New South Wales 85

     New South Wales 85 is arguably the first map stamp with a design error. The design of Panama 1-7, issued 10 years earlier, has been described as showing "a Panama that never existed." The question is whether that is a design error or just poor art work. In any case, this stamp is one of the earliest cartophiatelic design errors.

     The stamp, issued in 1888 shows a map of the Australian continent with the Provinces indicated. However, the Province of the Northern Territory is included in South Australia. The Northern Territory had been annexed in 1863 to South Australia for administrative purposes, but was a separate provincial entity. In addition the Province of Tasmania is simply omitted.
     Below the continent is the inscription, "One Hundred Years." The same inscription is found on ten stamps with eight designs issued in 1888 which are generally considered to be the first commemorative stamps.