Tasmania, an Australian Island located 150 miles south of the
continent has a total land area of over 35,000 square miles and a
population of over 500,000. 
It
is believed to have been inhabited by Tasmanian Aborigines as far back
as 35,000 years ago. The name comes from the Dutch explorer Abel
Tasman who was the first European explorer to see the Island on 24th
November 1642. The Island was named Van Diemen’s Land at the time, a
reference to Anthony van Diemen who sent Tasman on his voyage of
discovery. It was colonized and made part of the British Colony of New
South Wales for use as a penal colony in 1803. The Island became the
separate British Colony of Tasmania in 1856. The Island became the
present Australian state of Tasmania in 1901 when Tasmania along with
five other British Colonies united to form the Commonwealth of
Australia.
Tasmania released a beautiful local scenes set between 1899 and 1900. The set (Scott #86 to #93)
catalogs for around $165 Mint and around half that for Used. The
designs show Lake Marion, Mount Wellington, View of Hobart, Tasman’s
Arch, Spring River of Port Davey, Russell Falls, Mount Gould and Lake
Saint Clair, and Dilston Falls. Tasmani continued to issue stamps till
1912 when stamps of Australia replaced Tasmanian stamps.
Historically relevant postcards from Hobart, 18th and 19th century original antique maps, authentic aboriginal pieces, etc are good collectible items of Tasmania.
Last Updated: 12/2015.
It
is believed to have been inhabited by Tasmanian Aborigines as far back
as 35,000 years ago. The name comes from the Dutch explorer Abel
Tasman who was the first European explorer to see the Island on 24th
November 1642. The Island was named Van Diemen’s Land at the time, a
reference to Anthony van Diemen who sent Tasman on his voyage of
discovery. It was colonized and made part of the British Colony of New
South Wales for use as a penal colony in 1803. The Island became the
separate British Colony of Tasmania in 1856. The Island became the
present Australian state of Tasmania in 1901 when Tasmania along with
five other British Colonies united to form the Commonwealth of
Australia.
Philatelic Profile:
The first stamps of Tasmania were a set of two stamps in separate QV designs. 
The unwatermarked Imperforated stamps have the ‘Van Diemen’s Island’ inscription instead of ‘Tasmania’. The stamps (Scott #1 and #2)
are very rare and valuable cataloging in the $8K range for Mint and
the $1.8K range for Used. There are more common Used cut-to-shape
varieties of these issues that catalog in the $17 range. A Chalon Head
common design QV issue followed in 1855. That set (Scott #4 to #6)
is also very rare cataloging in the $11K range for Mint and $1.8K
range for Used. Several varieties of the same Chalon Head design
appeared during the period till 1858. A Chalon Head design with a
hexagonal frame appeared during the period from 1858 to 1867. That set (Scott #14 to #16) catalogs in the $1.8K range for Mint and around $250 for Used. Other QV designs and certain overprints
dominated the Tasmanian stamp issue scene during the period till 1899.
Many of these early issues catalog upwards of $100 although certain
lower denominations can be had for a few dollars.
The unwatermarked Imperforated stamps have the ‘Van Diemen’s Island’ inscription instead of ‘Tasmania’. The stamps (Scott #1 and #2)
are very rare and valuable cataloging in the $8K range for Mint and
the $1.8K range for Used. There are more common Used cut-to-shape
varieties of these issues that catalog in the $17 range. A Chalon Head
common design QV issue followed in 1855. That set (Scott #4 to #6)
is also very rare cataloging in the $11K range for Mint and $1.8K
range for Used. Several varieties of the same Chalon Head design
appeared during the period till 1858. A Chalon Head design with a
hexagonal frame appeared during the period from 1858 to 1867. That set (Scott #14 to #16) catalogs in the $1.8K range for Mint and around $250 for Used. Other QV designs and certain overprints
dominated the Tasmanian stamp issue scene during the period till 1899.
Many of these early issues catalog upwards of $100 although certain
lower denominations can be had for a few dollars. Tasmania released a beautiful local scenes set between 1899 and 1900. The set (Scott #86 to #93)
catalogs for around $165 Mint and around half that for Used. The
designs show Lake Marion, Mount Wellington, View of Hobart, Tasman’s
Arch, Spring River of Port Davey, Russell Falls, Mount Gould and Lake
Saint Clair, and Dilston Falls. Tasmani continued to issue stamps till
1912 when stamps of Australia replaced Tasmanian stamps.
Numismatic Profile:
Several private token coins were used in Tasmania from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. 
Prominent
ones include Copper Pennies of Lewis Abrahams of Hobart, Joseph
Brickhill of Campbelltown, E.F. Dease of Launceston, J.G. Fleming of
Hobart, I. Friedmand of Hobart, O.H. Hedberg of Hobart, R. Henry of
Hobart, Samuel Henry of Deloraine, G. Hutton of Hobart, William Andrew
Jarvey of Hobart, R. Josephs of New Town, H. Lipscombe of Hobart,
Machintosh & Degraves of Hobart, H.J.Marsh & Brother of Hobart,
R. Andrew Mather of Hobart, A. Nicholas of Hobart, R.S. Waterhouse of
Hobart, Thomas White and Son of Westbury, W.D. Wood of Hobart, etc. The
tokens in VF fetch upwards of $25 depending on rarity. Some Silver
issues (example – Macintosh & Degraves Silver Shillings of 1823) and
certain Copper coins (example - A. Nicholas Copper Pennies) are very
rare and sought after cataloging into the 1000s of dollars range.
Prominent
ones include Copper Pennies of Lewis Abrahams of Hobart, Joseph
Brickhill of Campbelltown, E.F. Dease of Launceston, J.G. Fleming of
Hobart, I. Friedmand of Hobart, O.H. Hedberg of Hobart, R. Henry of
Hobart, Samuel Henry of Deloraine, G. Hutton of Hobart, William Andrew
Jarvey of Hobart, R. Josephs of New Town, H. Lipscombe of Hobart,
Machintosh & Degraves of Hobart, H.J.Marsh & Brother of Hobart,
R. Andrew Mather of Hobart, A. Nicholas of Hobart, R.S. Waterhouse of
Hobart, Thomas White and Son of Westbury, W.D. Wood of Hobart, etc. The
tokens in VF fetch upwards of $25 depending on rarity. Some Silver
issues (example – Macintosh & Degraves Silver Shillings of 1823) and
certain Copper coins (example - A. Nicholas Copper Pennies) are very
rare and sought after cataloging into the 1000s of dollars range.
Collectible Memorabilia:
Historically relevant postcards from Hobart, 18th and 19th century original antique maps, authentic aboriginal pieces, etc are good collectible items of Tasmania.Last Updated: 12/2015.
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