PROMISING OPENING

Evening Star, Issue 25301, 9 October 1944, Page 4

PROMISING OPENING

PHILATELISTS PLEASED WITH STAMPS Opening sales of the new health stamps this morning indicated promising public support. Philatelists are pleased-with the design and colouring, both of which are ac- , claimed as setting a new standard for New Zealand. The Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron) was the first patron, purchasing two sheets, whilo the second and third buyers were the Mayors of St. Kilda and Port i Chalmers. Several large orders by city business houses were handled by the special booth outside the Chief Post Office. During the three hours ended at noon the largest purchase amounted to £SO, with two of £3O and several of £2O, while numerous philatelists bought a sheet of each value. Collectors' are pleased with the new issue, which is a distinctive design, differing from any previously in vogue in New Zealand, while the colouring ia good and the printing is very clear. Many collectors took advantage of the " first' day covers available with the stamps, "and these were addressed to such far-flung places as Kenya, Ceylon, America, and Bermuda, while one optimist forwarded a first day cover to a philatelist he hopes is still resident ia . France.

Both values carry the same design, showing the two Princesses in uniform. Princess Elizabeth as Sea Ranger and Princess Margaret. Rose as Girl Guide. The 2d value, which bears the Id surcharge, is in blue, while the lower value, of Id plus a half-penny, is in green. The envelopes are of good quality, and approximately a third of the area of. the cover is imprinted with a picture of three children and annotated with a suitably-worded appeal to buy the health stamps. Present at the informal opening ceremony were Mr J. J. Marlow (chairman of the Dunedin health stamp district), Rev. J. Chisholm (chairman of the Ota<ro and Southland Health Camp Centraf Council), Mr C. E. Begg (chairman of the Roxburgh Camp Management Committee), and Mrs K. Campbell and Miss K. iR. Standage (organisers).