Australia 2005 Centenary of Australian Open Tennis Championships
- Issue date: 11 January 2005
- two values, one domestic (inland) mail and one International Post
- Designed by: Asprey Creative (Agency)
- Printed by: SNP Sprint
- Print process: lithography
- Dimensions: 37.5mm x 26mm
- Perforations: 13.7 x 14.65
- Format: sheets of 50 (two panes of 25)
Contents
Description
This commemorative issue of two stamps celebrates the Centenary of the Australian Open Tennis Championships.
The Australian Open was established in 1905 as the Australasian Tennis Championships and played at the Warehousemen's Cricket Ground in Albert Park, Melbourne. Rodney Heath from Victoria was the inaugural winner. The first winner of the women's title, which was added to the tournament in 1922, was Margaret Molesworth from Queensland.
The competition was renamed the Australian Championships in 1927, eventually becoming the Australian Open in 1969, when all events were opened to professional players.
Stamps
When viewed together the two designs illustrate the many changes in the Australian Open Tennis Championships during its first 100 years.
50c 1905 Stamp
The stamp features an image of a stylised male tennis player against a background showing a tennis match being played at the Warehousemen’s Cricket Ground in Albert Park, Melbourne where the first tournament was staged in 1905.
$1.80 2005 Stamp
The stamp features an image of a stylised female tennis player against a background showing a tennis match being played at Melbourne Park, the current venue of the Australian Open.
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First Day Covers
The first day of issue postmark was Melbourne GPO VIC 3000.
Prestige Booklet
The prestige booklet has four panes – each with two stamps – interleaved with information and images about the Australian Open Tennis Championships.
Maximum Cards
