In 2019 the world celebrated 50 years since the first Moon landing. NZ Post was involved in three separate issues that marked this event. All 12 stamps, from three different stamp issues and three different postal administrations, are shown in this post along with miniature sheets and First Day Covers.
Sets issued by Niue and Tokelau.
Yes, we know this is a blog on New Zealand stamps but these two issues were too good to pass up.
New Zealand 3D Lenticular Miniature Sheet
Technical Information.
Date of issue: 1 May 2019.
Number of stamps: Four gummed stamps.
Denominations: $4.00 x 4.
3D lenticular miniature sheet designed: Sam Taylor, Napier, New Zealand.
Printer and process: Cartor Security Printers, lenticular 3D.
The number of colours: Four process colours.
Stamp size and format: 29.8 x 40.6mm (vertical).
Miniature sheet size and format: 200mm x 100mm (horizontal).
Paper type: Lenticular with 3D effect 846gsm.
The number of stamps per sheet: Four.
Perforation gauge: Die cut.
Period of sale: Unless stocks are exhausted earlier, this miniature sheet will remain on sale until 30 April 2020.
Four stamps from the New Zealand 3D Lenticular Miniature Sheet.
Sets issued by Niue and Tokelau.
Yes, we know this is a blog on New Zealand stamps but these two issues were too good to pass up.
New Zealand Moon Landing 50 Years.
In 2019 New Zealand issued the New Zealand Space Pioneers stamp issue to follow up the popular Rocket Lab issue of 2018. At the same time, a 3D miniature sheet was issued to mark 50 years since man first landed on the moon.
This 3D lenticular miniature sheet was a celebration of the world’s achievements in space exploration. The four stamps feature spacecraft Voyager 1, which reached interstellar space; the Space Shuttle, America’s reusable spacecraft which launched many satellites including the Space Station; the first man on the Moon, on 20 July 1969; and the lightweight craft Apollo Lunar Module, used to transport astronauts down to the Moon’s surface. The Solar System, a comet, nebula and the galaxy with exoplanets, and New Zealand's history-making Electron rocket by Rocket Lab form the background to the stamp sheet.
This 3D lenticular miniature sheet was a celebration of the world’s achievements in space exploration. The four stamps feature spacecraft Voyager 1, which reached interstellar space; the Space Shuttle, America’s reusable spacecraft which launched many satellites including the Space Station; the first man on the Moon, on 20 July 1969; and the lightweight craft Apollo Lunar Module, used to transport astronauts down to the Moon’s surface. The Solar System, a comet, nebula and the galaxy with exoplanets, and New Zealand's history-making Electron rocket by Rocket Lab form the background to the stamp sheet.
New Zealand 3D Lenticular Miniature Sheet.
Note that the poor quality of the four stamps below is because they were printed in 3D and have not reproduced well when scanned into digital formate. Have a close look at this miniature sheet. There is the lunar surface in the bottom left with the Earth behind it to the right. Behind the Earth are some other planets of our solar system, including; Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Rocket Lab's 'electron' rocket can be seen too.
The Four Stamps.
Note that the poor quality of the four stamps below is because they were printed in 3D and have not reproduced well when scanned into digital formate. Have a close look at this miniature sheet. There is the lunar surface in the bottom left with the Earth behind it to the right. Behind the Earth are some other planets of our solar system, including; Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Rocket Lab's 'electron' rocket can be seen too.
The Four Stamps.
Apollo Lunar Landing Module (Self Adhesive).
The Apollo Lunar Module, or simply lunar module (LM, pronounced "LEM"), originally designated the Lunar Excursion Module (lem), was the lander spacecraft that was flown from lunar orbit to the Moon's surface during the U.S. Apollo program. It was the first crewed spacecraft to operate exclusively in the airless vacuum of space and remains the only crewed vehicle to land anywhere beyond Earth.
Structurally and aerodynamically incapable of flight through Earth's atmosphere, the two-stage lunar module was ferried to lunar orbit attached to the Apollo spacecraft command and service module (CSM), about twice it's mass. Its crew of two flew the complete lunar module from lunar orbit to the surface and later flew the ascent stage back to the command module, whereupon it was discarded.
First Moon Walk / 20 July 1969 (Self Adhesive).
Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin formed the American crew that landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC. Armstrong became the first person to step onto the lunar surface six hours and 39 minutes later on July 21 at 02:56 UTC; Aldrin joined him 19 minutes later. They spent about two and a quarter hours together outside the spacecraft, and they collected 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) of lunar material to bring back to Earth. Command module pilot Michael Collins flew the command module Columbia alone in lunar orbit while they were on the Moon's surface. Armstrong and Aldrin spent 21 hours 31 minutes on the lunar surface at a site they named Tranquility Base before lifting off to rejoin Columbia in lunar orbit.
The Space Shuttle (Self Adhesive).
The Space Shuttle was a partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system that was operated from 1981 to 2011 by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the Space Shuttle program. Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS), taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft of which it was the only item funded for development. The first of four orbital test flights occurred in 1981, leading to operational flights beginning in 1982. In addition to the prototype whose completion was cancelled, five complete Shuttle systems were built and used on a total of 135 missions from 1981 to 2011, launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Operational missions launched numerous satellites, interplanetary probes, and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST); conducted science experiments in orbit; and participated in construction and servicing of the International Space Station. The Shuttle fleet's total mission time was 1322 days, 19 hours, 21 minutes and 23 seconds.
Voyager 1 (Self Adhesive).
The Voyager program is an American scientific program that sent two robotic probes, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, to study the outer Solar System. The probes were launched in 1977 to take advantage of a favourable alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Although their original mission was to study only the planetary systems of Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 2 continued on to Uranus and Neptune. The Voyagers now explored the outer boundary of the heliosphere and moved into interstellar space; their mission has been extended three times and they continue to transmit useful scientific data. As both spacecraft move further and further away, sooner or later their weakening power supply will mean they are unable to contact Earth and their missions will be over.
Notice the four stars that represent the Southern Cross.
Notice the four stars that represent the Southern Cross.
Niue Moon Landing 50 Years.
On Tuesday 2 July 2019, the Moon - Mahina - blocked the sun over the South Pacific Ocean, Chile and Argentina for a partial solar eclipse, and Niue was one of the best locations from which to view it. It will have been 50 years prior, on July 1969, that the Apollo 11 mission took the first humans to the surface of Mahina.
Set of Four Stamps.
30c Pre-launch.
The world awaits the launch of Saturn V on 16 July 1969.
At 1230 on May 20, the 5,443-tonne (5,357-long-ton; 6,000-short-ton) assembly departed the Vehicle Assembly Building atop the crawler-transporter, bound for Launch Pad 39A, part of Launch Complex 39, while Apollo 10 was still on its way to the Moon.
$1.40 Lift-off.
The Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle rises past the launch tower as it lifts off.
An estimated one million spectators watched the launch of Apollo 11 from the highways and beaches in the vicinity of the launch site. Around 3,500 media representatives were present. About two-thirds were from the United States; the rest came from 55 other countries. The launch was televised live in 33 countries, with an estimated 25 million viewers in the United States alone. Millions more around the world listened to radio broadcasts. President Richard Nixon viewed the launch from his office in the White House with his NASA liaison officer, Apollo astronaut Frank Borman.
$2.00 The Moon Walk.
A man walks on the Moon for the first time.
After describing the surface dust as "very fine-grained" and "almost like a powder", at 02:56:15, six and a half hours after landing, Armstrong stepped off Eagle's footpad and declared: "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."
$4.00 Landing
The Apollo 11 mission safely returned to Earth on 24 July 1969. Once the rescue helicopter arrives, the Apollo crew, wear protective suits prepare to be transferred to the prime recovery ship, USS Hornet.
Miniature Sheet and First Day Covers.
The miniature sheet shows the Saturn V launch vehicle mid-launch, with the full image, continued on the miniature sheet the first-day cover. The first-day cover features a close-up image of one of the astronauts descending a ladder into the Moon’s surface.
First Day Cover - 3 July 2019.
Miniature Sheet.
Min Sheet First Day Cover - 3 July 2019.
Set of Plate Blocks. Set of Value Blocks.
Set of Full Sheets.
Tokelau Moon Landing 50 Years.
Polynesian navigators look to the stars and the Moon to guide their ocean journeys. Hundreds of years on from the human discovery of Tokelau, humans went on to navigate their way into the stars, and 2019 marks 50 years since the first person set foot on Māhina - the Moon.
Set of Four Stamps.
45c Pre-launch.
Saturn V is prepared to launch on 16 July, as the three astronauts and over 450 personnel in the firing room await liftoff. As the minutes' tick by, various milestones in the count down passed. The three-man crew walked along the gantry to the left and entered their spacecraft. Once the hatch was secured the launch pad crew make final preparations before leaving the pad. Now everything during those last minutes was done remotely.
The small rocket above the capsule is the launch escape system which will pull the crew away from danger if anything goes wrong while the Saturn V is still on the pad.
$1.40 Lift-off.
Millions around the world watched the historic launch on television or listened to radio broadcasts. Seconds before lift-off the mighty engines of the Saturn V roar into life. In a spectacle of fire and smoke. slowly the rocket begins to move ever faster and faster. Every eye, every camera is on it as the rocket clears the launch tower and climbs into the sky.
Apollo 11 is on its way to the moon.
$2.00 Lunar Module.
The Apollo 11 Lunar Module rests on the Moon’s surface. An astronaut can be seen going about his tasks of setting up instruments and experiments that will continue to report back to Earth for many years.
The bottom half of the Lunar Module, wrapped in gold reflective foil, contains the rocket that lowered the module down to the lunar surface. This half will remain on the moon while the top, white half will return the two astronauts to meet Michael Collings in Lunar orbit.
$3.00 Landing.
The three Apollo 11 crewmen await pickup by a helicopter from the USS Hornet, prime recovery ship for the historic Apollo 11 mission.
Miniature Sheet and First Day Covers.
The miniature sheet and first-day cover feature a geometric design representing the stars, Moon and Sun. The first-day cover has a background photograph of the lunar surface, while the miniature sheet first-day cover shows the Saturn V launch vehicle before lift-off.
The miniature sheet and first-day cover feature a geometric design representing the stars, Moon and Sun. The first-day cover has a background photograph of the lunar surface, while the miniature sheet first-day cover shows the Saturn V launch vehicle before lift-off.
First Day Cover - 3 July 2019.
Miniature Sheet.
Min Sheet First Day Cover - 3 July 2019.
The Apollo 11 stack is being taken out to the launch pad. Notice the four stars of the Southern Cross included in the design.
Set of Plate Blocks. Set of Value Blocks.
Set of Full Sheets.
New Zealand 3D Lenticular Miniature Sheet
Technical Information.
Date of issue: 1 May 2019.
Number of stamps: Four gummed stamps.
Denominations: $4.00 x 4.
3D lenticular miniature sheet designed: Sam Taylor, Napier, New Zealand.
Printer and process: Cartor Security Printers, lenticular 3D.
The number of colours: Four process colours.
Stamp size and format: 29.8 x 40.6mm (vertical).
Miniature sheet size and format: 200mm x 100mm (horizontal).
Paper type: Lenticular with 3D effect 846gsm.
The number of stamps per sheet: Four.
Perforation gauge: Die cut.
Period of sale: Unless stocks are exhausted earlier, this miniature sheet will remain on sale until 30 April 2020.
Niue Technical Information.
Date of issue: 3 July 2019.
The number of stamps: Four gummed.
Denominations: 30c, $1.40, $2.00 and $4.00.
Stamps, miniature sheet and first day covers designed: Saint Andrew Matautia, New Zealand Post, Wellington, New Zealand.
Printer: Collectables and Solutions Centre, New Zealand Post, Whanganui, New Zealand.
The number of colours: Four process colours.
Stamp size and format: 30mm x 40mm (vertical).
Paper type: Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper.
The number of stamps per sheet: 16.
Perforation gauge: 13.33.
Special blocks: Plate and value blocks may be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet.
Period of sale: Unless stocks are exhausted earlier, these stamps will remain on sale until 2 July 2020.
Tokelau Technical Information.
Date of issue: 3 July 2019.
The number of stamps: Four gummed stamps.
Denominations: 45c, $1.40, $2.00 & $3.00.
Stamps, miniature sheet and first day covers designed: Saint Andrew Matautia, New Zealand Post, Wellington, New Zealand.
Printer: Collectables and Solutions Centre, New Zealand Post, Whanganui, New Zealand.
The number of colours: Four process colours.
Stamp size and format: 30mm x 40mm (vertical).
Paper type: Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper.
The number of stamps per sheet: 16.
Perforation gauge: 13.33.
Special blocks: Plate blocks and value blocks may be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet.
Period of sale: Unless stocks are exhausted earlier, these stamps will remain on sale until 2 July 2020.
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.
There are some really good photographs and stamps here. I think showing all three issues fit here.
ReplyDeleteIts a tiny bit confusing to try following the story of Apollo 11 because you have laid out this page according to their issuing country but its still an impressive collection.
Sam