Australia: Stampless Series Sold on Norfolk Island

This is an Australian aerogramme form intended for use in the Australian Dependencies (the so called "Stampless Series". To be precise, it is Stein #AS-1A, the variety "Acccent over 'A' of 'Mail' ", on buff paper. 

Derived from Australia definitive (Stein #A-2) by removing the head of King George VI and part of the dotted overlay area surrounding the indicium leaving a blank rectangle (22x25mm). The occurrence of the accent on A of MAIL flaw, only in the stampless species on both papers, and not on the corresponding Australian airletter definitives indicates that new plates were manufactured especially for the printing of this formular air letter.

Archival records indicate that four ‘Electros for air letter form (no denomination)’ were prepared October 1945. The utilization of four electros is consistent with the 1:4 proportion of these air letters exhibiting the accent on A variety.

This copy was sold at Norfolk Island. According to Stein, the use on Norfolk Island is verified for the period October 1947 to March 1949. In Australia, the 10d rate for aerogrammes was introduced August 1, 1952. Being pre-paid with a 10 d stamp, it seems that AS-1 was still on offer at the post office at that time.


Reference
Stein, The Aerogrammes of Australia and its Dependencies, 1944-1980
Kellow, G., Archival Records of Australian Aerogrammes, 1944-1965, Postal Stationary Collector, February 2003

Credits
Thank you, Allan, for providing the information from Kellow 2003.