New Zealand – Varieties of Postage Stamps

A. Types

TYPES
3 d.
Die 1a (first 14 plates):

  • lighter engraved, best visible in letter D of ZEALAND and the stars in the bottom right corner (outlines partially missing).

Die 1b (last 2 plates):

  • heavier engraving, outlines of the stars and letter D complete.
Die 1a Die 1b
1958: Provisional overprints of 1½ d. Queen Elizabeth II
2 d. on 1½ d.
Type I overprint:

  • basic stamp of 1955 issue,
  • 3.75 mm diameter dot.
 Type II overprint:

  • basic stamp of 1955 issue,
  • 4.25 mm diameter dot.
 Overprint on earlier issue basic stamp:

  • basic stamp of 1953 issue (stars in bottom right corner).
1971/74: Magpie Moth surcharged – surcharge types
4 c. on 2½ c.
Type I (Harrison & Sons, London):

  • photogravure,
  • surcharge consists of small dots.
 Type II (Harrison & Sons, London):

  • letterpress,
  • wide bars.
 Type III (Local Letterpress):

  • letterpress,
  • bars similar to Type II.

B. Constant Varieties

1903/39: Express Delivery Stamp
6 d Field №
I New Zealand Express delivery stamp plate flaw Top horizontal stroke of the first letter E of IMMEDIATE missing. R10/1
1935, 1 May: Second Pictorials
2 s Field №
I New Zealand Second Pictorials 2s Cook stamp plate flaw Dot above 2. R10/2
II New Zealand Second Pictorials 2s Cook stamp plate flaw Coqk
Also on official stamp		 COQK instead of COOK. R1/4
1940: Centennial of New Zealand, Official stamps
Multiple values Field №
I New Zealand Official stamp overprint variety joined ff in Official Overprint error: joined letters ff. R1/10
1946, 1 April: Victory Issue
3 d Field №
I Rudder flaw (bottom stamp).
The plate was retouched due to the damage it had suffered during printing. The line was cut slightly deeper than the original, resulting in stronger print than was intended.		 R2/4
1963, 7 August: Health
3 p + 1 p Field №
I
SG816a		 Bloodstained Finger. ?
1963, 14 October: Christmas
2½ d Field №
I New Zealand 1963 stamp Christmas nosebag flaw Nosebag flaw. R3/8
1971/74: Magpie Moth surcharged
4 c. on 2½ c. Field №
I Larger spacing between 4 c and two canceling lines (upper stamp).
The plate(s) used in the letterpress process use individual pieces and in trying to raise the 4c it was temporarily put back in the wrong place.		 R7/20
II Missing 100% red.
The first printing was mainly taken up with adjusting the red plate to get full coverage but may examples exit from the first and las three columns (17-20) of partial missing red. Much rarer is 100% missing red.		 R3/20

C. Coincidental Varieties

1970/76: Definitive issue: Butterflies.
4 c
1 Missing production phases.
(Possibly printer’s waste?)
1972: Magpie Moth surcharged
4 c. on 2½ c.
1 Inverted overprint on back due to a folded stamp during overprinting process. Consequently, two stamps in the pane were not surcharged. New Zealand Magpie Moth postage stamp surcharge error
2 Offset.
3 Double perforation (half stamps).
1975/79: Definitive issue: Roses.
4 c.
1 Part of the impression missing.