From 1891 some stamps affixed to official government mail were overprinted by rubber stamps at time of posting with the letters 'O.P.S.O' - 'On Public Service Only'. More commonly, various forms of special printed or rubber-stamp franks were used.
Issue information
In August 1906, Government decided that "as from 1 January next, the existing system of franking letters, packets and telegrams sent on public service, is to be abolished, and that in lieu thereof such correspondence is to be paid for by means of official stamps". Several of the current pictorial stamps of the day, together with the Penny Universal stamp, were overprinted with the word 'OFFICIAL' for this purpose.
The 1/2d stamp was designed by H W Young, the 1d by Guido Bach, the 2d, 3d and 1s by W R Bock, the 6d by E Howard, and the 2s and 5s by E T Luke.
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 1907 Officials
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 1/2d '1900 Pictorial - Mount Cook' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'OFFICIAL'. |
1/2d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 1d '1901 'Penny Universal' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'OFFICIAL'. |
1d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 1d '1907 'Redrawn Pictorial - Penny Universal' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'OFFICIAL'. |
1d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 2d '1900 Pictorial - Pembroke Peak' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'OFFICIAL'. |
2d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 3d '1898 Pictorial - Huias' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'OFFICIAL'. |
3d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 6d '1900 Pictorial - Kiwi' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'OFFICIAL'. |
6d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 6d '1907 Redrawn Pictorial - Kiwi' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'OFFICIAL'. |
6d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 1s '1898 Pictorial - Kea/Kaka' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'OFFICIAL'. |
1s |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 2s '1898 Pictorial - Milford Sound' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'OFFICIAL'. |
2s |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 5s '1898 Pictorial - Mount Cook' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'OFFICIAL'. |
5s |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 1 January 1907 |
|---|---|
| Designers: | Guido Bach; H W Young, Auckland; W R Bock, Wellington; E Howard, Melbourne and E T Luke, Melbourne |
| Printers: | Government Printing Office, New Zealand |
| Stamp size: | 1/2d, 1d and 2d : 20mm x 24mm; 3d and 1s : 22mm x 25mm; 2s : 35mm x 23mm; 5s : 22mm x 36mm |
| Sheet size: | 1/2d, 1d and 2d : 240 stamps per sheet; 3d, 1s and 2s : 120 stamps per sheet; 5s : 60 stamps per sheet; Booklets containing 120 1d stamps, in panes of six |
| Process: | Recess printed - Intaglio |
| Perforation gauge: | Various perforation combinations |
| Paper type: | Cowan, NZ and star watermark and De La Rue, NZ and star watermark. |