenant
pairs , the G. B. stamps only exist in horizontal se-tenant pairs.
[ . . ] Ivory Coast 180f + 20f Bridge in background
[ . . ] Kiribati 1988 $ 2.00 m/s Ship under Bridge ( on stamp part of design )
[ . . ] New Caledonia 1981 29f Ship and Bridge 
[ . . ] Guyana 1991 $ 30 Olympic Swimmer and Bridge ( SG 3110 )
[ . . ] - ditto - olympic sheetlet/9 x $ 30.00 including 1 x SG 3110 
[ . . ] Laos 2000 Olympic m/s ( sold at 10,000k ). Bridge on sheet border 
[ . . ] Lesotho 1988 20s Rod Laver & Bridge ( part of International Tennis stars set, ' Sydney ' mis-spelt )
[ . . ] Lithuania 2000 m/s Olympic Medals and Bridge
[ . . ] Niuafo'ou 1988 m/s containing 12 x 42s including cricket & Bridge on two se-tenant values
[ . . ] Norfolk Island 1988 37c Sydpex & Bridge ( from normal sheets )
[ . . ] Samoa ( Western ) 1980 $ 2 m/s ( Sydpex 80 ). Bridge in sheet border
[ . . ] - ditto - all 12 stamps with underprint ( on gum ) XX UPU / CONGRESS / WASHINGTON / DC / 1989
[ . . ] Proof imperforate strip/3 stuck on card of the three cricketing values including the two Bridge stamps
[ . . ] - ditto - m/s of 3 x 37c including one as above
[ . . ] St. Vincent 1991 $ 6.00 Disney m/s of Wilbur. Bridge in sheet border
[ . . ] Sierra Leone 1987 LE 50 Scouting & Bridge
[ . . ] Solomon Islands 1985 35c Runners and Bridge ( stamp from normal sheets )
[ . . } Solomon Islands 1988 35c Ship M.V.Papuan Chief & Bridge ( stamp from sheets )
[ . . ] Tokelau 1988 Sydpex 50c Bridge ( 4th stamp in a horizontal strip of five )
[ . . ] Tonga 1988 m/s containing 12 x 42s including Bridge on two se-tenant values
[ . . ] Vatican City 1996 250L Pope Jean Paul II & Bridge
[ . . ] - ditto - but Error of Value LE 1.50 ( for LE 50 )
[ . . ] Slovakia 2000 18Sk Sydney Olympics attached to label showing Bridge
[ . . ] - ditto - m/s with above stamp ( and a non-bridge 25c )
[ . . ] Solomon Islands 1988 60c Ship M.V.Nimos and Bridge ( stamp from normal sheets )
[ . . ] - ditto - 35c and 60c as above but in m/s with two other ( non-bridge ) values
Note 2. The stamps from normal sheets have a different watermark to the miniature sheet.
[ . . ] - ditto - all 12 stamps with underprint ( on gum ) XX UPU / CONGRESS / WASHINGTON / DC / 1989
[ . . ] Tonga 2000 80S Discus Thrower & Bridge ( from strip/5 ) 
[ . . ] Tunisia 2001 500M Bridge ( from normal sheets )
[ . . ] - ditto - single stamp as above in m/s ( exists
#imperforate only ) 
[ . . ] Yugoslavia 2000 Olympic Games, with Bridge on interpanneau ( gutter ) label.
The Bridge appears only in one of the four sheetlets in the set. It is the central label of
a sheetlet/9 ( 8 stamps and the label ).
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Note 1: Where an item is marked ' Postcard* ', it indicates that both the ' stamp ' and the view side of the card include the bridge.
Note 2: The Maximum Cards ( Maxicards ) listed have a ' Paid ' frank on the obverse side and a postage stamp on
the reverse side, as issued by Australia Post. An illustration of a typical obverse ( frank )
side appears above. The reasons surrounding this double franking
are not clear to me, but may perhaps involve postal regulations requiring adequate postage
to be on the address side ? I do not know if these cards may be purchased mint, without
adhesives ( i.e. stamps ) on the reverse side and, therefore, whether or not they may strictly
be considered to be postal stationery.
[ . . ] 22c 1981 postcard - 3-N6 Opera House and Bridge
[ . . ] 27c 1982 Postcard - 4N3 Three views including the Bridge
[ . . ] 55c 1 -Oct -94 envelope - Moora Centenary cachet at left (stamp as 7-Apr-93)
[ . . ] 55c 28 -Dec -94 envelope - Jamboree of Far Horizons cachet at left(stamp as 7-Apr-93)
[ . . ] 55c ?-?-95 envelope - Catalina Club cachet at left(stamp as 7-Apr-93)
[ . . ] 55c ?-?-95 envelope - Sisters of St John of God cachet at left(stamp as 7-Apr-93)
[ . . ] 55c 8-Jun-95 large window envelope - stamp shows bridge.
[ . . ] 'Paid' 16 - Jan - 1997 postcard : View of Bridge with train ( 90c Australia Day stamp on picture side )
[ . . ] 'Paid' 16 - Jan - 97 maxicard - 'The Balcony' picture shows Bridge
[ . . ] 'Paid' 16 - Jan - 98 maxicard - Building Bridge
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1932 Commemorative Telegram.
Link to Sydney Harbour Bridge Telegram( opens in new tab )
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[ . . ] 18c 1976 postcard* - S1 3.76 Aerial view with Bridge
[ . . ] 18c 1976 postcard* - S1 4.76 Bridge with opera house
[ . . ] 18c 1976 postcard* - S1 6.76 Bridge with tree framing view
[ . . ] 20c 1978 postcard* - 2-N1 Night view of Bridge with opera house
[ . . ] 20c 1978 postcard* - 2-N2 Aerial view of Bridge
[ . . ] 22c 1981 postcard* - 3-N1 Aerial view of Bridge
[ . . ] 22c 1981 postcard* - 3-N2 Night view of Sydney including Bridge
[ . . ] 22c 1981 postcard - 3-N5 three views, one including Bridge
[ . . ] 39c 20 Nov 1988 Club200 envelope for bi-centennial / Diabetes. 
[ . . ] 60c 13 - Feb - 1989 Aerogramme - Child's drawing of Bridge
[ . . ] 'Paid' 28 - Aug - 92 maxicard - Building the Bridge
[ . . ] 'Paid' 4 Feb 1993 aerogramme - View of harbour; stamp shows aircraft's shadow over landscape 
[ . . ] 'Paid' 7 - Apr - 93 envelope - Stamp shows Bridge ( at left )
[ . . ] - ditto - Later reprints with imprint under flap
[ . . ] 'Paid' 24 - Sept - 93 envelope - Olympic emblem added
[ . . ] 45c 28 -Sept -94 envelope - Sydney Zoo includes Bridge in design
[ . . ] - ditto - also later version with 4 conditions (1996)
[ . . ] 55c - reissued 1997 without window
[ . . ] 45c 4 - Sept - 95 envelope - Epilepsy Congress envelope; stamp shows Bridge outline
[ . . ] 'Paid' Nov 95 ' window ' envelope - Stamp shows Bridge
[ . . ] ' Paid ' 16 - Jan - 1996 : Maxicard $1 Building the Bridge
[ . . ] 'Paid' 20 - Jun - 2000 maxicard - View of Bridge
[ . . ] 'Paid' 6 - May - 03 maxicard - View of art galley with Bridge in background
[ . . ] 'Paid' 2 - Mar - 04 maxicard - View of Bridge. Paid Frank on back. Scan shows attached adhesive on front.
[ . . ] ' Paid ' ? - ? - 200? Postcard : Bridge with imprinted 35c Lady Denman stamp illustration
[ . . ] 'Paid' 6 - Sept - 2004 Postcard - View of Bridge with 50c bridges IMPRINTED stamp illustration.
[ . . ] 'Paid' 1 - Jan - 2004 Postcard - View of Bridge with imprinted 45c Kangaroo & flag stamp illustration
[ . . ] ' Paid ' 21 - June - 2005 : B4 - sized envelope : Night view of bridge
[ . . ] Telegram
[ . . ] Its commemorative envelope
If you do not have Broadband, you may find that this is quite a large file to download! Section 5 : Postmarks relating to Sydney Harbour Bridge
Once again, my thanks to Keith Downing for providing so much of the material for the listing below:
[ . . ] 19-Mar-1932 Sydney Harbour Bridge -1- non pictorial handstamp (as shown on the scan of the telegram)
End of Listing.
[ . . ] 19-Mar-1932 N.E.Pylon Sydney Harbour Bridge non pictorial handstamp
[ . . ] 19-Mar-1932 S.E.Pylon Sydney Harbour Bridge non pictorial handstamp 
[ . . ] 19-Mar-1932 Sydney Harbour Bridge N.S.W. non pictorial slogan postmark reads 'Posted on Bridge during opening celebrations'
[ . . ] 13-Mar-1978 Philatelic Sales Centre / Sydney NSW 2000 philatelic postmark shows bridge (postmark in long term use)
[ . . ] 19-Mar-1982 Sydney Harbour Bridge / 50th anniversary of opening ( cranes )
[ . . ] 27-Sept-1982 to 2-Oct-1982 Carlingford Shopping Square NSW 2118 / National Stamp Week Exhibition 1982 shows bearded postman with bridge
[ . . ] 28-Sept-1988 Sydney NSW 2000 / First Day of Issue shows tourists with bridge behind 
[ . . ] (from) 12-July-1990 North Sydney NSW shows entrance to Luna Park with bridge in background - at least 2 designs used (postmark in long term use) 
[ . . ] 2-Apr-1991 GPO Sydney NSW 2000 / First Day of Issue shows bridge 
[ . . ] 25-Aug-1992 Sydney NSW 2000 / First Day of Issue shows stylised outline of bridge above water and tunnel 
[ . . ] (from) 25-Aug-1992 Royal Exchange NSW 2000 : Bridge & Tunnel ( postmark in long term use ) 
[ . . ] 24-Sept-1993 Sydney NSW 2000 / First Day of Issue shows Opera House with part of bridge in background
For those taking part in one of those quiz nights ( ! ), Sydney Harbour Bridge spans Jackson Port and
was built by Freeman. The span of the arch is 1654 feet ( 504 m ) and the height of the road / rail deck above sea-level
is 171 feet ( 52 m ). The deck is 98 feet ( 30 m ) wide with 4 railway tracks, a 6-lane highway and 2 footpaths. The
towers, also known as pylons, are 505 feet ( 154 m ) high.
For more information, click here for a
Non-philatelic website about the Bridge ( opens
in new tab ).
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