NEW STAMPS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 80, 1 October 1931, Page 14

NEW STAMPS

DESIGNS ALL IN

TO BE JUDGED BY BOARD

Yesterday the competition opened by the Post and Telegraph Department for the designing of a new issue of postage and revenue stamps, ranging in fifteen denominations, from §d to 3s, closed, but actually most of the packages of designs had come to hand a good deal earlier. The conditions attaching to the competition laid down the general provision that the design of each stamp must include a representation of characteristic or notable New Zealand scenery or genre, or industrial, agricultural, or pastoral scene, with the wording, "New Zealand Postage and Revenue" ana the value of the stamp. General requirements as to colours were also set out. The field offered designers was wide, and in the hundreds of designs submitted must have widely expanded again. Entries were received from all parts of the world, though it would seem at first sight that in sttcb pictorial designs as arc called for the New Zealand designer would have an advantage when it came to points of detail, and the philatelist, above all people, is strong on detail. The next step will be for the Government to set up a board, to consist, of * representative" or representatives of art and a Government representative, to riclect designs of each value. A prize of £25 is to be awarded for each adopted design, and should any other designs bo used within five years the sum of £15 will be paid to each such designer. It would seem, • then, that stamp designing is largely a labour of enthusiasm, for though fifteen times £25 would perhaps be.adequate reward .for the intricate work of hand drawing and colouring a sheet for competition, the chances of any one man "scooping the pool" when the field is so wide are.not great. It is proposed later to place the designs on exhibition, and judging from the very many packages, it will be I quite a job to find a suitable room for their display. |