One of the most interesting of the “classic” countries to collect is New South Wales. Now part of the Australian federation, New South Wales (NSW) is Australia’s most populous state and was an independent country until 1901 when the seven component states of Australia joined to create one country. The stamps of NSW have always enjoyed great popularity among collectors primarily because the stamps are so interesting and can be collected at so many levels of specialty interest. The stamps themselves are not hard to find and can be obtained without robbing a bank. Specialists have long divided NSW issues into many different catalog numbers mainly by plate type and with paper types and design varieties there are scores of different stamps to collect for what to most people would seem to be each identical stamp. In the perforated period, after 1860, the number of plate, shade, watermark and type varieties are enormous. There are about thirty major design varieties and on these different designs the Gibbons catalog recognizes over 1500 distinct catalog numbers.
Philately offers different things to different people. Many enjoy the production value of a finely produced work of art (and collect say Sweden). Many like the completion and sense of order in collecting a narrow area with easy to find stamps (say with UN). Some like the grading challenge and finding fault with sellers and certification services (high quality US market). And some (and I have to say I am very sympathetic to this group) like the sheer pleasure of dividing the similar into as many distinct types as possible (and sometimes impossible). People like this should consider the stamps of New South Wales.