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Bulletin Golden Jubilee
The subjects discussed in major feature
articles during the Bulletin’s early years
included the effects of Federation on
stamps, Australian Antarctic postal history,
postage due stamps, stamp booklets, slogan
postmarks and franking machines. The
information was derived from offi cial records
and its publication was well received by
Bulletin readers. Until 1960 Collas had been
the sole contributor, but that year Kevin
McKay (1921-2000) joined the Philatelic
Group and began a long association with the
Bulletin. In 1969 McKay became philatelic
manager following Collas’ retirement.
The next signifi cant change to the
Bulletin followed the expansion of philatelic
services during 1969 and 1970. Products
such as stamp packs and fi rst day covers
were introduced and an enlarged network
of philatelic sales outlets was created. A
new publication called Stamp Preview was
launched in 1969. In newsletter format,
Stamp Preview was a less costly way to
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The fi rst colour cover Silver Jubilee
provide advance publicity for new stamps
and products. This led to content changes in
the Bulletin, which now served as a journal of
record in relation to recent new issues, as well
as presenting historical articles.
For nearly 17 years, the Philatelic Bulletin
had remained an eight-page publication that
featured black-and-white illustrations and
page layouts generated from typewritten
sheets pasted into position. Its total
circulation was under 10,000. To boost
appeal, the Bulletin became a glossy twelvepage
magazine with some colour content in
April 1970.
In the next few years, the Bulletin’s
circulation grew to 250,000. Also, the amount
of colour increased and the magazine
expanded to 20-24 pages.
The Bulletin switched to quarterly
publication in 1971. Prominent feature
articles over the decade included descriptions
of recess and photogravure stamp
production, stamp design competitions, coil