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

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...

1996 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) 50th Anniversary



         Before the National Orchestra, several cities had amateur orchestras but there had been only two previous professional symphony orchestras, both of which had hoped to become national orchestras. 


         The 1906 New Zealand International Exhibition Orchestra had been formed in Christchurch and the National Broadcasting Service String Orchestra was created in December 1939, later forming the nucleus of the 1940 Centennial Symphony Orchestra for the country's centennial celebrations. This too was intended to be retained as a full-time national symphony orchestra but was disbanded due to World War II. The dream was delayed but not forgotten, and after hostilities ended a full-time national symphony orchestra was established.
        The early concerts were billed as "events of national importance" as they were in a country starved of live professional orchestral music. Today, 50 years later, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is the country's leading performing arts organisation and is recognised as an orchestra of international standard. Ninety players give more than 100 concerts a year. It is Wellington-based but performs regularly throughout the country.

40c 'Violin' gummed stamp.
The background musical score is from a piece written by New Zealand composer Gareth Farr to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the orchestra.

80c 'French Horn' gummed stamp.
The background musical score is from a piece written by New Zealand composer Gareth Farr to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the orchestra.

Two Plate blocks from this issue.


First Day Cover - 10 July 1996.
Again we see the musical score is from the music written for the 50th anniversary of the orchestra. This seems to have become a theme through all parts of the issue.


Technical information.
Date of issue: 10 July 1996.
Designer: Martin Bailey, Auckland, New Zealand.
Printer: Southern Colour Print, New Zealand.
Stamp size: 50mm x 30mm.
Sheet size: 20 stamps per sheet.
Process: Lithography.
Perforation gauge: 12.
Paper type: Harrison and Sons, red phosphor coated, unwatermarked.
Period of sale: These stamps remained on sale until 10 July 1997.


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 & images for this post came from.


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