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New Zealand

Wednesday, July 18, 1855

British Colony 6
Oceania 2

NZ1
NZ2
  New Zealand #1 #2  

Imperforate, star watermark, engraved.

Description # printed   Scott SG Mi Y&T
London print. White paper.
1 penny dull carmine
 12,000   1 1    
2 pence deep blue
 66,000   2 2    
1 shilling yellow green
 8,000   3 3    
Auckland, New Zealand, print. No watermark, blued paper
November - December 1855
1 penny orange
 29,016   4 3b    
1 penny red
       4    
1856
2 pence deep blue
 ?   5 5    
1 shilling yellow green
 ?   6 6    

All issue quantities are approximate.

NZ
New Zealand full face Chalon Heads

The first stamps were printed in London, England and shipped along with the plates, such that production could be continued in New Zealand. The blueing of the paper on the London print is due to a chemical reaction between the paper and the ink. The one penny was not affected by this.

Sources:
James Mackay, The World of Classic Stamps, 1972
Gibbons Commonwealth and British Empire Stamps 1840-52, 106th edn., 2003

Image from Mackay, David Olson and New Zealand Post.

FI ref: 57 Page credit: JA/NB

Page created 19 Feb 2014 Page updated 18-Aug-2017