“The Roo Stamps” refers to the famous “Kangaroo and Map” Stamps of Australia, which have a very interesting story.

Though the Commonwealth of Australia was formed in the year 1901, it took the Australian Post a little while to cope. The ‘de facto’ Commonwealth stamps were brought in use till the Postal rates became uniform between the new States in 1911.

In the same year, the Postmaster-General's Department held a Stamp Design Competition for a uniform series of Commonwealth postage stamps. Out of many brilliant entries, the design of Charles Frazer inspired the basic outline of the new design.

These new stamps depict the map of Australia with the national animal Kangaroo inside. The first definitive issue had fifteen stamps ranging in value from ½d (halfpenny) to £2 (two pounds) and in different colors.

Image Curtsey: colnect.com