On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns fell silent along the Western Front. The First World War had effectively ended. To commemorate this important centenary and honour those who served, a series of official stamps and legal tender commemorative coins have been issued.
These were good stamps and I believe that it is a good idea to remember the end of World War I in this way. The design almost has a formal appearance, very much in keeping with stamps of the early 1900s. But I think something should have been added regarding the subject of each stamp, eg Airforce, Navy, Army etc.
The Stamps.
$1.20 - Air Force.
New Zealand contributed to the First World War in the air by training hundreds of pilot for service in British squadrons. The Royal New Zealand Air Force was established in 1937 just before the Second World War. In 2018 its 2,500 regulars and several hundred reservists mainly performed surveillance and emergency relief roles, flying NH90 and Super Seasprite helicopters and long-distance Orion and cargo-carrying Hercules aircraft.
$1.20 - Medical Services.
More than half of New Zealand's 700 registered doctors and 550 nurses from the New Zealand Army Nursing Service served in the Medical Corps during the First World War. By 1918, advances in treatment had significantly improved injured men's chances of survival.
$2.40 - Army.
The vast majority of Kiwis who served overseas during the First World War were in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The New Zealand Army was formally established in 1950. It now makes up more than half of the New Zealand Defence Force with 4,500 regulars and 1,600 reservists.
$3.00 - Navy.
During the First World War, Royal Navy cruisers stationed in New Zealand waters in peacetime were sent to the Mediterranean. The Royal New Zealand Navy was established in 1941. In 2018, its 2,500 personnel and 10 ships patrol New Zealand's huge Exclusive Economic Zone and provide emergency relief at home and overseas.
$3.60 - Poppy.
Since the publication of "In Flanders Fields" red poppies have evoked memories of wartime loss and are used around the world as official symbols of remembrance. In New Zealand, poppies are worn on ANZAC Day rather than Armistice Day.
Other Collectibles.
The first-day cover is date-stamped on the day of issue. It features a poppy and silver fern design with each the five stamps attached.
The miniature sheet displays the New Zealand flag over a black background. It features all five Armistice 1918-2018 stamps.
The miniature sheet of five Armistice 1918-2018 stamps is affixed to an envelope depicting the sun rising over Flanders Fields. It is date-stamped on the day of issue.
The presentation pack is the premium collector’s item for this stamp issue. It includes a first-day cover, a miniature sheet and a set of five stamps
Read more about the Armistice in 1918 and the flow-on effects of the end of WW1 with copy by David Green, a historian at Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Technical Information.
Date of Issue - 1 October 2018.
Number of Stamps - Five gummed.
Denominations - $2.20 x 2; $2.40; $3.00; $3.60.
Stamps and first day covers designed by - Dave Burke, Auckland, New Zealand.
Printer and Process - Southern Colour Print, by offset lithography.
Number of Colours - Four process colours plus matt varnish.
Stamp size and format - 45.6mm X 5mm (horizontal).
Miniature sheet size and format - 185mm x 95mm (horizontal).
Paper Type - Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper.
The number of stamps per sheet - 25.
Perforation gauge - 14.286 x 14.47.
Period of sale - until 30 September 2019.
Printer and Process - Southern Colour Print, by offset lithography.
Number of Colours - Four process colours plus matt varnish.
Stamp size and format - 45.6mm X 5mm (horizontal).
Miniature sheet size and format - 185mm x 95mm (horizontal).
Paper Type - Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper.
The number of stamps per sheet - 25.
Perforation gauge - 14.286 x 14.47.
Period of sale - until 30 September 2019.
2018 Armistice Stamp Show.
This year’s New Zealand National stamp exhibition - Armistice Stamp Show 2018, was held from 9-11 November in Dunedin. This annual exhibition is sanctioned by the New Zealand Philatelic Federation.
New Zealand Post created a unique miniature sheet and miniature sheet first day cover for this exhibition. The miniature sheet features three of the five stamps in this issue - each presenting one of the three branches of the New Zealand Defence Force – the Navy, Army and Air Force. The First Day Cover features a unique stained-glass window design the reflects the common design of the Armistice Stamps.
Exhibition Miniature Sheet with one $1.20, one $2.40 and one $3.00 stamp.
(Surcharged to fund Philatelic Trust for hobby support)
Miniature Sheet First Day Cover - 9 November 2018.
Technical information.
Date of issue: 9 November 2018.
Miniature sheet: One exhibition miniature sheet with two gummed stamps.
Miniature sheet and souvenir cover designed: Stamps and Collectables Business, New Zealand Post, Wellington, New Zealand.
Printer and process: Southern Colour Print by offset lithography.
The number of colours: Four process colours.
Miniature sheet size and format: 147mm x 82mm.
Paper Type: Tullis Russell 104gsm Red Phosphor Gummed Stamp Paper.
Period of sale: These stamps remained on sale until 8 November 2019. The souvenir cover remained on sale until 4 January 2019.
Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ
You can visit their website and Online Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/
Information & images for this post came from.