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New Zealand's First Stamps

Like most of the rest of the world, mail in New Zealand did not require prepayment until the mid
19th century. The New Zealand Gazette gave notice in a proclamation published on January
8, 1851, that on April 1, 1851, prepayment of postage would become mandatory. The same
notice mentioned that postage stamps could be used for such prepayment. It was not until
1855 that stamps became available.

An order for stamps was placed with Perkins, Bacon, & Co. in London on March 3, 1854. After
some trial designs, William Humphrys completed satisfactory engraved dies for 1d., 2d., and
1s. values on June 2, 1854. The design featured the head of Queen Victoria taken from the
the portrait by Alfred Edward Chalon and a background of engine-turned patterns. Proofs do
exist.

Plates of 240 impressions were made and the stamps were printed following the Perkins,
Bacon processes. The colors chosen were dull carmine for the 1d., dull blue for the 2d., and
yellow green for the 1s. The stamps were printed on white wove paper watermarked with a
one large six-pointed star on each stamp. The 2d. and 1s are usually found with blued paper
which resulted from precipitation of prussiate of potash after the paper was moistened before
printing.

On September 22, 1854, Perkins, Bacon, & Co. sent a supply of the stamps, along with the
plates, a press, and various other articles necessary to the production of stamps to New
Zealand. 12,000 1d. stamps, 20,000 of the 2d., and 8,000 of the 1s. were included. (As
Richard Frajola has pointed out, the numbers of the 2d. and 1s. are probably not exact since
the quantities are not divisible by 240 and it is unlikely that part sheets were sent. On the
other hand the quantities may be correct since the order made before the plate layout was
finalized may have stated how many stamps were to be supplied and Perkins, Bacon were
used to accommodating the accounting needs of security printing.) This first shipment also
included 50 pounds of the dull carmine ink, 250 pounds of the blue ink, and 40 pounds of the
yellow green ink. The shipment included postmarking handstamps and ink, some gum, oil,
whiting, and other items.

The Gazette announced that the stamps were issued on July 18, 1854. The rest is more
history!

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Rodolfo / rtvstamps
Resource: L. N. and M Williams. Blandford Press Ltd, 1950.

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