1898 The First Pictorial Issue.


Definitive Tour.

Back to Sideface Issues.                          Forward to Universal / Dominion.


       This fascinating stamp issue holds a special interest for stamp collectors as it was among the world's earliest pictorial definitive issues. The issue followed the lead of New South Wales where a similar pictorial issue had just been released. 

        The decision to break away from featuring stamps with Queen Victoria's portrait was a bold one and not without some risk of offending public opinion. A design competition was held that attracted over 2,400 entries. The selection criteria - 'to include a representation of characteristic or notable New Zealand scenery in the design and a stamp issue symbolic of the land.'

           The quality of the winning designs was so great that a decision was made to print the issue using the more expensive recess printing method, with the anticipation that costs would be covered many times over by sales to stamp collectors. The stamps were engraved in England along with initial printings and subsequently printed in New Zealand from new plates supplied from England. The issue featured the same denominations as the Second Side-faces with a new 9d stamp added for overseas parcels, and two and five shilling stamps added for parcels, fiscals and telegrams.


Other Posts Related to the 1898 Pictorial  Issue.
        We have written a number of posts on stamps from this issue and some thematic collections also feature stamps as well. Here is a small index of these other issues. While many of these are linked through this page, we thought it would be useful to list them all here.

                    The Lake 'Wakitipu' instead of Lake 'Wakatipu' error.
          1900 - Boer War.
                    Post on the 1½d - Bore War stamp.
                   A collection of postmarks found on this stamp.
          1900 4d Lake Taupo Invert.
                    What is probably New Zealand's most expensive error.
          1900  The Wellington Flag.
                    A special machine cancel used only in Wellington.
                    Items from 1900 Pictorials showing revenue use of these stamps.
          An Official Post.
                    A collection of all the stamps produced and used by Government Departments for their Official business.
                    The 1898 2/- stamp and the 1998 $1.50 Centenary stamp appeared in this thematic collection on Mitre Peak.
                    The 8d Maori Canoe is in this small thematic collection.
           Military ANZAC - Part One.
                    The Bore War Stamp in my Military Stamp Collection.
                    One of the stamps in this issue is used in our post celebrating 150 Years of New Zealand Stamps.

1898/1900 Pictorial Issue.

                             
      ½d - Mount Cook.                                            1d - Lake Taupo / Mount Ruapehu.

The ½d value features Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, over 12,000 feet high, situated in the Southern Alps of New Zealand's South Island. Two alpine flowers are featured on this stamp - the Ranunculus and Celmisia. The stamp, while keeping the same design, was changed to green in later printings as we will see further down this page.

The 1d value features Lake Taupo with Mount Ruapehu in the background and a Cabbage Tree "Te moku" on the left.  Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand covering over 600 square kilometres. The lake is well known for rainbow trout which were introduced in 1884. This was New Zealand's first bicolour printed stamp. Later in this issue, this design is used as a 4d value.
A more detailed study of this stamp can be found at http://www.stamps4u.co.nz/.

 
2d - Pembroke Peak.

The 2d value features Pembroke Peak in Milford Sound. The peak, rising from the waters of the sound for over 7,000 feet. I would have liked to have seen more mountain scenery and less frame design. That heavy cancel on the used example makes this a rather poor example as part of the scene is covered. More recently, (2017) we have added a much better mint example of this stamp.

 
2½  - Lake Wakatipu (Correct Spelling).                                                 2½ - Lake Wakitipu (design error).

The 2½ value features Lake Wakatipu. Initially printed with Wakatipu incorrectly spelt Wakitipu, a new plate with the correct spelling was produced a month after the initial issue. Interest amongst collectors for the original error was so high, extra special printings were made to satisfy demand. Today, mint copies of this error stamp are easy to find, although used copies are much rarer. 
Wakatipu is the second largest lake in the South Island and lies at the southern end of the Southern Alps in Central Otago. Mount Earnslaw, over 8,000 high, is shown in the background and New Zealand flax, cabbage trees and toitoi frame the scene. Queenstown, a major tourist centre, is situated beside this lake.

 
                3d - Huias.                                   4d - The White Terraces.

The 3d value features the Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris), a now extinct New Zealand native bird. The Huia was prized for its plumage, and tail feathers were used by Maori as symbols of rank and adornment by chiefs. The two different beaks - short and strong in the male while long and curved in the female, were a feature not seen in any other birds in the world.

The 4d value the White Terraces which were produced by geothermally heated water leaving stepped pools of thick white layers of limestone as it flowed down the hillside. Along with the nearby Pink Terraces, both located on the edges of Lake Rotomahana near Rotorua, they were considered the eighth wonder of the natural world until they were completely destroyed by the violent volcanic eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886. (The pink terraces, are seen on the 9d value further down this page.) The eruption claimed around 150 lives and is the most violent and destructive volcanic eruption in recent history. The plant shown down each side is a native bramble, "tataramoa."

           
5d -  Otira Gorge.                                       6d -  Green Kiwi.                                       8d - Canoe.

The 5d value features Otira Gorge with an inset view of Mount Ruapehu. Otira Gorge, in the central South Island, is on the original stagecoach run from Canterbury to the West Coast. A railway line was later built from Greymouth to Otira with a tunnel going under the Southern Alpes to National Park, linking the West Coast with Christchurch. 
Mount Ruapehu, in the insert, is one of the world's most active volcanoes, located south-west of the southern shore of Lake Taupo, within Tongariro National Park. The North Island's major ski fields and only glaciers are located on its slopes.

The 6d value features the Kiwi, the species of flightless birds endemic to New Zealand. Kiwis are about the size of a domestic chicken and all species are endangered. The kiwi is a national symbol of New Zealand. This value was changed to red in later printings so is often referred to as the green or red kiwi.

The 8d value contains a graphic eight with a Maori war canoe on the lower circle of the eight and a crown in the upper circle. Tree Ferns are drawn to the left of the eight and Cabbage Trees on the right.

9d - The Pink Terraces.

The nine penny stamp features the Pink Terraces, which were destroyed along with the White Terraces by the explosive eruption of Mount Tarawera on the 10th of June 1886. There is a tree palm on the left and a nikau palm on the right. Personally, I like this design and think it is one of the best in this issue. Notice that both the pink and white terraces were featured in this set. (See the 4d value above) They had only just been destroyed 12 years before and were still in the memory of many people.

 
1/- Kea and Kaka.                                       2/- Milford Sound / Mitre Peak.                                         5/- Mount Cook.

The 1/- value features the Kea and Kaka. The Kea (on the left) is a species of parrot found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. It is one of the few alpine parrots in the world. The Kea is uncommon and received full protection in 1986. Kea are known for their intelligence and curiosity, both vital to their survival in a harsh mountain environment and are often described as "cheeky". The Kākā (on the right) is a parrot endemic to the forests of New Zealand and its name is the Māori language word for "parrot". The Kaka is closely related to the Kea but has darker plumage.

The 2/- value features Milford Sound (Piopiotahi). Milford Sound is the northernmost of a number of fjords in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island within Fiordland National Park. It is New Zealand's most famous tourist destination and is named after Milford Haven in Wales. Mitre Peak, over 5,000 feet, is shown on the right of the stamp. I have seen this stamp in a variety of colour shades from a pale washed out blue/green to this darker example shown here.
Also, see our post, Mitre Peak/Milford Sound.

The 5/- value shows Mount Cook reflected in Lake Tekapo. Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. It is part of the Southern Alps - the mountain range which runs the length of the South Island. This scene never came out very well on the stamps. I think it might have been the fact that it was printed in red. Even the modern 1998 example below does not look as good as others in that issue.       


The Official Stamps.
In January 1907, the New Zealand government decided that all public service mail should use special stamps overprinted with the word "Official." Four values from the 1898 Pictorial Issue were selected for this purpose. They can be seen below.
It was not until 1913 that mint official stamps could be sold to the public. In some early cases, this word "Official" was applied by hand but all the examples shown on this page appear to have been pre-printed.
To view all the 'Official stamps produced by New Zealand visit An Official Post.

 
   3d - Huias.                                1/- Kea and Kaka.

 
    2/- Milford Sound / Mitre Peak.                                           5/- Mount Cook.

Also, see our post, Mitre Peak/Milford Sound.

Misplaced Perforations.

1898 3d Huia Official with misplaced perfs.
It appears that the overprint was done at the same time being misplaced as well. 

           
2/- Milford Sound / Mitre Peak.                                                  5/- Mount Cook.


In both of these examples above a perforation shift, has caused the stamp image to moved towards the top left-hand corner. While you will notice many of the stamps on this page have what might be considered as perforation errors on more recent issues, these two stamps stand out in that their images actually touch the perforation.


1900 Pictorials.
In 1900, a number of the lower value pictorial stamps from the 1898 issue were replaced. The designs and colours of the penny and four pence stamps were swapped as the two-tone 1898 penny stamp was too difficult and costly to print in large quantities. The stamps were originally intended to have been printed this way in 1898, but a printer's error saw them transposed.

            
½d - Mount Cook. (2 shades of green)

The halfpence stamp features Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain reprinted in green as required by the Universal Postal Union for all halfpenny stamps. Two alpine flowers are featured on the stamp - the Ranunculus and Celmisia. The stamp was also reduced in size so that 240 stamps could be printed per sheet.

     
1d - The White Terraces.                                  1½ - Boer War Commemorative.

The 1d value using the design of the 1898 4d featured the White Terraces.  


A 1½ value was introduced to cover a change in postage rates for printed matter. It commemorated the departure of the first contingents of New Zealand troops to the Boer War in South Africa and symbolised the prompt response of New Zealand to the call of the Empire for troops. A total of 6,500 New Zealand troops took part. Rather ironically, the stamp was the first to be engraved outside the British Empire, in New York.

This stamp is the subject of two separate posts.
First, there is a post on the stamp itself, 1900 Boer War.
Second is a collection of postal cancellations based on this stamp, 1900 Boer War Thematic Collection


 
               2d - Pembroke Peak.           4d - Lake Taupo / Mount Ruapehu.

The 2d value featuring Pembroke Peak in Milford Sound was reduced in size so that sheets of 240 stamps could be printed to reduce printing costs as this was a very commonly used stamp.

The 4d value using the 1898 1d design, shows Lake Taupo with Mount Ruapehu in the background and a Cabbage Tree on the left. Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand covering over 600 square kilometres. The lake is well known for rainbow trout which were introduced in 1884.

6d - Red Kiwi.

The sixpence stamp featured the Kiwi as in the original 1898 issue but was reprinted in red because the Universal Postal Union required halfpenny stamps to be printed green.


  
Three examples of the ½d - Mount Cook overprinted for use in Niue Islands.


The Official Stamps.
Some of these design and colour changed stamps were used as Officials.

 
½d Green - Mount Cook.                        2d - Pembroke Peak.                               6d - Red Kiwi. 

To view all the 'Official stamps produced by New Zealand visit An Official Post.


1907 Redrawn Pictorials.
By 1906 the printing plates for the 1898 Pictorials ½d, 3d, 6d and 1/- stamps were worn and needed replacing. The 3d, 6d and 1/- stamps were reduced in size so that 240 stamps could be printed per sheet.

 
1d - Zealandia.                                3d - Huias.

 
6d - Red Kiwi.                         1/- Kea and Kaka.


The Official Stamps.
 Two of these stamps were also used as Officials. To view all the 'Official stamps produced by New Zealand visit An Official Post.

  
1d - Zealandia.                       6d - Red Kiwi.


1998 Pictorial Centenary.
 In 1998 New Zealand marked the centenary of the 1898 Pictorial Issue with this 14 value set featuring the original designs with modern decimal currency values. In fact, all the lower value stamps were of the same denomination of 40c. This modern set was not considered to be a definitive set as the earlier ones had been.  

              
     40c - Mount Cook.                          40c - Lake Taupo / Mount Ruapehu.                        40c - Pembroke Peak.

  
        40c - Huias.                              40c -The White Terraces.                       40c - Green Kiwi. 

               
       40c - Canoe.                                                40c - Kea and Kaka.

 
    80c - Lake Wakitipu (1898 design error).                              80c -Lake Wakatipu (correct spelling). 

             
$1.00 - Otira Gorge / Mount Ruapehu.                                     $1.20 - The Pink Terraces.

          
$1.50 - Milford Sound / Mitre Peak.                                   $1.80 -  Mount Cook.
  
Also, see our post, Mitre Peak/Milford Sound.


Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ
You can visit their website and On-line Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/