CORONATION STAMPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 65, 18 March 1937, Page 2

CORONATION STAMPS

THREE MOST USED VALUES DISTINCTIVE PORTRAITS OF KING AND QUEEN Very clear and distinctive portraits of Their Majesties, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth are reproduced on the New Zealand Coronation stamps, proofs of which have arrived from England, where the supply is being printed. In size and layout they resemble the Silver Jubilee stamps and the most prominent feature of the border is the New Zealand Coat of Arms placed between the portraits.

The three denominations of this issue are those most generally used in postal business. The Id (red) is found on the great majority of letters for this is the minimum rate of letter postage for New Zealand, the countries of the Empire and the United States, while the 2id (blue) is the international stamp carrying letters to all parts of the world not included in the penny postage sphere. The third stamp, 6d, reproduced in vermillion, is also widely used, particularly within New Zealand, as it is the minimum rate of the parcel-post system.

Supplies of the stamps will arrive in the Dominion early in April, and a portion will then be overprinted for Niue and Cook Islands. It will be possible to place the Niue Island series on sale on the same date as the New Zealand Coronation issue, but owing to the shipping connections with Rarotonga, it has been decided that the Cook Islands issue will not be placed on sale until June 1. Collectors requiring first-day impressions for Niue should connect with the mail leaving Wellington on April 20, and in the case of Rarotonga, with the mail leaving Auckland on May 20. The date of first issue for New Zealand and Niue cannot be stated definitely until holiday arrangements in connection with the Coronation are determined.