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Counterpart, Denoting, Fine Paid, Mortgagee's Indemnity and Not Liable stamps

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New Zealand fiscal and postage stamps were overprinted for various revenue purposes. Some are given below. Counterpart Counterpart stamps were attached to duplicate (i.e. counterpart) documents provided that the full stamp duty had been paid on the original. The counterpart fee was 2s 6d. The first issue was in 1870 and the design was Die I of the 1867 Revenue issue. The stamp on the left is Die II and was issued in 1880. In 1887, stamps were issued in the design of the revenue stamps of 1880, but with the word Counterpart in rather small letters above the value as in the example on the below. In 1916 the fee was increased to 3s 0d and ordinary revenue stamps were overprinted diagonally in black although special printings were made as the colour was always yellow. It exists both perf 14 and perf 14½x14. In 1927, the George V 3s 0d Admiral stamp was printed on Cowan paper, perf 14, in orange yellow and overprin...
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1988 Rafter Paintings - Kowhaiwhai

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 For an index to all our posts on The Maori People.
        Kowhaiwhai is an art form of the New Zealand Maori, found on the interior rafters of tribal meeting houses.  The rafters are seen as the ribs of the ancestor, whom the house personifies.  All the carving, weaving and artwork embellishing a meeting house relate the legends, history and beliefs of the tribe.
         Three colours dominated traditional designs - red ochre from crushed stone, black from soot, and white-blue grey from clay.  These pigments were mixed with shark oil to produce the paint.  Simple fibre brushes were used.  The Maori people believe their designs symbolise strength, new life, growth in knowledge and the breath of life.
         For a more contemporary view of Kowhaiwhai view our post 2015 Matariki - Kowhaiwhai.
         Four variations of traditional patterns were designed specially for this set of stamps.


40c - Mangopare (the hammer-head shark) - symbolises strength.
The pattern represents strength of purpose in all things and the fighting prowess of the tribe.

40c - Koru (fern sprout) - symbolises new life.
This pattern of the single koru arranged in 16 units personifies youth and represents the many different paths now facing the Maori.

40c - Raupunga (to merge up and out)  - symbolises growth of knowledge.
The fern leaf pattern formed on the water is likened to a spreading canopy encompassing new growth and development which relates to the emerging contemporary art forms of the Maori.

60c - Koiri (to move to and fro like the wind) - symbolises the breath of life.
The circular movement of the stamp's pattern represents the unpredictable nature of the elements.

First Day Cover.

1988 40c Rafters block of 4 mint stamps with the top pair showing black colour drags.

Technical information.

               Date of Issue:
2 March 1988
               Designer:
S Adsett, Gisborne
               Printers:
Leigh-Mardon, Australia
               Stamp Size:
30mm x 35mm
               Sheet Size:  
100 stamps per sheet
               Process:
Lithography
               Perforation Gauge:             
13.5
               Paper Type:
Unwatermarked

Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZYou can visit their web site and On-line Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/ 

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