1990 New Zealand World Stamp Exhibition Native Orchids

        Orchids are usually associated with the steamy heat of the tropics or the rarefied atmosphere of the professional's greenhouse, but these flowers are different. These are some of New Zealand's own native orchids. Blooming mostly in the summer months, native orchids make themselves known to the watchful field or bush walker in any of New Zealand's islands.
       The miniature sheet was issued in April 1990 in support of the New Zealand 1990 World Stamp Exhibition held in Auckland.
       An imperforate version of approx 12,000 sheets was also produced only being able to be purchased with tickets to the Stamp Exhibition - the official day of issue of this version of the sheet was 23 July 1990.


Exhibition Miniature Sheet with four 40 cents and one 80 cent stamp (Surcharged to support exhibition) New Zealand 1990 World Stamp Exhibition Auckland.
The Miniature Sheet features: 40c - Thelymitra pulchella (sun orchid); 40c - Corybas macranthus (spider orchid); 
40c - Dendrobium cunninghamii (winika orchid); 40c - Pterostylis banksii (greenhood orchid); 
80c - Aporostylis bifolia (odd-leaved orchid).



Imperforate Exhibition Miniature Sheet (Surcharged to support exhibition) New Zealand 1990 World Stamp Exhibition Auckland. These sheets were officially issued on the 23rd of July although some packs were sold at the annual philatelic exhibition in Palmerston North on the 2nd of July.

An exhibition souvenir season ticket.
The stamp is the 40c - Dendrobium cunninghamii (winika orchid).


A cancelled example.


Technical information

                    Date of issue: 
18 April 1990
                    Designers:
L Fisher, Auckland
                    Printers:
Leigh-Mardon, Australia
                    Stamp size:
29.5mm x 35mm
                    Sheet size:
179mm x 79mm
                    Process:
Lithography
                    Perforation gauge:      
14.25
                    Paper type: 
Red phosphor coated, unwatermarked
                    Period of sale:
These stamps remained on sale until 18 April 1991.


Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ

You can visit their website and Online Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/

Information for this post came from.