Six new stamp issues planned

Press, 21 October 1977, Page 12

Six new stamp issues planned

PA Wellington Six stamp issues will be released by the Post Office next year at about two-month intervals, according to the Postmaster-General (Mr Wilkinson). The first set, which will be released at the beginning of February, will be a four-set issue commemorating the centenaries of the Stratford and Ashburton boroughs, the Bay of Islands County, and the centenary of the telephone in New Zealand. Due for release early in April is a s-et of six stamps featuring farming, centred on the centenary of Lincoln College. A stamp to mark the introduction of New Zealand’s 320 km (200-mile) economic zone will be included in a set focusing on the sea and its resources. This will be released in June. The two health stamps due

for release in August will centre on the fiftieth issue and the work of the National Heart Foundation. Three Christmas stamps will be released in the first week of October. The final set, due for release on November 29 next year, will be a new definitive stamp in the middle-value range. Mr Wilkinson said that the present 10c Royal definitive stamp would be replaced by a new, smaller design featuring a portrait of the Queen used in the souvenir sheet of stamps released earlier this year to commemorate the silver anniversary. The new stamp would be issued in December next year. In addition, the silhouette portrait of the Queen depicted on the present 10c definitive stamp would form the basis of the design for new stamps in roll form.