NEW
ZEALAND
PHILATELIC
POST
OFFICE
BULLETIN
Inquiries about New Zealand and Island Dependencies Stamps are to be addressed to the Director - General. Stamps Division. G.P.O .• Wellington. N.Z. No. 24.
2S September, 1961.
I. Christmas Stamp. The denomination of' the 1961 Christmas stamn which is illustrated here will be 2~d. to conrorm with the increased rate of' postage for inland commercial papers, printed papers and postcards.
A nativity painting by Albrecht Durer entitled "Adoration of' the Magi" is featured. The original of this painting hangs in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy. In an endeavour to reproduce the painting in as near as possible to its natural colour, four colour photogravure printing has been used by Messrs Harrison and Sons Limited, London. In comparison to the rather sombre colours of the 1960 issue, this year's stamp is particularly bright. Each stamp is 34mm x 30mm and sheets have 60 impressions in five rows of twelve. In the top right-hand corner, the sheet value of 12s.6d. is shown, while the printer's imprint, together With the plate number appears in the bottom left-hand corner. The plate number of 1A in each case is shown in the colour used; namely black, red, yellow and blue. These principal colours have been delicately blended to obtain the desired overall toning. Paper with a consistency of 50 per cent Esparto and 50 per cent sulphite has been used. The multiple watermark is sideways with N.Z. reading upwards. The stamp will be placed on sale throughout the country on 16th October and provided stocks are not exhausted earlier, will be withdruvm on 13th January, 1962.