PEACE ISSUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26117, 2 April 1946, Page 4

PEACE ISSUE

NEW ZEALAND POSTAGE STAMPS

RUSH ON FIRST-DAY SALES

Although special provision was made at the public counter of the Chief Post Office yesterday for the first day sales of the peace commemorative issue of postal stamps, there was a rush of buyers which continued undiminished throughout the day. Eight thousand first-day covers were issued for the Otago district, but the Chief Postmaster (Mr Ernest J. Smith) informed a Daily Times reporter last night that there was such a keen demand for them that the supply was quickly exhausted.

The stamp issue comprises 11 denominations, and each stamp has a special significance, but together they tell a story of endurance and sacrifice on the part of a country which for six years fought and worked so that freedom, truth and justice might prevail. The denominations and themes represented are:—£d, peace and tranquillity; id, faith in constitutional government; ljd. a tribute to the people of Britain; 2d, the Royal family—“ In peace long may they reign”; 3d. a tribute to the air force; 4d, a tribute to the army; sd, a tribute to the navy and mercantile marine; 6d, a tribute to the workers on the home front; Bd, the service and devotion of Youth in the nation’s cause; 9d, a spirit of thankfulness; Is, remembrance. The stamps were designed by Mr James Berry, of Wellington, who has previously designed a considerable number of New Zealand stamps. The printing was undertaken in England by three firms—the Id and'2d values by Bradbury, Wilkinson and Co., Ltd.; the lid and Is denominations by Harrison and Sons, Ltd.; and the remainder by Waterlow and Sons, Ltd. All the stamps were printed by the intaglio process except the lid and Is, which were produced by collogravure. Many people in Dunedin took the opportunity of sending food parcels to England bearing the full commemorative set.