In March 1999 Australia was the first country in the world to introduce "personalized stamps" at the international exhibition in Melbourne. Australia Post set up cameras and added pictures next to a real stamp. The photo stamps can be used as se-tenant pairs with the real stamp on mail. Collectors around the world could order these and other stamps online.
![Polly Woodside](personal3.gif)
The 45c Polly Woodside stamp, released as part of the Sailing Ships of Australia stamp issue, was first issued with a tab attached to the left side of the stamp. This tab featured the Australia 99 logo printed in gold and black. It was also available as a Personalised Stamp in a sheetlet of 20.
![Celebrate 2000](personal2.gif)
The Celebrate 2000 stamp reflects the innovations in technology and the changing of the year. It features a hologram switching between the years 1999 and 2000 inset into the stamp and colourful fireworks. The stamp also comes with a tab (reading 'Celebrate 2000') which is available for personalising using the Personalised Stamps service.
![Full size sheet](personal9.jpg)
Now Australia Post has another world first - portable personalized stamps. The very first trial printing was at a Scouting jamboree in January 2000. Australia Post took a portable unit to the jamboree, took photos of the people there and made a mini-sheet (M/S) out of it on the spot virtually. As this was a trial, stamp collectors were only made aware of the existence of the M/S recently in the stamp magazines, and it is scarce.
When the Post Office receives the persons picture, they print out a proof run to make sure the photo is OK, and if it is all right, they then use the photo with their M/S - the proofs should then be destroyed, but this one was actually sent back to the people whose photo was taken.