CORONATION STAMPS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 459, 17 June 1937, Page 3

CORONATION STAMPS

Heads Of Royalty Said To Be Misplaced

Press Association —Copyright Dunedin, June 16.

A local enthusiast well versed in heraldry and stamp lore, declares with emphasis that the heads of the King and Queen are misplaced on the New Zealand Coronation stamps, and, indeed, on those of 45 colonial issues.

He rejects altogether the explanation telegraphed from Wellington that there is no hard-and-fast rule in the matter, averring that the rules of heraldry are applicable to any coins, de signs or stamps upon which royalty or symbols of royalty appear. These place the King on the left hand side and the Queen on the right. This, he points out, conforms with all ceremonial. In a marriage ceremony the bride enters thq church on the right arm of her father, but leaves on the left side of her husband. At the recent Coronation ceremony the Queen was on the left side ot the King while he was taking the oath and being crowned and, again, on the shield of the Queen the coat-of-arms of the King takes the lefthand side. This authority points opt that there was a practical and utilitarian origin to the stationing. In days when all gentlemen wore swords, the lady took the left arm of her escort so that his right should be free to draw. “Since the New Zealand stamps were printed in England, it is surprising that those well versed in heraldry did not notice the error, but it is obvious to those who have made any study of heraldry that there is a clear ruling on the subject.”