Australia 1914 5p King George V Official 'OS' Perfin

Australia · 1914 · 5p

This stamp features the definitive side-profile portrait of King George V, a common design for the British Commonwealth during his reign. It is perforated with the letters 'OS', which stands for 'Official Service' or 'On Service'. This 'perfin' (perforated initials) designated the stamp for use on official government mail, preventing theft and personal use by employees.

Issued during the early reign of King George V and the outbreak of World War I, these official perfins were a practical measure for managing government postage across the vast Australian continent.