1913 Auckland Exhibition Overprint.

          Encouraged by the success of the Christchurch Exhibition seven years earlier, the 'Auckland Industrial, Agricultural and Mining Exhibition' was held between the 1st of December 1913 and the 18th of April 1914. Unlike the Christchurch Exhibition, however, the issue of commemorative stamps was an afterthought.

          On the 29th of October 1913, the Auckland Philatelic Society wrote to the Postmaster-General suggesting the overprints. This was hastily approved and on the 11th of November the Government Printer was instructed to overprint 'AUCKLAND EXHIBITION, 1913' on four of the Edward VII definitives. There was insufficient time to inform the Universal Postal Union of the issue, and so the stamps were only valid for postage within New Zealand.

          Few stamps were printed and even then, a large number were left unsold at the end of the exhibition and destroyed. Since higher values were usually used for overseas postage, the set being restricted to New Zealand has made the 3d and 6d the scarcest New Zealand commemoratives.

                           

½d - Green Edward VII Overprinted.                                1d - Red Dominion Overprinted.

                           

3d - Brown Edward VII Overprinted.                                 6d - Red Edward VII Overprinted.

 The full set of four values cancelled with an Exhibition cancellation dated 22 Jan, 1914. 

Rather neat when you think about it, these stamps are now over 100 years old. 

Now two interesting postal items. As already mentioned above the Universal Postal Union wasn't informed about this issue so they weren't valid beyond New Zealand. Both of these items were sent to Sydney, Australia. This would of course make both of them illegal but still it appears both were excepted. Notice the label above was posted from the top of the exhibition tower. On the cover below there is a very clear postal strike saying the letter was unclaimed.

Auckland Exhibition Post Cards.

Below is a small collection of post card from the exhibition. It seems there are at least 5 of the colour ones. I would like to include all of them here at some point.



1913 Auckland Exhibition Cinderella #1 Auckland Exhibition Royal Artillery Band.

1913 Auckland Exhibition Cinderella #2, fine Auckland Bridge design. The bridge today is known as Grafton Bridge.

1913 Auckland Exhibition Cinderella #5, fine Maori design.

 Auckland Exhibition postcard real photo of the Tea Kiosk. This building is still standing beside the pond in the Auckland Domain. It is also still used as a café/tea rooms too.

Auckland Exhibition Wonderland postcard, photo of the exhibition site.



Auckland Exhibition postcard real photo framed, Exhibition Gardens. Much of these gardens can still be found today, 100 years later, as part of the Auckland Domain.