In 2015 which marked 150 years since Parliament moved from Auckland to Wellington, the Wellington Philatelic Society hosted this year’s annual stamp show at the TSB Bank Arena, Wellington. To commemorate The Capital Stamp Show 2015, New Zealand Post issued an exhibition miniature sheet and souvenir cover.

This miniature sheet shows a photo of the farewell parade for the 6th Reinforcements on Lambton Quay, Wellington, on 14 August 1915 and contain three stamps from the 1915: The Spirit of Anzac commemorative stamp issue, commemorating 100 years since the Gallipoli campaign.

The Stamps.
80c Landing at Anzac Cove.
The first ANZAC troops of the disastrous Gallipoli Campaign landed at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915. Eventually more than 12000 New Zealanders fought at Gallipoli and devastatingly 2779 lost their lives there and 4752 were wounded. On 25 April 1985 the Turkish government officially recognized the name.
There have been a number of New Zealand stamps depicting ANZAC Cove and the landing there but I believe this is one of the better ones.
$2.00 The Sapper and His Donkey.
Stretcher-bearers using donkeys carried numerous wounded men to safety during the Gallipoli campaign. The stamp shows a watercolour painting by Sapper Horace Moore-Jones entitled ‘The Sapper and His Donkey’ or ‘Simpson and His Donkey’, 1917. The painting sold in Auckland on 3 April 2015 for $257,950.
See our post on Simpson and his Donkey.

$2.50 The Maheno.
The ‘Maheno’ was New Zealand’s first hospital ship entering the war effort in July 1915. Hospital ships were often converted passenger ships, painted white with large red crosses on their sides.

This miniature sheet also appeared on its own First Day Cover.

Technical information

Date of issue:
23 October 2015
Miniature sheet:
One exhibition miniature sheet with three gummed stamps.
Designed by:
Stamps and Collectables Business, New Zealand Post, Wellington, New Zealand.
Printer and process:     
Southern Colour Print Ltd by offset lithography
Number of colours:                    
Four process colours + PMS 10139
Paper type:
Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper
Period of sale:
Unless stocks are exhausted earlier, the miniature sheet will remain on sale until 22 October 2016.  The souvenir cover will remain on sale until 23 December 2015.