Series 4 new zealand philatelic bulletin no 29 1983 april

April 1983 Issue 29

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POST OFFICE PHILATELIC BUREAU

Philatelic Bulletin Bulletin philatelique Philatelistische Nachrichten

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_ _ _ _ _ _1_9_83_S_ta_m_p_P_ri_O_9r_a_m_m_e 14 March - Commonwealth Day (four stamps)

6 April- Special Topic issue (four stamps): Traditional works by New Zealand artists.

1 June - Scenic issue (four stamps): New Zealand scenery.

3 August -

Health issue (three stamps): Domestic animals.

5 October - Christmas issue (three stamps): Old Master painting, historic church, symbolic scene.

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COMMONWEALTH DAY STAMP ISSUE Aspects of New Zealand's tradition, culture and industry are featured on a special issue of four stamps released for Commonwealth Day, 14 March, 1983. New Zealand is one of more than 40 Commonwealth member countries who along with some ten associated or dependent territories issued stamps to commemorate

the event.

The New Zealand stamps feature a portrait of Queen Elizabeth 11 (24c), a Maori rock drawing (35c), Wool scouring and the Woolmark (40c) and the New Zealand Coat of Arms (45c).

All the stamps feature the Commonwealth symbol.

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Commonwealth Day

Presentation Pack

CDMMONWEALTI-I DAY 1983 PRESENTATION PACK The Commonwealth symbol and flags of all Commonwealth member nations are featured on a special presentation pack released to coincide with the Commonwealth Day stamp issue on 14 March. The stamp packs. which contain specimens of the four

Commonwealth Day stamps, sell for $2.30 at permanent and non-classified Post Offices and by mail order from the Philatelic Bureau. They will remain on sale until 30 September, unless stocks are exhausted earlier.

Poster

Sales Christchurch and Rotorua are the latest cities to benefit from the national upgrading of philatelic sales centres.

In its first day of business, the new Christchurch centre doubled takings from the sale of stamps and related items. On the same day, December 15, 1982 a sales centre opened at Rotorua, where previously all philatelic items had been sold straight over the postal counter. Opening day sales indicated a high level of interest there also.

Although both are designed with customer service and convenience in attractive surroundings as a priority, the two centres differ vastly in style.

The Christchurch centre, located within the Chief Post Office in The

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Square, is elegant and spacious with traditional furnishings. The building itself boasts high ceilings with Italianate style arches, which were retained in the renovations to accommodate the sales centre.

Because Rotorua is a very important tourist centre, the sales centre there has a specially designated area containing artworks with a local historic flavour. These are on loan from the Rotorua Art Gallery.

Well-known artist Theo Schoon was commissioned to provide the Maori motif mural which hangs behind the public counter area. Contrasting with this is a large fabric mural by Jill Stoker, a screen print artist. Its design is in flowing greens and blue,

representing the Rotorua landscape.

These original artworks are hung alongside enlarged reproductions of some of the 1935 definitive stamps, which feature traditional Maori designs.

Both the Christchurch and Rotorua sales centres sell all current issues of New Zealand stamps and philatelic products such as postal stationery, packs, posters etc., as well as stamps of Tokelau, Ross Dependency, United Nations, and Western Samoa. Coins are also sold.

Displays of philatelic items from Post Office archives, and philatelic magazines are also featured in the upgraded centres.

Presentation Pack

__Ri----...~u-'S-TRADITIONAL PAINTINGS PRESENTATION PACK. A self-portrait by artist Rita Angus appears on the front of a new presentation pack which contains stamps featuring four of her paintings.

This pack is produced in a vertical format, which conforms to the format of the stamp issue concerned. The Rita Angus Presentation Packs sell for

$2.20 at permanent and non-classified Post Offices and are available by mail order from the Philatelic Bureau. They will remain on sale until 30 September 1983, unless stocks are exhausted earlier.

Rita AngusTraditional Paintings Paintings by the New Zealand artist, Rita Angus (1908-70) feature on four stamps to be released on 6 April. The stamp issue coincides with the first major touring exhibition of works by this artist, which has been organised by the National Art Gallery, Wellington The four paintings chosen for the stamps come from different stages of the artist's career, spanning forty years, in both her chosen mediums of watercolour and oils. They are 'Boats, Island Bay' (1962-63) 24c; 'Central Dtago Landscape' (1954-56/1969) 30c; 'Wanaka Landscape' (1939) 35c; and 'Tree' (1943) 45c.

Rita Angus was born in Hastings and received her early arts skills training at Palmerston North before moving to Christchurch where she attended diploma classes at the Canterbury School of Art from 1927-31. She lived in Christchurch until 1954 when she moved to Wellington, leaving it for one year in 1958 to study and work in Europe.

Throughout her career Rita Angus made frequent painting trips all over New Zealand, especially to Central Dtago in the south and Hawkes Bay in the north, scenes from which feature in many of her paintings. Miss Angus is also renowned as a portrait artist, meticulous compositions in both oils and watercolour earning her the reputation as a leader of the modern school of New Zealand painting.

Vivid colours and clearly defined forms were the hallmarks of Rita Angus's style from the beginning, but she was also able to paint with quite remarkable delicacy. In the early part of her career she often depicted aspects of Wanaka, a region of particularly serene beauty in New Zealand's South Island. The watercolour 'Wanaka Landscape' which features on the 35 cent stamp is part of a loan collection held by the National Art Gallery.

It has been suggested that Rita Angus turned to watercolour during the war years because paintings in that medium were more saleable when people had less money and also because of a shortage of imported artists' materials, but the fact is that the artist was equally at home with both watercolour and oils using them alternatively until the end of her career.

Miss Angus made numerous

watercolour studies of flowers and plants in the 1940's and '50's. The 'Tree', featured on the 45 cent stamp, which is now also in the National Art Gallery's loan collection, grew in the garden of the artist's sister at Greymouth, on the west coast of the South Island.

The 'Central Dtago Landscape' seen on the 30 cent stamp is actually a composite landscape made up of separate views recorded first in watercolours and then completed in oils. Scenes depicted include Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range, and the country around Cromwell and Alexandra. The painting was begun in the 1950's and completed in 1969; indeed it was not uncommon for Rita Angus to work for years on one painting, not satisfied until the entire composition was one of feeling and consistency.

The last of the four paintings featured, 'Boats, Island Bay', on the 24 cent stamp, comes from Rita Angus's Wellington period. The Italian fishing boats moored in the bay of a picturesque Wellington suburb were sketched by the artist and later painted in oils. Miss Angus emphasised the complex patterns and shapes of the boats in a simple and direct way that characterises much of her best work.

The painting is now in a private Auckland collection.

Rita Angus died in 1970 at the early age of 62 years following a lifetime devoted to art. In a newspaper obituary Mr Melvin Day, then Director of the National Art Gallery, stated: "Her influence on painting in this country was wholly beneficial, not only because of her achievement in art, but above all for her artistic integrity and independence."

But perhaps the last word should be left to the artist. In the Year Book of the Arts, 1947, Rita Angus said her aim "was to show to the present a peaceful way, and through devotion to visual art to sow some seed for possible maturity in later generations." With the National Art Gallery exhibition and this new stamp iSSUE:l, Rita Angus's work is certain to reach a vast new audience, and her influence can only extend.

Tokelau -Transport Transport is the theme of a six-stamp Tokelau issue to be released on May 4.

Tokelau consists of three atolls, Atafu, Fakaofo and Nukunonu.

The stamps and denominations are: Outrigger Canoe 5 sene; Whale Boat 18s; Aluminium Whale Boat 23s; Alia Fishing Boat 34s; Cargo Ship 63s; and Seaplane 75s. Apart from the whale boat on the 18s stamp, these are all in use today.

Outrigger canoes have changed little over the centuries, and can still be seen on Tokelau beaches and in the water. The 5 sene stamp shows a canoe returning, under sail power, from a fishing trip outside the reef.

More wooden canoes are found on Atafu than on the other atolls because, according to legend, this atoll was blessed with an abundance of "kanava", the carving timber.

The Whale Boat shown on the 18 sene stamp was a large, heavy wooden vessel, propelled by oars. It was the early method of conveying cargo and people from shore to ship over the reef, and was only withdrawn recently with the introduction of aluminium whale boats. The original boat in the stamp is now preserved at the atoll of Atafu.

The aluminium whale boat on the 23 sene stamp is propelled by outboard motor and is capable of conveying many people and all kinds of freight from ship to shore. Sea conditions are critical to cargo-handling however, and

it is not uncommon for boats to capsize in the surf or strike the reef.

The Alia Fishing Boat shown on the 34 sene stamp is a twinhulled aluminium craft, typical of the type that is a recent introduction to Tokelau fishing fleets.

This design shows men preparing for night fishing.

The modern, sea-going cargo ship shown on the 63 sene stamp is the MV Frysna, which trades between the Pacific nations and Tokelau. The ship stays outside the reef as the crew loads and unloads freight into whale boats which convey cargo and people to shore through the channel in the reef. Occasionally, in rough weather, the ship will drop drums of fuel into the sea. Then it's left to the Tokelau men to swim to the channel with them, one man to a drum.

The 75 sene stamp shows a McKinnon "Goose" seaplane, which now provides a monthly service between Samoa and Tokelau. It was introduced in September 1981, after ten years without a seaplane service. The McKinnon "Goose" carries 10 to 12

passengers, depending on the payload, and lands and takes off from the enclosed reefs of the three atolls.

Together, the MV Frysna and the twin-engined seaplane call at Tokelau roughly every two weeks - more transport than the atolls have ever seen - and this means mail more often, and more regular servicing of the hospitals, schools and co-operative stores.

Like the last two issues of Tokelau stamps, Handicrafts and Fishing, this set was designed by Maurice Conly of Waikanae. The stamps were printed in Melbourne by Cambec Press, using lithography, in sheets of 50 (five rows of 10). Plate/imprint, positional or value blocks may be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps of all denominations.

The stamps are available in New Zealand only from the Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui (mail orders) and the Philatelic Sales Centres at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Rotorua and Gisborne. They will remain on sale until November 1,1983.

Orders for First Day Covers, costing $2.28, close at the Philatelic Bureau on May 4. The cover has been specially designed by Mr Conly, and will be used for all First Day Covers ordered from the Philatelic Bureau. These covers will be forwarded to Tokelau for date-stamping and returned to the Philatelic Bureau towards the end of July, 1983.

They will then be mailed to customers, unaddressed and enclosed in an outer envelope. If the order is for both mint stamps and First Day Covers, these will be sent in one posting when the covers are returned from Tokelau. Like previous issues, these stamps are not valid for postage in New Zealand.

Health Three popular breeds of cat feature on the New Zealand Health Stamp issue for 1983 which will be released on August 3. These stamps continue the domestic animals theme which began last year with a set depicting dogs.

This year's stamps are by the same designer, Maurice Conly of Waikanae.

While there are over 50 breeds of cats, for show purposes they are divided into three main classes - short-hair British, short-hair foreign and long-hair.

The Health Stamp designs show one example of each: a Tabby, 24 cents + 2 cents; a Siamese, 24 cents + 2 cents (printed se-tenant); and a Persian, 30 cents + 2 cents.

Cats have been kept as pets all over the world for many centuries, but there were no cats in New Zealand before the arrival of Europeans. Since then the furry felines have made up for lost time and firmly established themselves as the most popular pet with hundreds of owners proudly displaying them at shows held by cat clubs up and down the country.

The Tabby cat illustrated on one of the 24c + 2c stamps probably derives its name from a type of silk, also called tabby, that was originally made in Baghdad. In England the breed was once known as the Cyprus cat, suggesting some link with the trade route through the Mediterranean, and Tabbys have also been known as Tiger cats.

When the first standard was established in 1902 Siamese cats were described as "in every particular the reverse of the ideal short-haired cat".

They are particularly admired for their svelte appearance, but it is not only their looks that make the Siamese the most popular of the pedigree breeds.

They have a character all their own, are particularly intelligent and become very attached to their owners, demanding attention all the time.

The third of the featured cats, long-hairs like the Blue Persian seen on the 30c + 2c stamp, also demand a great deal of attention, if only in keeping their beautiful coats in top condition. Long-haired cats were unknown in Europe until the sixteenth century when they were imported from Asia. The long hair of domestic breeds is interestingly not known in wild members of the cat family.

Queen Victoria owned two Blue Persians and helped to s_et the seal of approval on pedigree cat breeding by her interest and support. Blue Persians are still considered by many to be the king of cats, and they are often used to improve the colour and type of other long-haired breeds.

The 1983 Health Stamp issue has been printed by Harrison and Sons Ltd., England, using the lithography process. All stamps in the set are of vertical format and measure 25mm x 42mm. Miniature sheets containing two sets of each stamp, measuring 100mm x 126mm are available at a cost of $1.68 each. Plate/imprint, positional or value blocks may be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps of each denomination.

The stamps will remain on sale at Post Offices until 4 October, and at the Post Office Philatelic Bureau, Wanganui (mail orders} and philatelic sales ositions until 30 June 1984, unless tocks are exhausted earlier.

Unaddressed First Day Covers designed by Maurice Conly may be ordered at local Post Offices from 2 June until 3 August inclusive.

Alternatively they may be purchased over the counter from Chief Post Offices and selected Post Offices from 3to 12 August. Orders for First Day Covers close at the Philatelic Bureau nn":l AllnllQot

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The last of the four scenic stamps features Lake AIexandrina.

Alexandrlna Is a small and beautiful satellite of Lake Tekapo In South Canterbury.

Lake A1exandrina Is a wildlife refuge, an exceptional trout fishing resort. and home for the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. It was named In honour of Princess A1exandrina (1844-1925) daughter of Christian IX of

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and the Po8IlOlllcl Philatelic Bureau WIna8nuf orders) and PhIlatelic Sales until June 5. 1984.

Arst Day Covers, also ~ by Peter Durrant, will cost 1.98.

Uke last year's successful acenlc Issue, "Four seasons·, the "BeauIIfu1 New Zealand" set will also be available In a presentation pack.

Stamps Available Stamps are available by mail order from the Philatelic Bureau, Wanganui or over the counter from Philatelic Sales Centres at Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin, Hamilton, Gisborne and Rotorua.

"ARMS" (Set $28.00) $4, $6, $8, $10

DEFINITIVES (Set $11.99) 1c, 2c, 3c, 4c, 5c, 6c, 7c, 8c, 9c, 10c, 15c, 20c, 24c, 25c, 30c, 35c, 40c, 45c, 50c, 60c, $1, $2, $5.

GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE (Set $1.55) 5c, 10c, 20c, 30c, 40c, 50c.

ROSS DEPENDENCY (Set $1.55) 5c, 10c, 20c, 30c, 40c, 50c.

TOKELAU DEFINITIVES (Set $1.90) 1c, 2c, 3c, 5c, 9c, 20c, 50c, $1.00.

Withdrawals 30 April 1983:-1982ARCHITECTURE 20c, 25c, 30c, 35c, (set$1.10).

31 May 1983: 1982 SCENIC -

Four Seasons 35c, 40c, 45c, 70c, (set $1.90).

30 June 1983: -1982 HEALTH 24c

+ 2c x 2 Se-tenant, 30c + 2c (Set 84c), miniature sheet $1.68

30 June 1983: -1982 CHRISTMAS 18c, 35c, 45c (set 98c).

3 May 1983: -1982 TOKELAU FISHING 5s, 18s, 23s, 34s, 63s, 75s, (set $2.18).

1 November 1983: -1983 TOKELAU TRANSPORT 5s, 18s, 23s, 34s, 63s, 75s, (set $2.18).

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