Simpson and his Donkey.

This post was inspired by one of the stamps from 2015 - The Spirit of ANZAC - 1915.

         On the 25th of April, 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops saw action for the first time in World War I.  The aim of the campaign was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul) and eliminated both of Germany's Balkan allies (Turkey and Bulgaria) from the war. 

         This poorly planned landing went wrong from the start. Instead of landing on the chosen beach the Australian and New Zealanders landed further north on a narrow beach surrounded by steep hills. For six months they held this beach, making little headway inland against fierce resistance from the Turkish soldiers. Finally the decision had to be made to pull the troops back off the beach.

2015 New Zealand Native Shells

New Zealand’s diversity of seashell fauna can be attributed to our isolation and geological history, allowing for over 2000 native seashell species to thrive in our waters. I was amazed to learn that there were as many as that. In this issue we see five of these species found only in New Zealand, ranging from the common silver paua to the prized deep-water golden volute.

                             

    80c - Silver Paua.                                    $1.40 - Scott’s Murex.                              $2.00 - Golden volute.

                

    $2.50 - Fan shell.                                 $3.00 - Opal top shell.

1894 The Wreck of the SS Wairarapa.

         In the third worst shipwreck ever in New Zealand waters, 121 lives were lost when the Union Steam Ship Company steamer SS Wairarapa struck Miners Head, on the northern tip of Great Barrier Island, 90 km north-east of Auckland. As the island’s only contact with the outside world was via a weekly steamer, news of the shipwreck took three days to reach Auckland. This highlighted the need for better communication between the island and the mainland. A need that would eventually lead to the Great Barrier Pigeongram Services.

1936 - 1965 - Early ANZAC Issues.

          On the 25th of April, 1915, New Zealand troops saw action for the first time in World War I.  The aim of the campaign was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul).  The goal was to eliminated both of Germany's Balkan allies (Turkey and Bulgaria) from the war, and relieved the Russians from the heavy German pressure they were facing. 
         The poorly planned landing went wrong from the start. Instead of landing on the chosen beach the Australian and New Zealanders landed further north on a narrow beach surrounded by steep hills. For six months they held this beach, making little headway inland against fierce resistance from the Turkish soldiers. Finally the decision had to be made to pull the troops back off the beach.
        This heroic but disastrous campaign left 2,721 New Zealanders dead and 4,752 wounded which was a big hit for such a small country. Over the years much criticism has been made of the British leaders who planned this attack. It would eventually lead to the New Zealand and Australian military becoming more independent from Britain.  
        The campaign became a symbol of New Zealand (and Australia's) war losses. The 25th of April is observed in both countries as ANZAC Day - to remember those countries men and women whose lives were lost in war. 'ANZAC' is an acronym made up of the initials of the 'Australian and New Zealand Army Corps'.
 

2009 - 2010 Scenic Definitives.

Definitive Tour.

   Back to 2007 Scenic Definitives.                                           Forward to 2012 Scenic Definitives.  

   

   New Zealand Post continued with its Scenic Definitive Series with two issues in 2009 & 2010. Again the scenes were spread widely across New Zealand. While I like these stamps and have enjoyed featuring them in this series of posts I can't help wondering if this definitive series doesn't get mixed up with issues from the longer running scenic series that appears each year.   

1955 Stamp Centenary

      This set has already been shown on this blog, in our post - 2005 - 150 Years of New Zealand Stamps, but considering the importance of this issue to the history of New Zealand Stamps, we felt it deserved its own page. I believe the clever way these three stamps were designed is often overlooked by collectors in their search for more attractive and exciting stamps. I hope this page below might go some way to correcting this.

         This 1955 issue featured the three values shown above. While appearing to be simple designs, I will show you below that some thought has gone into them, cleverly linking the stamps and postal system of 1855, with the stamps and postal system of 1955.  
        Designs of three of the most famous designers of New Zealand stamps were selected. R M Conly's design depicting a Maori Mail Runner was used for the 2d stamp, J Berry's design depicting Queen Elizabeth II in a style similar to that of the first New Zealand stamps was selected for the 3d stamp and A G Mitchell's design depicting an aircraft in flight appeared on the 4d stamp. Three famous designers, another claim to fame for this often under-rated stamp issue.

1957 Anniversaries.

        In 1957 New Zealand began the tradition of issuing stamps to celebrate Anniversaries. There had been some before this but only for cities and provinces. This changed in 1957 when NZ Post began issuing stamps celebrating the anniversaries of important events and organisations.

       The two issue below were actually released at separate times during the year but we have grouped them together for this post. First we have the 1957 Lamb Export 75th Anniversary and then we feature the 1957 Plunket Society 50th Anniversary.

1956 Southland Centennial

          With the town of Invercargill being surveyed and laid out in 1856 it was agreed that Southland's Centennial was to be celebrated in January 1956, although smaller settlements at Riverton, Bluff and on Stewart Island existed before that year.
          Three stamps were issued to commemorate the event, depicting whaling, and farming scenes plus the rare bird - the takahe.  A competition was held to select the stamp designs, with the end result being that the 2d design was completed by E R Leeming, the 3d by L C Mitchell and the 8d by M R Smith.

         In selecting the designs via a contest I believe the opportunity was lost to create a issue of similar designs. To me the 8d always stands out as being different to the other two values.

Whaling - 2d.

1950 Canterbury Centennial

        On 17 August 1840 French settlers landed at Akaroa and founded the first town.  A few years later farms at Purau, Riccarton, and Pigeon Bay were established and it was from here the establishment and extension of the province grew. The first settlers chosen by the Canterbury Association (formed in England) disembarked from the first four immigrant ships - 'Charlotte Jane', 'Sir John Seymour', 'Cressy' and 'Randolph', at Lyttelton in December 1850 and this date is recognised as that of the official founding of Canterbury.  John Robert Godley had been placed in charge of the first colonists.  These pioneers who chose to settle at Christchurch had to make a laborious trek over the hills separating Lyttelton and Christchurch by way of a rough track, which became known as the Bridle Path.
         This five value stamp issue by three well-known stamp designers sets out to remember those early times and the people who made Canterbury and Christchurch what they are today. 

Christchurch Cathedral - 1d.

1948 Otago Centennial

          In 1948, the settlement of the Otago Province and the founding of the city of Dunedin on 23 March 1848 were commemorated by four stamps depicting the arrival of the immigrant ships, the town of Cromwell, the First Dunedin Church and the University of Otago. The stamps are classic James Berry designs, being full of fine detail. The 1d is famous for its colour shifts of the blue centre, examples of which can been seen below.

2015 ANZAC Joint Issue.

         New Zealand Post partnered with Australia Post to mark 100 years since the Gallipoli campaign with a joint stamp and coin issue commemorates the relationship New Zealand and Australia share under the banner of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).  100 hundred years later the two countries join together to remember the New Zealand and Australian men who fought together on the beach and on the hills at Gallipoli.

                       

80c - ANZAC Joint Issue.                            $2 - ANZAC Joint Issue. 

(New Zealand)                                               (New Zealand)

2007 Scenic Definitives

Definitive Tour.

2004-2006 Tourism Definitives.                                                  2009-2010 Scenic Definitives. 

     

        In 2007 New Zealand issued another set of Scenic Definitives. This time there were seven gummed stamps with two designs repeated as adhesive stamps for coils and booklets. These stamps are still current at the time this post was created (March 2015). 

        New Zealand is known as one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and each year thousands of visitors make their journey here to enjoy our unique natural environment. As Kiwis, we’re lucky to have such a wonderful environment at our doorstep. This stamp issue is about recognising our unique scenery, protecting it and promoting it overseas. 

\

5c - Whakarewarewa, Rotorua.

2015 - The Spirit of ANZAC 1915

World War I Commemorative Book Series.

Back to 2014 For King and Empire - 1914.

Forward to 2016 Courage & Commitment - 1916.

        This issue follows on from the one issued in 2014 called "1914 For King and Empire." That first issue saw the beginning of World War I and the sending of troops to fight overseas. Now a year later we find the New Zealanders fighting in Gallipoli, along side soldiers from Australia. Over the next three years, there will be three more issues as we follow the story of New Zealand's involvement in the war.
        
         NZ Post says on their web site:
In 1915 New Zealand’s role in the First World War reached a new level. In near-impossible conditions, the New Zealand Expeditionary Force took part in the Gallipoli campaign alongside our Australian neighbours. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) was formed and the spirit of Anzac lives on today.

        That is where the word 'ANZAC' comes from, little known in other parts of the world but so famous in Australia and New Zealand. Ever since they fought together in Gillipoli there has been a close relationship between the two countries. More recently a closer bond has been formed with Turkey as well.  In 1998 New Zealand and Turkey did a joint issue '1998 Memorial Statues - Joint Issue with Turkey.' You can find this in our collection, Military/ANZAC Part One.

2004 - Landscapes of Middle-Earth.

         Following the success of three Lord of the Rings stamp issues celebrating the three movies, NZ Post decided to issue one further series in 2004 featuring landscapes of Middle-Earth. The set of eight stamps depicted 4 different landscapes each as they appeared in the trilogy and as they appear today.  The locations are given below the stamps.

        Three movies filmed at the same time then edited and released over the space of three years, This was an amazing achievement for New Zealand. Even more so was the exposure it gave our country. Many people saw scenes of New Zealand for the first time. Many saw how beautiful the country was and decided to see it for themselves. A sub-tourism industry has grown up around has grown up around locations where the filming took place. Of course, everyone immediately thinks of Hobbiton near Matamata but there are many other locations around New Zealand as well. These stamps only show four of them which hardly does justice to the subject.  

1981 Government Life Insurance Office Lighthouses.

   Back to 1969 Lighthouses.                Government Life Insurance - Summary. 

        Special stamps for use solely by the Government Life Insurance Office were first issued in 1891, a lighthouse being incorporated into each stamp design. Over the years other issues continued this theme with both symbolic and actual lighthouses being shown.

        The inclusion of a stylised lighthouse on the 1981 Government Life stamp issue continued this theme that had always appeared on Government Life stamps since their inception.

         This would prove to be the final stamps issued by the Government Life Office as their postage stamps were discontinued in 1987 when Government Life Insurance became Tower Corporation. The symbol of a tower (lighthouse) was continued by the new company by their postage stamps were dropped. As can be seen below, Tower Corporation retained a large collection of stamps and other items related to Government Life Stamps.

Special Posts.

        There are some posts within this blog that must be considered special either because:-
                   1)  They feature a special or unique subject or event.
                   2)  They contain a very rare or unusual item. 
                   3)  A lot of effort and work has gone into the post.

       We have decided to list (max 25) of these posts on this page so they can be easily found and viewed. To make it onto this list, a post must be selected by one of the five writers involved in creating this blog, then voted in by all five of us. Just because it makes the list does not mean it will always stay there either.
      They are numbered but not listed in any particular order other than when they were selected for this list. While most of these posts have been published by either Mary or Allan, that doesn't mean the work of other writers couldn't be selected too. It just reflects the fact that posts on most of the more challenging subjects are untaken by these two writers.

1969 Lighthouses - Centenary of Government Life Insurance

Government Life Insurance - Summary. 

Back to 1967 Lighthouses.                         Forward to 1981 Lighthouses.



          1969 was the centenary of the founding of the Government Life Insurance Office and a new series of stamps was issued to mark this occasion. Lighthouses, the symbol of the New Zealand Government Life Insurance Department, was again the subjects depicted on the stamps. You will be able to find all of these lighthouses on the map further down this page.

         Five of the stamps on the right, ½c; 2½c; 3c; 4; 15c; were issued at this time. Like the 1947 issue, the featured real lighthouses from the coasts around New Zealand. I have added photographs of each of these lighthouses and a map so you can find their locations

          Due to changes in postal demands, in 1976 the 8c and 10c were added to the set. Two years later, in 1978, the 2½c was overprinted with 25c.

2004 - 2006 Tourism Definitives.

Definitives Tour.

Back to 2003 Scenic Definitives                 Forward to 2007 Scenic Definitives.

       These two issues are included in the Scenic Definitive section of Campbell Patterson's Catalogue but to me they seem like they should be separate. They were put like that in the catalogue because they appear as a similar design to the definitives around that time, but I think that the fact they are marketed and named as stamps celebrating New Zealand Tourism means they should be treated as being different.
        So what I have decided to do is to include them in my Scenic Definitive Series but place them both in their own post. In this way I think I've covered both options.

2004 Tourism Issue.
Tourism is an important industry in New Zealand. I lot of money and effort is spent promoting this country as a tourist destination. Doing a set of stamps helps too, particularly when the stamps are sent overseas. This is the first of two issues, each showing six different scenes of tourist locations around New Zealand.


$1.50 - Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown.

2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

         The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is one of the world’s biggest international sporting events. In 2015 the tournament will be jointly hosted by New Zealand and Australia, and is expected to attract cricket fans from around the world. 

        To mark this big event, NZ Post issued a special miniature sheet featuring fourteen adhesive stamps and two First Day Covers, showing seven stamps each.

        This set of stamps consists of fourteen, cricket ball-shaped, self-adhesive stamps – one for each team competing in the ICC Cricket World Cup: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Australia, Scotland, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates. Each stamp features team colours and imagery, as well as the official ICC Cricket World Cup logo.
        
       All these stamps show the office flag of their country except one. The reason a shamrock is shown on the Ireland ICC Cricket World Cup stamp rather than the Irish Tricolour flag is that the Ireland team was a joint team comprising players from the Republic of Eire and Northern Ireland.

1967 Government Life Insurance Decimal Overprints

   Government Life Insurance - Summary.

Back to 1947 Lighthouses.                         Forward to 1969 Lighthouses.

           Due to the change to decimal currency on 10 July 1967, a quantity of the 1947 Government Life stamp issue was overprinted by the New Zealand Government Printer with decimal values to ensure there would be enough stock to last through until 1969 when a new set of stamps was planned. Additional supplies were also ordered from Bradbury Wilkinson and Co.

           Only six of the original set were overprinted, with either a block spot or bars to cover the old value, with the new decimal value being added elsewhere in the design. I think this left a rather scruffy appearance, made even worse by a large number of printing errors that have been found.

           This set was one of the reasons why we have taken so long to include the lighthouse stamps in this blog because we struggled to find images good enough to be used. Even these below are not as good as we would have liked but they will do until we find better to use. Anyway, the history of the Government Life Insurance stamps is an important part of New Zealand's postal heritage so they need to be included in this blog.

2003 Scenic Definitives.

Definitives Tour.

Back to 2000 Scenic Definitives.                     Forward to 2004 - 2006 Tourism Definitives.

       The 2003 Scenic Definitive issue consisted five gummed stamps and one in adhesive format. They were an add-on to those issued in 2000. Again scenes were selected were from various parts of New Zealand. The issue included a limited edition with silver foil in the NZ Post silver fern logo. Lower down under 2004 we have two further designs and three changed to adhesives.

          

50c - Ailsa Mountains.                                   $1.00 - Coromandel.

1947 Government Life Insurance Lighthouses

Government Life Insurance - Summary.

Back to 1913 Lighthouses.                         Forward to 1967 Lighthouses.

                

    1891 with 'VR.'                                                 1913 without 'VR.'

          When special stamps for use by the Government Life Insurance Office were first issued in 1891, a lighthouse was incorporated into the original design, the lighthouse being the emblem of the Life Insurance Office. The original design also carried the letters "V R" after the reigning Queen Victoria. Later issues of this design had the VR removed. Examples of these plus links to my pages on each of these are shown above.

         In 1947 the old style Government Life Insurance stamps were replaced with a new series showing actual lighthouses. There were eventually eight stamps in this set. Seven were issued in 1947 and another one issued in 1963. These stamps used an effective two colour design to produce an attractive, and for its day, very modern appearance. Some of them also showed that light beam as had been a feature of the earlier Life Insurance stamps.

        These first stamps were issued in the name of the Government Life Insurance Department, but under provisions of the Government Life Insurance Act, 1953, the name was altered to Government Life Insurance Office.  The first stamp appearing under the new name was the 2 1/2d "Cape Campbell" issued on 4 November 1963.

1968 - Trade Definitives.

         This is the third of a series of three that I am doing on the Agriculture Industries of New Zealand. In the first one, the 1936 Chamber of Commerce, we looking at the four major export industries of the 1930s. Of course these were primary industries, mainly farming of sheep and cattle.

1936 Chamber of Commerce.

1968 - 1969 Trade Definitives.

        Now I find this set of Trade Definitives has a lot in common with that earlier set. The wool, the meat and dairy are back again. So is the apples and the general theme of export industries. But now fishing and timber has been added too. I have included both sets above for comparison.
        Of course these stamps have a more modern appearance, using colour and photographs to deliver their message. The idea of the insert is there again too, but this time a lot bigger, taking almost a third of the stamp.

Mitre Peak, Milford Sound.

Hi! My name is Asami.
        You may not have noticed but I have been doing a lot of work on this blog. I maintain the Health Stamp pages above because they contain internal links that can get rewritten by BlogSpot. I have also created that large index system that many of you are now using. Now I have been asked to do some thematic collections, collections of stamps with a similar theme.

        Recently Allan wrote that he thought there were five stamps showing that famous landmark, Mitre Peak, Milford Sound. I actually found 10 stamps so today I will be putting them into this collection for you.

First the subject of this post - Mitre Peak.
       Part of the reason for its being so famous is its location. Sitting across from the main Milford Sound tourist centres, it is a stunning sight rising near vertically to 5,560 feet (1,690 m), i.e. just over a mile, from the water of the sound. It is said to extend further under the water making the mountain much higher than its officially recorded height. The peak is actually a closely grouped set of five peaks, although from most easily accessible viewpoints it appears as a single point.
       The distinctive shape of the peak gives the mountain its name, after the mitre headwear of Christian bishops. It was named by Captain John Lort Stokes of the HMS Acheron. The Māori name for the peak is Rahotu. 

1978 Agriculture - Lincoln College Centenary

         I hesitated on doing this set because of the style of the stamps but then decided that the themes behind the designs are important to Agriculture and New Zealand's primary export industries.

         In 1978 Lincoln College celebrated its centenary. NZ Post marked the event by issuing this six value set. They also wrote on their web site:-
       "The College was founded in 1878 on 100,000 acres of pastoral land that had been set aside for the purpose by the Provincial Council of Canterbury. Mr W E Ivey was appointed the first director of the College.  Grassland farming is New Zealand's most important industry and the source of over 80 percent of the country's exports.  The College continues to develop its resources to meet the challenges of modern agricultural needs - through the application of the findings of research, use of machinery, topdressing of pasture and efficient agricultural management."

         Technology and knowledge are the keys to modern faming in New Zealand. New ways, new systems, new technology is being developed all the time. The problem for the New Zealand farmer is keeping up with it all. Some, like some of the smaller farmers around here, avoid everything new and stick to the ways they have always done it. Others like us, with the support and backing of a corporate investment company, take on and use new technology, new ideas. The result is the small farmer gets the same results he has always got, then can't understand how our average production per head has increased by nearly 20% compared to his.
         This knowledge can be gained from a variety of sources such as Magazines and Books, TV Shows, Field Days and Open Days. It can also be gained through education at farming schools, colleges and universities. Two of the staff who work for me currently attend a school one day a week, plus have assignments to do. As they progress through the various subjects I can see the changes in the way they view farming and go about their daily tasks.