NEW
ZEALAND
PHILATELIC
POST
OFFICE
BULLETIN
-0-
Inquiries about New Zealand and Island Dependencies Stamps are to be addressed to the Director-General. Postal Division. G.P.O., Wellington. N.Z. 25 September, 196-4.
No. 32.
L Christmas Stamp. 1964 As notit'ied in Inlletin No. 30, the Christmas stamp this year will commemorate the 150th anniversary of' the t'irst Christian service held in New Zealand. The service took place at Rangihaua Bay, in the Bay ot' Islands, on Christmas Day, 1814, and was conducted by the Rev. Samuel Marsden.
The stamp, which is illus~rated here, was designed by the Wellington artist, LIr L.C. lUtchell, and is his conception ot' the scene as described in Marsden's journals and other historical records. The denomination is 2td. and the stamp is being produced by the photogravure process by Messrs Harrison and Sona Ltd., London, on paper ot' 50% Esparto and 50% sulphi tee The meets will be in six rows ot' ten. The stamp will be issued on 12th October and, unless stocks are exhausted earlier, i t will be withdra\'lIl on 7th Jamlary, 1965. The plate number is 1ft. 1A 1A 1A. Although increased postage rates will operate !'rom 1st October, as a goodwill gesture, and rather than overprint a particularly f'ine stamp, it has been decided that the 1964 Christmas stamp may be used this year on postings of' Christmas cards in unsealed envelopes to addresses within New Zealand. The same concession will apply to unsealed f'irst day covers f'or deliver,y \nthin New Zealand. First day covers t'or overseas are to be prepaid at the rates et'f'ective !'rom 1st October, i.e., on sealed envelopes to Commonwealth countries 4d.; other countries 7d. The rate on unsealed envelopes to all countries is 3td. Covers for New Zealand addresses must be clearly marked "t'irst day covers". Orders t'or the stamp and t'or first day covers may now be placed by overseas clients with the Director-General, Postal Division, General Poat Ot'f'ice, Wellington. As souvenir covera are not being provided by the Post orrice, plain white envelopes will be used.