NEW STAMP ISSUE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 78, 10 September 1947, Page 7

NEW STAMP ISSUE

COMMEMORATING CENTENNIAL OF OTAGO PROVINCE ISSUED EARLY NEXT YEAR A special series of postage stamps to commemorate the Centennial of the Otago Province will be issued early next year. The series will comprise three denominations, Id, 2d and 6d. It is probable also that there wil be a fourth denomination, 3d. The stamps will be on sale for a period of approximately three months. It is not possible at present to give a fixed date of issue, but this will be given later, states a bulletin issued by the General Post Office, Wellington.

The stamps feature the following subjects:— Id The ships “John Wickliffe” and “Philip Lang” at anchor in Port Chambers Harbour, 1848. These two vessels carried the first emigrants to the Otago Province. The stamp commemorates their arrival.

2d. The township of Cromwell, showing the confluence of the Molyneux and Kawarau Rivers and in silhouette, an old-time passenger coach and team. The object is to feature an early provincial activity —goldmining. 3d. “First Church” at Dunedin. This stamp, is issued, will mark the contribution of the early churches and symbolises the Christian influences prominent throughout the development of the Province.

6d. University of Otago (main building). The University is situated in Dunedin. The stamp represents the cultural development of the Province and honours the many students who have passed through its classes.

The stamps were designed by Mr J. Berry, of Wellington, and are being printed by Messrs. Bradbury, Wilkinson and Company, Ltd., London. They will be in the usual large commemorative size printed in two colours.

Sale of the stamps will be restricted all to post offices in the Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill postal districts, to Stamps Branch, General Post Office, all other Chief Post Offices, and to the Wellington Office. The Post Office does not propose to provide special first-day covers on this occasion, but special datestamps will be issued for use at Port Chambers and Dunedin on March--23, 1948, the actual centennial of the Province. A special “slug” will also be used in the Dunedin postmraking machine.