NEW STAMP ISSUE

Evening Star, Issue 21504, 31 August 1933, Page 14

NEW STAMP ISSUE

ALLOCATION OF COLOURS ARRANGEMENTS FOR PRODUCTION Further information has come to band regarding the dominion’s new stamp issue, special reference being made to the allocation of colours. It is proposed to have the stamps printed in the following colours: — id, rich green; Id, bright carmine; 11, chestnut; 2d, rich orange; 2}d, centre sepia, border indigo; 3d, chocolate; 4d, centre grey-bladk, border brown-sepia; sd, bright ultra-marine; Gd, scarlet; Bd, rich sepia; 9d, black and carmine; Is, bright Vermillion; 2s, olive green; 3s, centre sepia, border rich yellow-brown. As is generally known, the designs for the stamps were selected towards the end of 1931, and it was hoped that they would have been available before this, but delay has been caused by unforseen difficulties. In the first place, haying in view the perfection or certain stamps of other countries produced by the photogravure process, it was originally intended to have the new series for the dominion reproduced by that process, and the designs were forwarded to England with that object in view. However, it was found, upon the arrival of the proofs from London, that the department’s expectations could not be realised; and consequently it was decided to abandon the photogravure process in favour of the intaglio or line-engraved process. To that end arrangements are now under way with Messrs de la Rue and Company Ltd.. London, for the production of the stamps, with one exception, by the intaglio process. The exception is the 9d denomination, the design of which is a representation of Maori decorative art. It was essential that this particular stamp, on account of its design, be printed in the two colours already mentioned; and, as the design printed in the two colours did not lend itself to either tho intaglio or tho photogravure process, it is being lithographed by Messrs Waterlow and Company Ltd., of London', who have already submitted a satisfactory proof to tho department.

In regard to the Is denomination, the original design selected was a droving scene. However, upon arrival cf the proof in New Zealand it was found that the design did not reproduce satisfactorily as a. postage stamp. A new design, the principal feature of which is a tui, has, therefore, been substituted for it.