Definitive Tour.
A Brief History of this Issue.
A Brief History of this Issue.
By 1975 New Zealand ready for a new series of definitive stamps. The 1970 Definitives had used the practice of issuing the stamps over a series of issues.
The 1975 Definitives took this even further to become a series of almost unrelated issues over a number of years. This is the last big definitive set so will be the last time we do a large series of pages on one particular definitive issue. The 1975 Definitive issue is usually listed together in many stamp catalogues but I notice NZ Post list them on their web site as separate issues. From now on definitive issues will be treated like other stamp issues being listed in this blog by their issue date.
This series began in 1975 once again began with the lower values, this time a set of nine values with a common theme of roses. It would be 1976 before the next issue of three values, Maori Artifacts would be issued. 1977 saw the series go back to pick up the 10c Queen Elizabeth before continuing on with the higher value seashells in 1978 & 1979. Along the way, there were some provisional overprints and special issues for stamp vending machines that we have also included on this page.
1975 Pictorials - Part One. An overview and history of these issues.
1975 Pictorials - Part Two. The stamp designs and subjects in more detail.
1975 Pictorials - Part Three. Flaws & errors found in the 9 low-value roses.
1975 Pictorials - Part Four. Flaws & errors found in the 10c Queen Elizabeth.
1975 Pictorials - Part Five. Flaws & errors found in the higher values.
1975 Definitives Stamp Issue - One.
The set of 9 Rose stamps, covering the values one to nine cents, were issued first on the 26th of November 1975. They were well received and colourful stamps but their larger format meant they were unable to be used in stamp vending machines.
1c - 'Sterling Silver' Rose. 2c - 'Lili Marlene' Rose. 3c - 'Queen Elizabeth' Rose.
4c - 'Super Star' Rose. 5c - 'Diamond Jubilee' Rose. 6c - 'Cresset' Rose.
7c - 'Michele Meilland' Rose. 8c - 'Josephine Bruce' Rose. 9c - 'Iceberg' Rose.
First Day Cover - 26 November 1975.
1976 Definitives Stamp Issue - Two.
The four Maori Artifact stamps were issued on the 24th of November 1976. It was not until I came to study these stamps in more detail that I discovered they feature the four artifacts collected by Captain Cook on his voyages of discovery to New Zealand.
See our thematic collect - Captain Cook Stamp of New Zealand.
11c - 'Maripi' / Carved Wooden Knife. 12c - 'Putorino' / Carved Double Tube Flute.
13c - 'Wahaika' / Hardwood Club. 14c - 'Kotiate' / Ceremonial Weapon.
First Day Cover - 24 November 1976.
1977 Definitives Stamp Issue - Three.
Queen Elizabeth II 10 cent stamp was issued on the 23rd of February 1977 to cover new postage rates. The portrait was taken at the Queen's Silver Jubilee.
10c - Queen Elizabeth II.
First Day Cover - 7 December 1977.
1977 Postafix stamps.
In 1977, the New Zealand Post Office found themselves in a situation that with the introduction of the larger formatted 'Roses' definitive stamp issue, they could no longer supply commercial customers with stamps in rolls for use in stamp-affixing machines - the new stamp designs were too large to fit the machines.
Initially, supplies of the old 3c and 4c moth Definitive stamps (designed by E Mayo) were overprinted by the Government Printing Office by letterpress with 7c and 8c denominations. These varieties were issued in 1977 and became known as the Postafix Stamps. The name associated with these stamps is derived from the Postafix automatic stamp affixing machine manufactured by Data Link Co, California, United States of America.
7c o/p on 3 cent. 8c o/p on 4 cent.
7c - Postafix provisional overprint on 1970 Pictorial/Definitives 3c Moth Definitive 18 April 1977. Created to fill a need for 7c coils of stamps for 'Postafix" machines.
8c - Postafix provisional overprint on 1970 Pictorial/Definitives 4c Moth Definitive issued on 21 April 1977. Created to fill a need for 8c coils of stamps for 'Postafix' machines.
Coil strips of 5. They were issued in rolls of 400.
I must say here that black square, covering the old value, looks a bit ugly and makes
the rather dark 7c stamp appear even darker.
1977 / 78 Coils
A 10c stamp, depicting a silhouette of the head of Queen Elizabeth II (designed by the New Zealand Post Office, Display Section), was issued the following year. 1c, 2c and 5c stamps, depicting a silhouette of the head of Queen Elizabeth II, were also produced in roll form for use in coin-in-slot stamp vending machines. With an increase in the postal rates during October 1977, these three stamps were phased out and therefore only had a short life span of five months.
1c - Queen Elizabeth II - left profile of her head - in magenta on white background. Issued 13 June 1978. Created for coin-in-slot machines.
2c - Queen Elizabeth II - left profile of her head - in orange on white background. Issued 13 June 1978. Created for coin-in-slot machines.
5c - Queen Elizabeth II - left profile of her head - in brown on white background. Issued 13 June 1978. Created for coin-in-slot machines.
10c - Queen Elizabeth II - left profile of her head - in blue on white background. Issued 3 May 1978. Created for 'Postafix' machines.
1978 Definitives Stamp Issue - Four.
The New Zealand seashells were issued on the 29th of November 1978. The higher value shells were issued in two parts, the first being 20c through 50c in 1978 and the second being the $1 & $2 in 1979.
20c - Paua Shell. 30c - Toheroa Shell.
40c - Coarse Dosinia Shell. 50c - Spiny Murex Shell.
First Day Cover - 29 November 1978.
1979 Definitives Stamp Issue - Five.
Often these pair are included as part of the shell issue above, which in many ways they are but they were issued 12months later with their own First Day Cover.
$1.00 - Scallop. $2 - Circular Saw Shell.
First Day Cover - 26 November 1979.
1975 Pictorial / Definitives - Surcharged Issues.
Note: Four of the stamps from this issue were surcharged in 1979 to cover postal rate increases - these stamps are listed separately under the 1979 Provisional Overprints issue.
14c - Provisional overprint on 10c 'Queen Elizabeth II' stamp, issued 31 August 1979.
4c - Provisional overprint on 8c 'Josephine Bruce' stamp, issued 24 September. 1979
17c - Provisional overprint of 6c 'Cresset' stamp issued 9 October 1979.
20c - Provisional overprint of 7c 'Michele Meilland' stamp issued 29 September 1980.
Technical information - Rose Definitives.
Date of Issue:
|
26 November 1975
|
|---|---|
Designers:
|
A G Mitchell, Wellington
|
Printers:
|
Harrison and Sons, England
|
Stamp Size:
|
25mm x 29mm
|
Sheet Size:
|
100 stamps per sheet
|
Process:
|
Photogravure
|
| Perforation Gauge: |
Various combinations
|
Paper Type:
|
Harrison and Sons, unwatermarked
|
Technical information - Maori Artefacts.
Date of Issue:
|
24 November 1976
|
|---|---|
Designers:
|
A G Mitchell, Wellington
|
Printers:
|
Courvoisier, Switzerland
|
Stamp Size:
|
24mm x 29mm
|
Sheet Size:
|
100 stamps per sheet
|
Process:
|
Photogravure
|
| Perforation Gauge: |
11.5
|
Paper Type:
|
Granite, unwatermarked
|
Technical information - Queen Elizabeth II.
Date of Issue:
|
7 December 1977
|
|---|---|
Designers:
|
New Zealand Post Office, Wellington
|
Printers:
|
Harrison and Sons, England
|
Stamp Size:
|
25mm x 29mm
|
Sheet Size:
|
100 stamps per sheet
|
Process:
|
Lithography
|
| Perforation Gauge: |
14.25 x 13.75; Later print with 14.25 x 14.5
|
Paper Type:
|
Harrison and Sons, unwatermarked
|
Technical information - Seashell Definitives.
Date of Issue:
| 29 November 1978, 26 November 1979 |
|---|---|
Designers:
| I Hulse, Wellington |
Printers:
| Heraclio Fournier, Spain |
Stamp Size:
| 29mm x 25mm |
Sheet Size:
| 100 stamps per sheet |
Process:
| Photogravure |
| Perforation Gauge: | 13 |
Paper Type:
| Unwatermarked |
Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ
You can visit their web site and On-line Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/
Information for this post came from.
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