NEW ZEALAND VARIETIES

We are indebted to Mr H.C. Duthie of Auckland for information that the current KG 1/- has at last appeared with plate number 41.

        The sheets are perforated 14 x 14¼ throughout and were printed and perforated in early 1922. Evidently a large printing of the 1/- value was run off from both plates 41 and 42 in 1922, and after being perforated were taken into stock and it has so happened that the stamps from plate 42 were issued first.

        Mr Duthie also draws our attention to the fact that the paper at present being used for the surface-printed Georgians is found with various types of sheet numbers in the right-hand top corner. This new paper which is rather thicker than the older paper is different from that on which an experimental printing of the ½d value was made in 1915.

(Q.)  How many different plates are there of the current 1d Dominion stamp? I have found several plate flaws in this stamp that were not mentioned in the list appearing in a former number of the journal, and wonder if they have been chronicled.

(a)   Top line above “of” missing.

(b)   Top line over “MIN” of “Dominion” missing. This flaw is quite different from the one which has a broken “D” and battered frame-line.

(c)   Broken steamer under funnel. I have noticed several others but these are the main ones.

(A.)  Up to the present four plates have been used to print sheets of the 1d Dominion. Of these, two have been used for the booklet stamps and two for the ordinary stamps. Of the latter the first had the familiar flaw “QNE” R10/19 and in the second plate the two most prominent flaws were broken globe R5/24 and a flaw under the first “A” of “ZEALAND” R3/1.

        The additional varieties occur on the second plate which is still in use and these flaws are due entirely to wear. In recent printings the top row of the sheet is usually distinctly blurred particularly at the top.

        Our publishers recently acquired an interesting sheet of the 1d stamps on the thick paper in which the right half sheet was in the normal colour and the left half sheet in a very pale colour.

STAMPS FOR CHARITY

We are quite often asked for the name and address of a worthy cause for charity donations of used stamps torn off the mail, old accumulations of stamps, unwanted beginner’s stamp collections, etc. One such charity organisation that we can now suggest for this purpose is:

                                   Anglican Missions Board

                                   PO Box 12012

                                   Thorndon

                                   Wellington 

They have a distinct need for all stamps, worldwide, in any condition, of any age. Material sent to this charity would be for a most worthwhile cause benefiting the many charities supported by the Anglican Church of New Zealand.