To mark 100 years of the National Beekeepers Association, New Zealand issued this attractive set of five values. The issue date is the 3rd of July and the stamps were be sold in sets or singles, as well as the usual miniature sheet and first day cover.
There are a number of things which I like about this set. First the subject is one I like. I like eating natural honey and until recently we had bee hives on this property where I live. Secondly I find the stamps are attractive with clear pictures of their subjects. Thirdly the five stamps fit together to tell the story of honey from the flower to eating.
70c Collection the Nectar.
On the first stamp the bees fly out to the flowers. Scouts have gone out and found the flowers then returned to tell the workers. The workers move from flower to flower collecting nectar as they go.
The Stamps.
$1.40 Returning to the Hive.
Modern bee hives are made from square wooden boxes which contain the frames used by the bees. As a hive grows new stories can be added. Notice the small single story hive which must be a weak or young hive. A large multi-story hive can hold anything up to 24,000 bees.
$1.90 In the Hive.
The honey is storied in six-sided wax cells built by the bees off the wax surface of the frames. These cells can also be used as brood cells where the queen lays eggs for new bees.
$2.40 Harvesting the Honey.
A beekeeper will visit the hive regularly to harvest or 'rob' the hive. He takes the frames out but always leaving enough for the bees. See the bees all over the comb in that picture. At this time the beekeeper will also inspect the for signs of disease and he may even do a search for the queen to confirm her health as well.
$2.90 Ready to Eat.
The honey can then be sold as comb honey as seen on the last stamp or the honey extracted from the wax for sale as ordinary honey.
In New Zealand we gets honey from the Manuka tree which has some amazing health benefits. This is honey very popular both here and overseas. Manuka honey and honey products has become a major export industry for New Zealand as people overseas, particularly in Asia have discovered the healing and health benefits of this honey.
A good beekeeper will move his hives to take advantage of the various trees as they flower during the summer. Some beekeepers hire their hives out to vineyards, orchards and kiwifruit farms to pollenate the fruit, collection honey from the orchard in the process.
I better stop now or else I could be talking about bees all night.
Collector Items.
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 3 July 2013 |
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| Number of stamps: | Five gummed stamps |
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| Denominations: | 70c, $1.40, $1.90, $2.40, $2.90 |
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| Stamps, miniature sheet, first day covers and presentation pack designed by: | Strategy Design and Advertising, Wellington, New Zealand |
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| Printer and process: | Southern Colour Print Ltd by offset lithography |
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| Number of colours: | Four process colours |
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| Stamp size and format: | 40mm x 30mm (horizontal) |
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| Paper type: | 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper |
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| Number of stamps per sheet: | 25 |
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| Perforation gauge: | 13.25 x 13 |
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| Special blocks: | Plate/Imprint blocks may be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks are available in A and B formats. |
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| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 2 July 2014. |
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Information & images for this post came from.
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