Stamp Stories

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22050, 25 March 1937, Page 2 (Supplement)

Stamp Stories

4. THE HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND STAMP!

Part XVl—Postage Dues

(By R. J. G.Collins)

In cases where insufficient postage Is pre-paid on an article,-for delivery by post, it is a- practice of the department to undertake delivery, but to collect a fine from the addressee. With ordinary correspondence, the fine is fixed at double' thq - amount of deficient postage, but with correspondence for delivery 'to Government departments, only tho actual amount of the difference is charged. Before 1900 a system with dockets waa used, but this-was not found to be really satisfactory and it was decided that the fssue of special stamps would, simplify matters. These, special stamps which are known' as postage dues, first appeared in New Zealand in January, 1900. The design was a very simple one and the frame which was com: mon to all values, was printed ■in green with the value printed In red in the centre. The set comprised:--id, Id, 2d, 3d. 4d, 3d, od, Bd, lOd. U and 24. .-

In addition to, these differences there are two varieties each of the Id and 2d values. ■ in one "D" is of the same size as of the "fcCV' whereas, in the other the letter is much smaller. : ■ • ■, In J 902 a new design was adopted for the values most in demand, namely id, Id and 2d. One plate

A very interesting variety occurs in this issue, which is worth noting, even for the benefit of the general collector. The frame was originally set up by means of type and printers* ornaments and there were two distinct settings, which resulted in the id stamp being found in two different types. In the first type the letters "N.Z." were small; there were 15 dots over "N.Z." and the /ornamental circle contained 13 pieces, the last curve on the righthand side, thus opened outwards. In the second type, the letters "N.2." were large; there were 17 dOti over "N.Z." and the circle eqntained 14 ornaments, the last on She right thus opened inwards. Vtoai the illustrations this difference i 'will be quite apparent, particularly ornament on the right. %*x 3d - *"d *d values

Children's contributions, apart from stories and poems, should be about thing* they have seen or done.

served for printing the frame in green, and the centre with the value, Which in this stamp appeared in White, within a solid circle, was printed in red. In 1913, the id, Id and 2d values were printed on chalk-surfaced paper and in June, 1916, all values above 3d were withdrawn from use. The original 3d continued to serve Until 1928, when it was replaced by a printing in the 1902 design. •there has never been any great demand for the id of this series, as single copies were needed only in instances where there was id deficiency on articles to Government departments. AH large offices in New Zealand have kept supplies of the postage due stamps, but at some of the smaller offices, the need for these stamps has been so rare, that supplies have not been requisitioned for. As a result, instances are known where the demand of Eostage due has been represented y means of ordinary postage stamps and there have been cases where the inscription "Postage Due" has been written in ink over the stamps. As this has bee.n done without official authority, such stamps, however, do not have any recognised status. > Coin and Straw Puzzle A shilling and five straws of about four inches long are needed ■ for this puzzle. The problem is to lift the straws and the coin by 1 holding only one of the straws. ' Lay two of the straws upon the table, about three inches apart, : parallel and pointing up and down. ' Upon these lay two other straws diagonally, and in the middle of ' the X and above it place the shil- i ling. The last straw should now be • inserted gently beneath the first • straw, the outside one of the ' parallel straws over the shilling i and down under, the. other parallel * straw. With care all the straw and. J the shilling may be lifted from the » table. ■ « . i £ 1