In December of 1864, a 1d rate was imposed on the delivery of newspapers in New Zealand. Throughout the following decade, the rate was removed, replaced and changed several times, until finally rate of ½d was introduced on 1 January 1873. In conjunction with the reduction in price, a special newspaper stamp was issued for payment of this fee.
This stamp was the first where the design, printing plate preparation and printing plates themselves were completed in New Zealand. The design was completed by John Davies, the Government Printer, who based his design on that of a contemporary English ½d stamp of Great Britain and had the side view of a young Queen Victoria’s head. Across the top are the words ‘New Zealand’, and down each side is the value, with the purpose, ‘Newspaper Postage’, written across the bottom.
So that the stamp would be ready for issue in January 1873, 717,600 were printed in 1872. The stamps were surface printed in Wellington by the Government Printer.
The last printing was in 1892 and the stamp remained in use until 1895 when it was superseded by the ½d black 'Second Sideface' issue.
Product listing for 1873 Newspaper Stamp
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Miniature Sheet | Mint, used or cancelled gummed miniature sheet. | $6.90 |
 |
Miniature Sheet First Day Cover |
First day cover with gummed miniature sheet affixed. |
$7.40 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 2 August 2023 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | One |
| Denominations: | $6.90 |
| Miniature sheet and first day covers designed by: | NZ Post Wellington |
| Printer and process: | Brebner Print by lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours |
| Miniature sheet size and format: | 100mm x 70mm (horizontal) |
| Paper type: | Arconvert Securpost MC 90/Cprint100 P11p |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 1 |
| Perforation gauge: | 14.286 x 14.47 |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 1 August 2024. First day covers remained on sale until 27 September 2023. |