NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL STAMPS, DUE etc.

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Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them: evert@klaseboer.com.

Some stamps were issued with inscription 'POSTAGE FREE', 'N.Z. TREASURY FREE' or 'ON PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE BUSINESS FREE' in 1887-1891. Six different stamps seem to exist in three different designs. I only have one image of one of these stamps:


'POSTAGE FREE' with crown in center; black on blue (image obtained thanks to Scott Holmberg). An imperforate black on blue, imperforate black on white and imperforate black on lilac stamp also seem to exist.

Another stamp has inscription 'ONE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE BUSINESS FREE' with a crown in a circle (1891). Yet another stamp has 'POSTAGE FREE' with 'VR' design in the center (1891). If anybody has images of the other stamps, please contact me!

Pictures of some cards with similar designs:


(Reduced size)

Some cuts from envelopes with a crown design: 'AUDIT FREE', 'N.Z. TREASURY FREE' and 'POSTAGE FREE' (images obtained from Scott Holmberg).

 

1892 Postage stamps overprinted 'O.P.S.O.' (On Public Service Only) in violet or red (the 5 p brown also in green)

Certified genuine

  1/2 p red
  1/2 p black
  1 p red (Queen Victoria)
  1 p red (Standing lady)
  2 p violet
  2 1/2 p blue
  5 p grey
  5 p brown
  6 p brown 
  8 p blue (Queen Victoria)
  8 p blue (8 with crown and canoe)
  2 Sh green

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
All values RR to RRR RR to RRR  

All these overprints are very rare, forgeries exist, example:


(Forged overprint on genuine stamp)

 

1907 Stamps of New Zealand overprinted 'OFFICIAL'

  1/2 p (Mount Cook) green
  1 p (Mythical figure) red
  2 p lilac
  3 p (Huia birds) brown
  6 p red (Kiwi bird)
  1 Sh red
  2 Sh green
  2 Sh blue (Stamp Duty)
  5 Sh red (Mount Cook)
  5 Sh green (Stamp Duty)
  1 Pound red (Stamp Duty)

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 p ** c  
1 p ** c  
2 p ** c  
3 p *** **  
6 p R **  
1 Sh *** **  
2 Sh green R R  
2 Sh blue *** *** Stamp duty
5 Sh red RR R  
5 Sh green R *** Stamp duty
1 Pound RRR RRR  

 

1907 Reefton provisional stamp, 1 p stamp overprinted 'Official' in red (manuscript) and 'GREYMOUTH PAID 3' in black


(Images obtained from a Premier Philately auction)

The so-called ‘Reefton Provisionals’ were prepared at Greymouth Post Office and sent to the Police at Reefton for use on official letters and telegrams. These provisional stamps are extremely rare. It seems that only 50 of these stamps were prepared.


Images obtained from a Sotheby auction.

I've also seen the 2 p (50 stamps prepared), the 6 p (with inverted overprint, 25 stamps prepared) and the 1 Sh value (20 stamps prepared) of the 1898 issue with the same overprint.

 

1909 King Edward VII, inscription 'DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND', overprint 'OFFICIAL'

  1/2 p green
  3 p brown
  6 p red
  8 p blue (overprint red)
  1 Sh red

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 p * c  
3 p * vc  
6 p ** *  
8 p *** **  
1 Sh *** **  

 

1915 King George V, overprinted 'OFFICIAL'

  1/2 p green
  1 1/2 p grey
  1 1/2 p brown
  2 p yellow
  3 p brown
  4 p lilac
  6 p red
  8 p brown
  9 p olive
  1 Sh red

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 p c c  
1 1/2 p grey ** c  
1 1/2 p orange * c  
2 p * *  
3 p *** *  
4 p * *  
6 p * *  
8 p *** ***  
9 p ** **  
1 Sh ** *  

 

1936 Postage stamps of 1935 with slanting overprint 'Official'

1/2 p green, 1/2 p brown, 1 p red, 1 1/2 p brown, 2 p orange, 3 p brown, 2 1/2 p grey and brown, 4 p brown and black, 6 p red, 8 p brown, 9 p grey and red, 1 Sh green.

 

1938 King George VI issue with slanting overprint 'Official'

1/2 p brown, 1 p red, 1 p green, 1 1/2 p red, 1 1/2 p brown, 2 p orange, 3 p blue, 4 p lilac, 6 p red, 6 p brown, 8 p violet, 9 p brown.
Larger size: 1 Sh red and brown, 2 Sh green and orange.

 

1940 Centennial of New Zealand stamp, overprinted with slanting 'Official'

1/2 p (red overprint), 1 p, 1 1/2 p, 2 p, 2 1/2 p, 3 p (red overprint), 4 p, 6 p, 8 p, 9 p, 1 Sh.

 

1943(?) Postal fiscal stamp (arms), overprinted with slanting 'Official'

5 Sh green.

Official stamps, governmental life insurance

1887 Lighthouse, inscription 'LIFE INSURANCE', 'V R' included in the design

  1/2 p lilac
  1 p blue
  2 p red
  3 p brown
  6 p green
  1 Sh red

These stamps exist with several perforations and they have watermark 'NZ star' (two types). The 1/2 p and 1 p also exist without watermark (non issued?).

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 p * c  
1 p * c  
2 p * c  
3 p *** *  
6 p *** **  
1 Sh *** ***  

 

1907 Lighthouse, but without 'V R' in the design

  1/2 p green 
  1 p blue
  1 p red
  1 1/2 p grey
  1 1/2 p orange
  2 p red
  2 p violet
  2 p yellow
  3 p yellow
  6 p red

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 p c c  
1 p blue *** **  
1 p red c c  
1 1/2 p grey * *  
1 1/2 p orange c c  
2 p red *** ***  
2 p violet * *  
2 p yellow c c  
3 p c *  
6 p * *  

 

1947 Inscription 'N.Z GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT', various designs with lighthouses

1/2 p green and orange, 1 p brown and blue, 2 p grey, 2 1/2 p blue and grey, 3 p lilac and blue, 4 p brown and orange (Stephens Island), 6 p brown and blue, 1 Sh brown and blue (all in different design).

Postage Due stamps

1900 Inscription 'N.Z. Postage Due'

2 Sh green and red

  1/2 p green and red
  1 p green and red
  2 p green and red
  3 p green and red
  4 p green and red
  5 p green and red
  6 p green and red
  8 p green and red
  10 p green and red
  1 Sh green and red
  2 Sh green and red

These stamps have watermark 'NZ Star' and perforation 11. Specialists distinguish two types, differing in the size of the letters 'N.Z.' and other small details.

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 p * *  
1 p * *  
2 p *** *  
3 p * *  
4 p ** **  
5 p *** ***  
6 p *** ***  
8 p *** ***  
10 p *** ***  
1 Sh *** ***  
2 Sh *** ***  

 

1902 New design, inscription 'POSTAGE DUE NEW ZEALAND'

  1/2 p green and red
  1 p green and red
  2 p green and red
  3 p green and red

These stamps have watermark 'NZ Star' (all values) or no watermark (1/2 p only) and exist with various perforations. The values 1/2 p and 2 p also exist with a blue 'NZ' and star printed on the backside (issued 1926).

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 p c c With or without watermark
1 p * *  
2 p * *  

 

1939 Inscription 'NEW ZEALAND POSTAGE DUE', value in numbers and written text

1/2 p green, 1 p red, 3 p blue, 3 p brown.

Cancels

I don't have much information concerning the cancels used in New Zealand. If anybody has more information please contact me!


Numeral cancel, here '7'

Other numeral cancels and their corresponding numbers exist. I've seen several numbers, probably corresponding to different post offices. I've seen: 1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18.


A 'Star' cancel


A so-called 'Coin' cancel


A mute '6 bar' cancel

Returned Letter label

A label with inscription 'OFFICIALLY SEALED NEW ZEALAND' exists. If anyone posesses a picture of this label, please contact me!

Telegraph stamp

I've been told that the next label with inscription 'POST OFFICE TELEGRAPHS NEW ZEALAND' was issued in 1912. I have no further information:

Railway newspaper stamps

1890 Inscription 'N.Z RAILWAYS NEWSPAPER' with a crown in the center

I have seen the values 1/2 p black, 1 p lilac, 2 p blue, 3 p orange, 4 p red and 6 p green in the same design. There are two types of the 1/2 p and 1 p, differing in the wavy lines below the word 'NEWSPAPER'. They were no longer used after 1925. Much more information concerning these stamps can be found at: http://www.nzstamps.fsnet.co.uk/revenue/rail/index.html.

 

1925 New design, inscription 'N.Z.R. RAILWAY CHARGES'

I have seen the following values: 1/2 p black, 1 p violet, 2 p blue, 6 p green, 1 Sh violet, 1 Sh 6 p blue, 2 Sh red and 5 Sh red. They always seem to bear an overprint of the station they were used. More information can be found at: http://www.nzstamps.fsnet.co.uk/revenue/rail/charges.html (website no longer functional). According to this website these stamps were used until 1959.

I've seen impeforate 'Brodie reprints', also in other colors than those stated above.

RAILWAYS PARCEL STAMPS

Parcel stamps with inscription 'N.Z. RAILWAYS PARCEL' with arms in center:


A 3 p parcel stamp, I've also seen a 6 p value

Postage Paid Permit

Inscription 'POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 341 WELLINGTON', with kiwi bird:


(1878)

These images were obtained thanks to Scott Holmberg. If anybody has more information concerning their use, please contact me!

Postal Stationery

Examples:


(Reduced sizes)

NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS

Newspaper wrappers in a similar design as the postage stamp of 1873 were issued in 1878 (two types, differing in the text, in 1892 the word 'WITHIN NEW ZEALAND' was added).

I know that a newspaper wrapper was issued with the head of King Edwards VII in 1903 (sorry, no picture available).

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer