1913 Government Life Insurance (Without 'VR')

Government life Insurance - Summary.

Back to 1891 Lighthouses.           Forward to 1947 Lighthouses.

       When I came to write about the early lighthouse sets I was under the impression that they were two simple sets, issued in 1891 and 1905. But then a study of the Campbell Patterson Catalogue revealed they were far more complex than I ever imagined. There were the 1891 issue and another in 1913. Between these were two stamps that didn't seem to fit with either group.

        My stamp collection, which was started by my grandfather and continued by my father had these stamps arranged in two groups as most simple catalogues would show them. My father did a major re-arranging and re-mounting of the collection about 40 years ago. This is mostly how the older stamps are today, although I intend to redo them at some point. I still have the much older albums from my grandfather so I had a look in those. Of course, there were no stamps but you could see where he had laid out the stamps by date and his handwritten notes on each one. He had also placed the 1905 & 1906 stamps as a separate group. For the 1905 2d Chestnut there were locations for three examples in my grandfather's album while in my father's album there is only one.

         It was at this point that I made an amazing discovery. I have a copy of the 1905 2d Chestnut. Campbell Patterson values this stamp at $8,750 for unhinged mint and $5,000 for hinged mint. I found I had a hinged mint copy in my album. I went to the set of stock books where a large number of surplus stamps were kept and discovered that I had two more copies of this stamp, one mint and one used. Gently lifting the mint one out revealed it to be fine unhinged mint. Wow, that was amazing.

         So according to his notes, my grandfather considered the 1905 2d chestnut and the 1906 1d blue to be separate from the other groups for two reasons. First, they didn't fit into the 1891 group because they have no 'VR". Secondly, they didn't fit into the 1913 group because they were issued and used before Government Life Insurance stopped using their own stamps for the period 1907 to 1913.  (See below) That is how I have laid them out here. They were at the end of my first post and I have also included them here, at the beginning of this post, but I consider the 1905 - 1906 stamps to be a separate issue.   

1891 Government Life Insurance (With VR)

Government Life Insurance - Summary.         Forward to 1913 Lighthouses.

         The New Zealand Government Life Insurance Department was opened in 1869 and started issuing its own stamps in 1891.  Up until that time The Insurance Office, in common with other Government services, had enjoyed franking privileges, paying an annual amount to the Post and Telegraph Department to cover the cost of postage on its correspondence. 

         The decision to issue the stamps was the result of a dispute between the two Departments regarding the calculation of postage costs. The matter was referred to an arbitrator but the Insurance Department insisted on paying future postage costs by the purchase of postage stamps. 

         To ensure that these stamps were only used for their intended purpose, they had to have a very distinctive design. Since the symbol of the Insurance Department was a lighthouse, all Government Life Insurance Department stamp designs have featured lighthouses. In the rays of the lighthouse are the words "State Security" and the letters "V R" are shown in the background, behind the lighthouse. So actually this was more like a personalised stamp, being issued by the Post Office but only used by the Insurance Office.

         The stamps were designed by WB Hudson (Life Insurance Department) and J F Rogers (Government Printing Office) and engraved by A E Cousins. The plates were then made at the Government Printing Office. The following values were issued: ½d, 1d, 2d, 3d, 6d and 1/- (1s). 

         The first issue was perf 12 x 11½ and was issued on rather poor quality paper in which the watermark has a 4mm gap between the NZ and star. This paper was also used for the Second Side-face Issue and often collectors referrer to it as the insurance paper. You will notice the poor quality of these stamps below with faults like colour variance, poorly centred stamps and ragged perforations.

1995 - 1997 Scenic Definitives

Definitives Tour.

Back to 1994 $20 Mt Cook Definitive.                              Forward to 2000 Scenic Definitives.

        In 1995 New Zealand started issuing a new series of scenic definitives. This series continues until today with some amazing stamps being released over the years. Take that stamp to the right of the mighty kauri tree Tane Mahuta 'Lord of the Forest'. A stunning photograph with so much detail on such a little stamp. Over a period of time, I intend to post all of these stamps on this blog in a series of pages like this one below. 

        Tracking modern Definitive issues has become a lot harder as they are no longer issued in larger sets like they once were. So a collector has the choice of trying to group them over a period of a few years or show them in his collection according to date of issue. In presenting groups of stamps in this blog, we have a similar problem.
        (You may wish to check out our post on 1985 - 1993 Native Bird Definitives to see how much it took to sort that lot out!) 

       This post will cover the Scenic Definitives issued over the period 1995 - 1997. There were other definitives issued during that period but we have chosen to present only the scenic ones. The first stamp in this collection appeared in October 1995 and the last one in February 1997. Not a long period I know - a little over 1 year but there were some great stamps.

       We have also included the three miniature sheets, issued for stamp exhibitions, that also featured these stamps. There are two other items, a special booklet issue and some adhesive stamps too. I also plan to throw in any other items of interest that I might come across as I prepare this post.

1929 Health Issue.

This issue can be viewed in our Health Stamp Collection

Health Stamps - Part One (1929 - 1930)

                          

The First Health Stamp.                                        Dr Elizabeth Gunn.

                                                                                 (1969 Health Issue.)

         The story of this issue begins much earlier on the 25th November 1919 when a Wanganui School Medical Officer, Dr Elizabeth Gunn, took 55 children to a farm near Marton, where they camped for three weeks under canvas. The camp was a great success so she continued with these camps each year up until 1930. Others around New Zealand took up the idea as well which became the beginning of Health Camps in New Zealand.

1936 Chamber of Commerce.

         This post is the first of three I will be doing on New Zealand primary export industries. This issue is the 1936 Chamber of Commerce while the second will be a set of 6 stamps issued in 1968 Trade Definitives. The third will be the 1978 Agriculture / Lincoln College Centenary. All three of these stamp issues are whole devoted to the Agriculture Industries. 

        The five stamps of this issue commemorate the Congress of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire, held at Wellington in October 1936. The Congress, first
convened in London in 1855, was a triennial event and this was the first occasion it had met in New Zealand.

        The stamps show the four main exports from New Zealand in the 1930s. When I was given this stamp issue to write about, Allan said do that thing you do about cows and sheep. Ok then Allan, you want my thing. LOL here goes.

2015 - 175th Anniversary Treaty of Waitangi.

          6 February 2015 marks the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and New Zealand Post marked this significant milestone with a commemorative stamp issue.

                                      

          The Treaty of Waitangi is a document in Maori and English that intended to found a nation-state and build a government in New Zealand. It was signed at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands on 6 February 1840 by Captain William Hobson, several English residents and around 45 Maori chiefs. By the time the Treaty had been taken around the country for signing, approximately 540 chiefs from around 39 areas of the country had signed. The Treaty consists of nine documents in all – seven on paper and two on parchment.
          Different understandings of the Treaty have long been a subject of debate. However, today as Maori and the Crown are finalising the settlements of all major claims, the treaty is being seen in a different light, and is beginning to take on a more mediatory role rather than being a point of grievance.

           This over-sized commemorative stamp is a blend of the old and the new, combining a coin design by James Berry with contemporary Maori design.

           The central aspect of the stamp design depicts the figures of Tamati Waka Nene and William Hobson and is based on the Waitangi Crown – a coin minted in 1935. Though the coin was not technically a commemorative coin, it functioned like one and was sold for more than their face value. This coin was struck after the New Zealand Numismatic Society approached the government suggesting a new coin marking the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
On the stamp, Ngapuhi chief Tamati Waka Nene is seen shaking hands with William Hobson, the first governor of New Zealand.

          They are set against a backdrop of sculptural designs executed by Rangi Kipa, based on his development of two Northland designs of Unahi (fish scale) and Kiri Kiore (Pacific rat). The fish scale design references the value of the abundant sea life that formed a staple part of the diet sustaining the many Maori coastal communities and the Kiri kiore design is a visual metaphor that relates the beauty of the Kiore pelt to that of a finely woven cloak which had great value in Maori society.

An Official Post.

    

        The first 'OFFICIAL' stamps, stamps designed for use by Government Departments, was issued in 1882. In January 1907, the New Zealand government decided that all public service mail should use these special stamps overprinted with the word Official. It was not until 1913 that mint official stamps could be sold to the public.
         As this post will only show Official Stamps, that appeared in a number issues, particularly definitive issues, we have provided links to take you to full, more detailed posts on each issue.
                                                                            

1935 Silver Jubilee.

Silver Jubilee of King George V.

Victoria          Edward VII          George V          Edward VIII           George VI           Elizabeth II.

        When doing a post on a 1935 issue, I begin with a 1990 miniature sheet. "Why?" You maybe asking. Well my goal is first to give you the background story of the Royal Family before we focus in the George V Silver Jubilee issue. What better way to do it than this miniature sheet.
        After the very long and successful reign of his mother Queen Victoria, Edward VII came to the throne. Already being an old man, his reign didn't last long before he was succeeded by his son, George V. Three of the George V Definitives can be seen below.

                               

George V Definitives. (Three Examples)

Errors, Flaws and Varieties

         One of the features of this blog are the large number of stamps considered to be Errors, Flaws or Varieties. We have decided to create a page in our index to list these so readers can find them. They will be listed in chronological order with a brief description and link to their location.

       When Allan suggested the idea to me I went searching for what each of the items listed in the heading were. There seems to be a lot of confusion among stamp collectors. We maybe considered wrong here but we have agreed to call them as follows. Please feel free to leave us a comment below regarding this.
       A Error - This is a design error such as a spelling mistake or other such error in the design.
       A Flaw - This is an error made during the printing process, such as:- missing colour, colour or perf shift, ink marks caused during printing.
      A Variety - This is where one stamp in the sheet differs from the others. They include:- plate damage, plate retouches, design differences to the stamps.
                                                                                                                   Asami.

Total Listed here:- 630

1935 Pictorials

Definitive Tour.

Back to George V Definitives.                               Forward to George VI Definitives.

The 1935 Pictorial Issue.

         By 1931 several of the plates for the King George V definitive stamps were noticeably worn. Given that the design of the 1926 Admirals issue had been severely criticised, the authorities decided to try the same approach which had worked so well in 1898 - a design competition for a new set of pictorial stamps.

         Entries were divided into New Zealand subject groups: fauna, scenery, Maori art, agricultural, history and sport, then examples were chosen for the stamps being issued. Over 1,500 entries were received and designs from eleven contributors were included in the final set. Some unsuccessful entries can be seen at the bottom of this post.

         The stamps suffered a series of delays though - printing by photogravure was abandoned in favour of line etching with the exception of the ninepenny stamp which was the first New Zealand stamp printed by offset lithography. There were also issues with paper quality and the shilling stamp design was changed again just before issue. Finally, in 1935 the set was ready to be issued.

The Millennium Series - The Complete Series.

 First Heritage Series.                    Second Heritage Series.                    Third Heritage Series.

       There were three Heritage Series through the late 1980s and 1990s The First Heritage Series was a set of six issues lead up to the celebrations of New Zealand's 150th Anniversary in 1990. The Second Heritage Series looked at the four decades, the 1920s - 1950s, where New Zealand gained its own identity and emerged as the nation we know today. This is The Third Heritage Series, six issues leading up to the Year 2000. I am going to include the seventh issue in this series as it seems to fit with the basic theme of this heritage series marking the beginning of the century. 

Put together on a page like this they make a great record of New Zealand's Heritage. You can view the entire series on one page, then follow the links to learn more about each issue and the individual stamps. 

1999/2000 Millennium Series VI - The Last Sunset / A New Dawn.

Millennium Series V.     Millennium Series Overview.

                   

       The first of these two issues were not considered to be part of the Millennium Series. I added it, as it marked the event the Millennium Series was leading up to. It is a rather unusual issue called 'The Last Sunset,' which was created by taking on older issue from 1997 and adding a design overprinted on the selvage. The second issue seen here is the Millennium VI Issue, consisting of a single stamp, plus a FDC and a Miniature Sheet to mark the first sunrise, anywhere in the world, of the new century.

1999 Millennium V - Leading the Way.

        Millennium Series IV.                       Millennium Series VI.



 Millennium Series Overview.

          For a relatively small country, New Zealand has an impressive list of achievements to its name – a reflection of our history as a country of pioneers with a ‘can do’ attitude that insists there are no such things as problems; merely solutions.
        Leading the Way, the fifth in a series of stamps leading up to the new millennium, captured some of New Zealand’s defining moments, and the people who made them possible.

         When I began working on this post I quickly realised there was a parallel with a post I did a few months ago 1990 Heritage Set 5 - The Achievers. In fact, two of the people we looked at in that earlier issue also are featured in this issue too. What is different though is that while back then the lives of the people were considered, here, there is more a sense of the importance of what they did for New Zealand.

        I think the key to understanding this difference is in the title 'Leading the Way." At first I thought of these achievers leading the way but then I realised that it was through their efforts that put New Zealand ahead of the rest of the world in a particular way or particular field of endeavour.  

1997 / 2009 The Year of the Ox.

The Year of the Ox



     

          People born in the Year of the Ox are natural leaders – dependable, calm, modest and hardworking. Just like the animal they represent, they are tireless in their work and capable of enduring any hardship without complaint. They’re also known for their intelligence, although they can be strong-minded and stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed. Famous Oxen include Napoleon Bonaparte, Vincent Van Gogh and Walt Disney.

          In 1997, New Zealand first issued a miniature sheet for the 11th Asian International Philatelic Exhibition. Three stamps from the Cattle of New Zealand issue was included in this sheet as it was also intended to celebrate the Chinese New Year, in this case the Year of the Ox.

          Twelve years later New Zealand again celebrated the Year of the Ox, this time with a set of three stamps and what had by then become the annual miniature sheet. This is the purpose of this post to look at both these issues in greater detail than they were presented in our Chinese New Year collection.

         I hope to return to this post in another twelve years and add the third stamp issue celebrating the Year of the Ox. Meanwhile you can view our Chinese New Year Collection.

1999 Millennium IV - Nostalgia

Millennium Series III.                       Millennium Series V.



 Millennium Series Overview.



       The fourth Millennium Issue is called 'Nostalgia.' As the 20th century drew to a close, NZ Post thought it seemed appropriate to celebrate with fondness the wide range of items that many New Zealanders still vividly recalled. We remembered the tin toys played with in childhood, the solid china cups that were a railway institution and the Woman’s Weekly. We treasured the memories of the wireless, the cake tins commemorating Royal Visits, the valued collectibles like stamps and pre-decimal currency. All were part of a daily life in New Zealand.

        When my mother pasted away, one of the tasks we had to do was to clean out her house. There was so much stuff there, it was amazing she could get so much into that little house. Not just the items seen on shelves but what was hidden away too. Boxes of it, in cupboards, under beds etc. I remember thinking; 'What are we going to do with all this stuff?' What had been treasures to her seemed like junk to us.

        Many of the items were like those seen in these stamps. They did bring back memories of our childhood, normal everyday things when we were growing up. Stories were brought out, we laughed about things we had done. The task took much longer then it needed.

        Now I am looking at the desk in front of me as I write this. There is my 1970s lava lamp. My lumps of Kauri gum, the toy cows and sheep. In the book shelf behind me is my library, books I have collected over the years. Among them is my first book on space 'Exploring the Planets' from 1958. There are my childhood train books, among them 'The Little Blue Engine,' short train stories, sort of  like Thomas the Tank Engine. Out in the lounge is my collection of vintage car models. The sailing ship sitting above them, also in that cabinet, my first model train.

        Then the thought suddenly comes to me; 'I'm as bad as my mother was.' My treasures are all around me too. Full of memories for me but mostly likely junk to those who will clean up after me.

150 Posts - Celebrate New Zealand.

        
          In some ways this blog is a celebration of New Zealand through the stamps which it issues. We have looked at many aspects of this country, from its beautiful scenery to its relatively short history; form the culture of the Maori people to the proud achievements of a modern country. Of course there is much more to come. Over the next fifty posts we will continue to explore more of New Zealand's culture, heritage and history through the many issues of stamps we have yet to feature.  

          For now I want to sit back and reflect what has been achieved here. This blog started small with only one person posting. I never intended to select my post subjects in an organised way, rather just doing whatever appeals to me at the time. In some ways this has created a disorganised collection of posts, in other ways it has led to a wide variety of subjects.

         Recently a new index system listing and connecting every post to a historical list of issues has been developed by one of our writers, Asami. Another writer, Mary, has almost completed the classic section of New Zealand stamps. Her intention is to continue working forward through the 1930s. Our writer, Anne, is new to postage stamp collecting, her passion is writing. With our help and advice she has turned our some interesting posts. In another recent development we have considered the deeper aspects of stamp collecting by starting to include technical details on each stamp issue we write about now. 

          So now we come to two questions:- First; how do we celebrate 150 posts? Second; Where do we go from here?

          The second question is easy to answer. We continue on as we have been doing, posting, developing, changing as we feel the need.

         As for the first question, a recent meeting between us we looked at ideas and it finally came down to two. One was to do a post featuring stamps from many of our more popular posts, in effect letting you, our readers decided which stamps to use in a review of 150 posts. The other idea was that we should feature an issue that celebrates New Zealand in some way, which is where I began above. To celebrate New Zealand is the underlying purpose of this blog. This is what we decided, the sheet shown below was selected and it was decided I should do this post.

          First I have shown the whole sheet, then I have broken it up into single stamps so we can view each one in greater detail. When I look at this sheet I wonder just how many of them were actually broken up. In my case I just cut them out on the computer. I hope you enjoy this post as something a bit different and I hope you will still be reading this blog 50 posts from now when we celebrate 200 posts.      Allan

1998 Millennium Series III - Urban Transformations.

Millennium Series II.                       Millennium Series IV.



 Millennium Series Overview.

          Millennium III, the third in a series of five issues leading up to the Year 2000, took New Zealand's changing cities as its theme. They all began with the first organised European settlement in 1840 and have been in a state of constant change ever since. All had a blueprint for their evolution, a plan for their establishment and growth, though in virtually every case the reality and the planning never quite matched.

          By the beginning of this century, the main centres at least – Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington - included substantial commercial and financial buildings, factories and, from around 1900, department stores. Transport systems such as buses and trams had also appeared.

         The late-Victorian classical/Gothic look of around 1900 would survive largely intact until the 1960s, when economic growth and modernist architecture prompted the erection of much larger office buildings. Meanwhile, increased interest in, and awareness, of public health and town planning issues saw many older houses in city centres demolished and replaced with new ferro-concrete and steel buildings.

         In the mid-1980s, another period of economic growth, prompted by financial deregulation, resulted in huge mirror glassed 'corporate' towers rising up to dominate parts of the skyline. That trend was checked by the stock market crash of 1987, only to be replaced over the next decade by another - the emergence of inner city apartments.

Express Delivery & Air Mail 1903 - 1939.

   
        Originally our plan was for Anne to tidy up these few issues so Allan and I could work on other projects. Then Anne was given the Chinese New Year posts to do so since I was between projects, I decided to do this small collection of special issues myself.

       In 1903 and 1939 New Zealand issued a special stamp for express delivery service. Between 1931 and 1935 a series of stamps were issued for airmail services. These issues stand out from other New Zealand stamps in that they were only used for a single purpose.

        Normally these two groups would be considered as different sets, in the Campbell Patterson Catalogue they are even assigned separate sections, but since they are both stamps produced for special, faster services, we will be featuring them here as one post.

1998 / 2010 The Year of the Tiger.

         After doing my last Chinese New Year post they suggested I should do another two. At the moment there are only two signs left where NZ Post has released two issues. All the others have been done already in this blog. Go see the links in our Chinese New Year Collection.

        Chinese people have been part of New Zealand’s cultural make-up since the 1860s, when the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce sought workers for the Otago gold mines. From a population of just over 1,200 in 1867, the Chinese/ Taiwanese Chinese population had grown to more than 145,000 – a vital part of a multicultural society. Today (2015) that number is much larger and you will find Chinese, or other Asians in all sectors of New Zealand society.

       Chinese New Year festivals have rapidly become a highlight of New Zealand’s entertainment calendar. They include colourful street parades, a bustling Asian markets and local or international cultural performances of various kinds. We usually go to the lantern festival held in Albert Park of downtown Auckland. As well as the displays and lights, there are the dancing displays and stalls. Oh not forgetting the food! 

         People born in the Year of the Tiger (1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986 and 1998) are generally well liked because of their charismatic personalities. Always at their happiest when climbing the ladder of success, they are quick learners and like their sign, often prefer to hunt (work) alone. Famous ‘Tigers’ include Agatha Christie, Marilyn Monroe, Queen Elizabeth II and Tom Cruise.

Arms Postal Fiscals - Part Three.

Back to  Arms Postal Fiscals - Part Two.

         This will be my last post on Revenue Stamps. I feel it is about time I moved on to something else. In this, my final post of Revenue Stamps, I want to just present a small collection of items where the Arms Stamps have been used. First I have included some postal items using Arms Type stamps. Lower down we come to a few examples of Revenue use, including a nice little collection of telephone toll cards. I will end this study with what I have called the ultimate Revenue document. Make sure you check that one out.

Postal Use. 

A First Flight Pictorial cover, dated 19th July 1940, sent to the USA and return, via Noumea, Canton Island, Hawaii. The postage was 4/- paid with a 4/- Arms stamp. 

Arms Postal Fiscals - Part Two.

Back to Arms Postal Fiscals - Part One.          Forward to Arms Postal Fiscal - Part Three. 

      In this post I will show you the complete Arms set. Both the original 1931 Issue and the 1940 Overprint Issue. When I first began to study Revenue stamps I thought that the 1940 Overprints were bold black figures overprinted on existing stamps but actually, in the lower values, most of them were new values being added to the 1931 set. You will notice that further down the page, some of the high values were existing stamps overprinted in 1940. Because of this overlap between issues I have decided arranged them on this page with both issues being combined as one set. 

  

1/3 - Lemon.                                   1/3 - Orange/Yellow.                                 1/3 - Black Text.                                1/3 - Blue Text.

 1s 3d - Lemon Arms Type was issued in 1931. When it proved difficult to read it was re-issued a few months later in an Orange-Yellow colour. It was issued with black text in 1955.  In July 1956 a mistake was made with blue lettering in place of the black.    

1998 - Millennium Series II - A New Beginning.



Immigration to a New Land.

          The second issue in the Millennium series was about immigration to New Zealand by people wanting to make a new start in a new country.

Millennium Series I.                       Millennium Series III.



 Millennium Series Overview.

          New Zealand was the last major land area outside the polar regions to be occupied by humans. This occupation began a thousand years ago and involved, perhaps, a few thousand migrants who braved the south-west Pacific Ocean to get to New Zealand from Central Polynesia.
          European settlement began seriously in New Zealand around 1815, and by 1881, the non-Maori population had reached half a million. By the middle of that same decade, people born in New Zealand became a majority of the non-Maori population.
          By the time the Immigration Act 1987 was passed, less than half of New Zealand’s new permanent migrants were from Europe or North America. The new Act favoured those with skills New Zealand needed, as a result, there was a rapid increase in the numbers of migrants coming from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia.
          In the 1990s, a point system opened up immigration even further and by 1995 Taiwan had replaced Britain as the largest country of origin.

              

         40c - The Maori /The First Settlers.                               $1.00 - Fortune Seekers (1800-1920).

80c - British / European Settlers (1840-1914). 

              

$1.20 - Post War British / European Migrants (1945-1970).

$1.50 - Pacific Islanders (1960-).

$1.80 - Asian Arrivals (1980-).

2003 / 2015 The Year of the Sheep.

        In 2003 and 2015 Chinese celebrated The New Year under the Chinese lunar sign The Year of the Sheep. In both years New Zealand Post issued stamps and a miniature sheet to mark this event. Following on with Allan's series of Chinese New Year issues, I will be looking at both of  these issues in this post. When we reach the Year of the Sheep for a third time I hope to include that issue here as well.

      See our complete collection of Chinese New Year Issues.

2015 The Year of the Sheep.

 The Chinese Zodiac consists of 12 signs of the zodiac – rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey rooster, dog and pig. Also known as Year of the Ram or Goat, the sheep is the eighth animal in the Chinese lunar calendar, and is known to be gentle and calm.
Calm and gentle, I like that; it describes sheep well. Sheep are not dumb animals as many would believe. The main problem is when they are being herded or handled be humans, they become stressed. Then all reason goes out the door. Take your time, herd them gently, keep the dogs backed off and you'll be amazed how much difference it makes.