EARLY NEW ZEALAND STAMPS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 5 December 1927, Page 8

EARLY NEW ZEALAND STAMPS

INTERESTING DETAILS!

A correspondent writes. In your issue ; of the Ist you mention a philatelic rarity in the shapo of a pair of the 1855 New Zealand stamps. This is no doubt rare in a pair, but the stamp is not so uncommon as stated- Messrs Stanley Gibbons) and Co. quote this stamp in their 1927 catalogue at £3O, and in their 1928 catalogue at £6O, so that the value is rapidly rising; but had there been only 16 of this stamp known the value would havo been ten times this amount. I know that collectors in Nelson have three copies and a collector in Motueka has one. No doubt in the larger cities greater numbers of this stamp are in tho hands of collectors. This stamp is unperforated, is on whito paper, dull carmine in colour and watermark large star. No other full faco Queen is of tTTo name colour, so that it is easily recognised. This stamp was issued in July 1855, and is engraved and printed In London on. while paper. In November of tho same year another penny stamp was printed by J. Richardson, of Auckland, on blue'paper, no watermark, and red in colour. This is catalogued by Messrs Stanley Gibbons and Co. at £l2. In 1856 another penny stamp was issued on (hard and soft white paper, dull orange in colour, with no watermark. In 1862 another penny stamp appeared, printed at G.P.O. Auckland, on. white paper unporforated, watermark a large star. Tho colours iva/ried, being orange-vermillion"; Verand carmine-vermillion. This stamp is sometimes confused with" the 1855 one, but the printing and colour of th'e latter is perfectly distinct. The 1862 stamp is comparatively cheap and not at all rare.