NEW POSTAGE STAMPS

Evening Star, Issue 21992, 30 March 1935, Page 11

NEW POSTAGE STAMPS

DMMN PICTORIAL ISSUE APPEARAHGE OH MAY 1 It is learnt from an official source that the- new pictorial issue of New Zealand postage stamps will be on sale for the first time on May 1. It is four years ago that the New Zealand postal authorities _ decided that the Georgian issue which was introduced in 1915 should be replaced. But before these new stamps reached the stage of actual publication there were many set-backs to hinder their appearance, and the history of the issue has been perhaps as interesting as _ any other brought out for the Dominion (states the ‘ Press ’)• The department issued a specification for fifteen values, and invited artists not only in New Zealand, but also overseas to compete in a competition which was to close on September 30, 1931. Prizes of £25 were offered for each design accepted. A special board of adjudication, comprising the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes as chairman, Mr G. M‘Namara, Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department. Mr Johannes Anderson, of the Alexander Turnbull Library, and Mr R. Wallwork, of the Christchurch School of Art, met and considered the designs submitted, which numbered more than 1,500. From these they selected fourteen, thirteen of which were by Now Zealand artists, and one designed by an engraver attached to the Indian Government Printing Office at Nasik. NEW PROCESS. The board had been attracted by contemporary European .stamps, produced by the photogravdre process, and it was originally intended to have the New Zealand stamps also produced in this way. Tenders were obtained by the High Commissioner from British firms, and one firm was instructed to submit proofs. The execution of this work naturally took some time. The photogravure proofs, when submitted to New Zealand, were considered unsatisfactory, it is stated, and it was then. decided that all the values with the exception of the 9d should be produced by the line-engraved process, which i$ at present used for the New Zealand Stamps from 4d to Is.

A fresh contract was entered into with Messrs De La Rue and Company, but after the engraving had been commenced it was discoyerecj that some alteration was required in some of the designs, and that in one instance the selected design was entirely unsuitable for reproduction. After the die proofs had been ultimately approved, considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining, the necessary supplies of suitable paper, and it was not until Mr M’Namara visited London himself last year that this matter could be arranged. PRINTING IN THE DOMINION. An initial printing estimated to be adequate for ouc year’s supply of each value has been printed :iu England, and after this supply becomes exhausted, it is proposed to continue the printing in New Zealand, as was done with the previous pictorial issue of 1898. To meet the wishes of- people who may 'want to send specimens of these now stamps to friends overseas, the department has decided to have a series of special pictorial envelopes printed and distributed through the post offices for use on the first day of the sale of the stamps. The envelopes, in addition to appropriate scenes, will have an inscription, describing the circumstances of their issue. It is stated by a city philatelist that a rather interesting position will arise with the Jd, Id, and 6d values. From May 6, three stamps of these values will bo placed on sale as part of the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of his Majesty’s accession. In Great Britain and in the other Dominions and Crown colonies it has been decided that the jubilee stamps will remain on sale until the end of the year and that they will replace the equivalent values of the ordinary postal set. If the same practice is followed in New Zealand, it will mean that these three pictorial stamps will be in use for five days only, and will then be withdrawn, while the jubilee stamps are on sale.