Introduction

This beautiful set of stamps were New Zealand’s first Pictorial Issue, issued in 1898, with the Boer War Issue in 1900.

Design Competition

At a Cabinet meeting held December 28th 1894, it was decided to have a new issue of stamps, and the Secretary to the General Post Office was instructed to draft a circular calling for competitive designs, and offering prizes for those selected. The first draft of the circular (Jan 30th 1895) stated that “Preferences will be given to the representation of the Queen’s head, or a scene characteristic of New Zealand”. This was subsequently altered 20th March 1895, when any mention of the Queen’s head was omitted. In response to the request 2400 designs were submitted, anomalously with a pseudonym; the identity was sealed in an envelope with the pseudonym written on the outside. These drawings ranged from the crudest of drawings to the finished product.

The items shown here are courtesy of the Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand from their reference collection.

Results

NZ2020 National Stamp Exhibition, Auckland: 85 Points, Gold

Macao 2018 FIAP Exhibition: Large Vermeil

Praga 2018 World Stamp Exhibition: Large Vermeil

Melbourne 2017 FIAP International Exhibition, Large Vermeil

Brasilia 2017 World Stamp Exhibition: Large Vermeil

Royalpex 2017: 83 Points, Large Vermeil

Christchurch 2016 Stamp & Postcard Exhibition: 90 Points, Large Gold

Christchurch 2016 Stamp & Postcard Exhibition: 90 Points, Large Gold

Scans will be uploaded shortly