1905 Government Life Insurance

Government Life stamps were initially restricted to mail posted by the insurance office for delivery in New Zealand, however in 1969 this condition was relaxed to allow such mail to be posted to overseas addresses.

Due to a need for further Government Life stamps to be produced, and a need for new printing plates, the opportunity was taken in 1905 to remove 'V R', which was no longer appropriate, from the original stamp design.  At the same time the rays of the lantern were widened, a window added to the tower - which was reduced in height. Extra ornamentation was also added to the bottom of the design. Printings of this version of the stamps continued through until the 1940s.

The stamps were designed by W B Hudson (of the Life Insurance Department) and J F Rogers (of the Government Printing Office).

Government Life stamps were withdrawn from use in 1989.

Acknowledgments

New Zealand Post would like to acknowledge the following for their assistance and guidance in bringing together this stamp issue:

Historical information included on this page sourced from The Postage Stamps of New Zealand published by the Royal Philatelic Society of NZ. Their web site offers further information useful to those interested in the stamps and postal history of New Zealand. Link: https://www.rpsnz.org.nz/

Product Listing for 1905 Government Life Insurance

Image	Title	Description	Price
	Single Stamp	Single 1/2d 'Green Lighthouse' gummed stamp.  Issued 2 January 1913.	1/2d
	Single Stamp	Single 1d 'Blue Lighthouse' gummed stamp. Issued early 1906.	1d
	Single Stamp	Single 1d 'Red Lighthouse' gummed stamp. Issued 2 January 1913.	1d
	Single Stamp	Single 1 1/2d 'Black Lighthouse' gummed stamp. Issued 1917.	1 1/2d
	Single Stamp	Single 1 1/2d 'Brown Lighthouse' gummed stamp. Issued 1919.	1 1/2d
	Single Stamp	Single 2d 'Purple Lighthouse' gummed stamp. Issued  2 January 1913.	2d
	Single Stamp	Single 2d 'Brown-red Lighthouse' gummed stamp. Issued 1 December 1905.	2d
	Single Stamp	Single 2d 'Yellow Lighthouse' gummed stamp. Issued 1920.	2d
	Single Stamp	Single 3d 'Yellow-brown Lighthouse' gummed stamp. Issued 2 January 1913.	3d
	Single Stamp	Single 3d 'Chocolate Lighthouse' gummed stamp. Issued 1931.	3d
	Single Stamp	Single 6d 'Pink Lighthouse' gummed stamp. Issued 2 January 1913.	6d