1979

The vending machines were designed by Sterner Company. In 1982 two further machines were installed at Sydney GPO and two months later a further two machine were installed at Melbourne GPO to continue the field test, using Frog and Birds stamps from that year.

The stamp booklets that were eventually officially released from these machines were to become known as Sterner Booklets. There were 14 different Sterner booklets released between 1982 and 1996, before all Sterner Machines were withdrawn from service in January 2003.

B140

60c

April 1979

Contains: 3 x 20c Little Grebe

Booklet Measures: 55mm x 51mm

Five different combinations of this booklet are known. Two using the top selvedge and three using the bottom selvedge.

With the two tops, one has a narrow selvedge of 5.0mm and the other a wider 11.5mm. Both are adhered to the left of the inside cover.

The bottoms have a narrow selvedge of 7.5mm adhered to the right side, and a wide 13.0mm adhered to either left or right side.

     
Top Left 5.0mm                                   Top Left 11.5mm                                   Bottom Right 7.5mm
  
Bottom Left 13.0mm              Bottom Right 13.0mm

A very scarce numbered overprint also occurred on this booklet. The overprint was "1979 St. George Winners".

B142

80c - Parramatta

Contains: 4 x 20c Little Grebe or
                   4 x 20c Yellow Robin

B143

80c - Rockdale

Contains: 4 x 20c Little Grebe or
                   4 x 20c Yellow Robin

B144

$1.00 Bexley

Contains: 5 x 20c Little Grebe or
                   5 x 20c Yellow Robin

1979

Booklet Measures: 75mm x 45mm

All 6 combinations of the booklets are available with either left or right selvedge.
 

To promote the Sydney Rugby League Grand Final in 1979 between Parramatta and St George, staff at three suburban post offices prepared stamp booklets containing current stamps. The folders had the Australia Post Logo and Name on them. This was done unofficially without the permission of Australia Post, and sold over the counter. Eventually Australia Post acknowledged that they were official. Each booklet can be found with either the Little Grebe stamp or the Yellow Robin stamp with various selvedge combinations. Approximately 1,000 of each of the Parramatta and Rockdale folders were sold, with the Bexley folder selling around 500.