Christmas (7 October 2009) SC51a-i

A huge improvement in the “Design-a-Stamp” competition designs by children. To me the stand-out design is the $2.30 “NZ Pigeon”. Despite its tenuous connection to Christmas, it is a really bold and colourful design. Likewise the traditional designs are as good as any of its forerunners.

        A note of philatelic interest is a design error on the $2.80 value. The winner’s name is incorrectly spelled “Apun” – it should be “Apurv”, a matter of some consequence to a

7 year old!

        Designed by Stephen Fuller, Wellington (Traditional) and “Design-a-Stamp” winners as below.  Printed by Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, by offset litho in four process colours and metallic gold (PMS871).

• Gummed sheets of 50, Tullis Russell 104gsm Red Phosphor gummed stamp paper. Perforation 14.3, mesh horizontal.
• Two booklets of 10 for each of 50c and $1.80 values, Avery Dennison B100 PS1 gloss-back adhesive 210gsm paper. Perforation (die-cut) 10.1 x 9.8, mesh horizontal.
• Retail roll of 100 x 50c self-adhesive. No change to booklet technical details..
• Se-tenant pair of 50c and $1.80 self-adhesive from jumbo roll printing. No change to roll technical details except matrix is stripped.

Note: All self-adhesive formats are phosphor-tagged with a straight-sided box on stamp margins.

Designs are:  50c       Pohutukawa (Felix Wang – 11 yrs)       

                      50c       Shepherds (Traditional)

                      $1.00    Mary, Joseph & Jesus (Traditional)       

                      $1.80    Magi (Traditional)

                      $2.30    NZ Pigeon (Dannielle Aldworth -10yrs)  

                      $2.80    Presents (Apurv Bakshi – 7yrs)              

                      50c       Shepherds (s/adh roll)

                      50c       Shepherds (s/adh booklet)

                      $1.80    Magi (s/adh booklet)

Sir Peter Blake 1948-2001 (25 November 2009) S1171-5

A winning design on all fronts. Easy to read denomination, apposite and striking graphic design and appropriate, well-chosen images. What doesn’t come across in the facets of Sir Peter’s claim to fame noted in the various inscriptions is his genuine and engaging personality – one of the real good guys of sport and an exemplary ambassador for New Zealand. Tragic that a good life should be terminated so perversely (by Amazonian pirates!) Wellington. 

        Designed by Cue Design, Wellington. Printed by Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, by offset litho, in four process colours plus silver (PMS877).

• Gummed sheets of 25, Tullis Russell 104gsm Red Phosphor gummed stamp paper. Perforation 13.4 x 13.6, mesh horizontal.
• Gummed miniature sheet incorporating one of each value se-tenant (1 x 5). No change to technical details.
• Gummed miniature sheet carrying 50c value only imperforate, mesh now vertical. The sheet also incorporates a ticket (valued at $16.00) which is valid for adult entry to the Sir Peter Blake Tribute and Exhibition at the Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum. This miniature sheet is only found in the presentation pack of which only 4,000 were produced. Note:  That the price for this miniature sheet is set at $21.00 and $25.00 for the FDC.

Designs are:  50c Inspirational Leader                                       

                      $1.00 Yachtsman

                      $1.80 Record Breaker                                         

                      $2.30 Passionate Kiwi

                      $2.80 Environmentalist

Ross Dependency – 50th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty (25 November 2009) RD113-17

I have to admit the graphics are excellent and integrate unequivocal elements of Antarctica in a visually appealing way. However, this series, since the 1990’s, has always delivered such stunning real-life images – surely the main attraction for Antarctic thematics – that one feels a bit short-changed to be served up effigies. On the other hand, they do very fairly represent the inscription to which they relate.

        Designed by Inhouse Design, Auckland. Printed by Southern Colour Print, Dunedin by offset litho in four process colours.

• Gummed sheets of 25, Tullis Russell 104gsm Red Phosphor gummed stamp paper. Perforation 13.4 x 13.6, mesh horizontal.

Designs are:     50c        50th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty

                         $1.00     Antarctica Shall be used for Peaceful Purposes Only

                         $1.80     Freedom of Scientific Investigation in Antarctica

                         $2.30     International Co-operation in Scientific Investigation in Antarctica

                         $2.80     Preservation and Conservation of Living Resources in Antarctica

REPRINTS

Timpex National Stamp Exhibition (16-18 October)

Miniature sheet incorporating three values from the “Sir Edmund Hillary” Memorial issue. Perforation now 14 (was 14.8), mesh horizontal (was vertical). No change to other technical details. Plus reproduction of $20.00 “Images of New Zealand” (PC27a) in offset litho and overgloss (no recess printing) overprinted “SPECIMEN”.

Designs are:  50c        Sir Edmund Hillary                      (S1116)

                      $1.00     Mt Everest, Hillary and Tenzing  (S1117)

                      $2.50     Order of the Knight of the Garter (S1120)

Definitive Reprints (October? 2009)

PE29a                $5.00   Castlepoint (2-Kiwi)

W92d(Z)             5 x PE27d $1.50 Arrowtown (1-Kiwi)

W92d(Y)             5 x PE27d $1.50 Arrowtown (2-Kiwi)

Note: Both booklets see a return to phosphor tagging with a straight-sided box.

NEW ZEALAND 2010 STAMP ISSUES

6 Jan               Chinese Lunar New Year: Year of the Tiger. Set of four stamps, plus miniature sheet

3 Feb               Personalised Greetings Stamps, sheetlet of four stamps.

3 March           Ancient Monsters of New Zealand. Five stamps plus miniature sheet, possibly large sized stamps similar to 2009’s  

                        ‘Giants of New Zealand’ set.

7 April             ANZAC III. The third stamp issue in the ongoing stories of  Nationhood ANZAC Series, six stamps and a booklet.

30 April           Shanghai 2010 World Stamp Exhibition miniature sheet.

8 May             London 2010 Festival of Stamps World Stamp Exhibition  miniature sheet.

2 June           Matariki III Maori New Year 2010 third set. Six stamps and a miniature sheet.

7 July             ‘A Slice of Heaven’ – a most intriguing title for a set of New Zealand commemorative stamps.

4 Aug              An unspecified mystery issue “Keep an eye out for this special issue”. Last year’s two unspecified mystery issues 

                       actually turned out to be three – Tiki Tour sheetlet of 24, Kiwistamps NVIs and Sir Peter Blake stamps and miniature

                       sheet. One wonders what NZ Post have in store for us for 2010.

1 Sept              2010 Health set and miniature sheet.

6 Oct                Christmas 2010

3 Nov               100 Years of Surf Lifesaving

3 Nov               Ross Dependency issue

12 Nov             Palmpex 2010 National Stamp Exhibition miniature sheet.

 If any CP Newsletter reader would like a copy of the NZ Post 2010 Stamp Issue Calendar, they are available from us on request.