Mechanical Copyright stamps

J. Albert & Son

Australia, Music Publisher.

The company was formed in 1884 and became Australasia's largest music publisher and music sales outlet. The stylised lyre with its boomerangs became their symbol at an early date. They sold musical instruments as well as sheet music. Their headquarters was for many years Boomerang House at 137-9 King St, Sydney. They are still active today at 9 Rangers Rd, Neutral Bay, Sydney (1997).

Type	Image	Details
1		Date: 1923-4 Issues: 3 Size: 19 mm diam. Perf: 11.5, or circular die-punched Rarity: RRR Circular, with J. ALBERT & SON ROYALTY STAMP between inner and outer rings. In the centre is a stylised lyre formed from 5 boomerangs and 7 woomeras (Aboriginal throwing spears). The 'JAS' signature appears across the stamp. A panel at the base holds the value. Found perforated in green and die-punched in red.
2		Date: 1923-4 Issues: 12 Size: 19 x 19 mm Perf: 11.5 or 11 Rarity: RR Design: As Type 1, but with triangular corner ornaments with curlicues within. All vermilion, but signatures and value in blue, black or green.
3		Date: 1925 Issues: 2 Size: 17 x 17 mm Perf: 14 x 15 or 15 x 14 Rarity: C Design: As previous types, but country name (NEW ZEALAND or AUSTRALIA) in band across middle. This type appears printed in England by Harrisons.
4a		Date: 1924-34 Issues: 70 Size: 15.5 x 15.5 mm Perf: 10 or 11 Rarity: C Design: As Type 2 but smaller. Value generally in green, rarely in black. A variety of sets were subsequently revalued 3/4d by handstamp 1933-34.
4b		Date: 1927-50 Issues: 7 Size: 15.5 x 15.5 mm Perf: 10 or 11 Rarity: R Design: As Type 4a but in green, with "NZ" in base panel and value added at top. Used on records for export to New Zealand.
4c		Date: 1928-33 Issues: 3 Size: 15.5 x 15.5 mm Perf: 10 Rarity: RR Design: As Type 4a but with larger signature from Type 2.
4d		Date: 1925-47 Issues: 27 Size: 15.5 x 15.5 mm Perf: 10 or 11 Rarity: R Design: As Type 4a but with "FDH" signature, and generally in red or carmine shades. Alberts acted as the Australasian agents for Francis, Day & Hunter.
4e		Date: 1927-49 Issues: 3 Size: 15.5 x 15.5 mm Perf: 11 Rarity: RR Design: As Type 4b but with "FDH" signature.
5		Date: 1933-7 Issues: 13 Size: 16 x 16 mm Perf: 10 or 11 Rarity: R Design: As Type 4a but slightly larger. The abbreviation "LTD" has been added to the company name and the value panel now has convex edges. A very rare set was printed in blue around 1936, with a large blank space below the base. These appear on some Transcription discs.
6a		Date: 1937-65 Issues: 100+ Size: 17 x 17 mm Perf: 10, 11 or rouletted Rarity: CC Design: As Type 5 but "LTD" replaced with "PTY LTD" (Proprietary Limited) in two lines. This long-running type has many variations in perforation, font and paper. In the late 1950s and the early 1960s many values were revalued in green pen for LPs.
6b		Date: 1940 Issues: 2 Size: 17 x 17 mm Perf: 10 Rarity: RRR Design: As Type 6a but with an unknown signature in black, and printed in carmine. To date, only found on Macquarie records.
6c		Date: 1937-54 Issues: 8 Size: 17 x 17 mm Perf: 11 or roul. Rarity: R Design: As Type 6a but with "FDH" signature.
6d		Date: 1950-55 Issues: 17 Size: 17 x 17 mm Perf: Rouletted Rarity: R Design: As Type 6a but printed in green for New Zealand, with "NZ" at base. Value normally typewritten at top.
6e		Date: 1962-65 Issues: 50+ Size: 17 x 17 mm Perf: 11 Rarity: C Design: As Type 6a but with fraction value printed offset to right, to allow space to insert the pence value by hand later. Normally found on LP sleeves with a modified value.
6f		Date: 1937-40? Issues: 2 Size: 17 x 17 mm Perf: 10 Rarity: RRR Design: As Type 6a with large "JAS" signature in pale blue and value in manuscript.
6g		Date: 1937-67 Issues: 40 Size: 17 x 17 mm Perf: 10 or 11 Rarity: RR Design: As Type 6a but without any printed value, the value being added later by hand. The very last issues had decimal values to fractions of a cent, e.g. 3.51c.
6h		Date: 1966-67 Issues: 3 Size: 17 x 17 mm Perf: 11 Rarity: RRR Design: As Type 6a but printed without signature or value, the value being added later by hand. Only known with decimal values, e.g. 10c.
7		Date: 1957-62 Issues: 1 Size: 8 mm diam. Perf: die-punched Rarity: RRR Design: Just "ROYALTY" at the base, and no value tablet. In addition, the abbreviations "PTY. LTD." appear in two lines after '& SON'. Found on UK pressings, possibly where the indica was accidentally omitted from the printed record label, as this design is the same as the printed indica.

Gallery Items

Type 6a 3d on 45rpm

1d and 2 1/4d vermilion,green on Mastertouch medley roll, with Allan (x2) and Davis.

Sample Sets: Type 6a (Unsurfaced, p11, 1940-65)

Note: The images above are those actually used for my publication "Stamps on Music". They were taken at 600dpi, and at 150% actual size. This means if this page is printed, the images will come out quite clear. Each image here is further hyperlinked to the original JPG, which will display quite large on your screen.