The design of the 1939 Health stamp was based upon three photographs taken at different locations in Wellington.
Issue information
The first photograph taken at Oriental Bay, depicted three boys at play with a small ball. The second photograph taken at the Basin Reserve, depicted a lad reaching upwards for a large ball. The third photograph was a view taken in Wakefield Park. By using the Wakefield Park photograph for the background, two of the boys in the first picture together with one in the second and the substitution of a beach ball the final stamp design was completed.
It was intended that the two stamps would have 1/2d + 1/2d and 1d + 1d values but a postage increase resulted in the need for the Government Printer to overprint revised denominations.
The proceeds of the 'Health' value of these 1939 Health stamps were donated to the Children's Health Camps movement.
Acknowledgments
New Zealand Post would like to acknowledge the following for their assistance and guidance in bringing together this stamp issue.
Historical Information
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 1939 Health
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 1d + 1/2d 'Beach ball' gummed stamp. Three boys playing with a beach ball - green |
1 1/2d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 2d + 1d 'Beach ball' gummed stamp. Three boys playing with a beach ball - red |
3d |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 16 October 1939 |
|---|---|
| Designers: | S Hall, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington |
| Printers: | Australian Bank Note and Stamp Printer, Australia and Government Printing Office, New Zealand |
| Stamp size: | 25mm x 41mm |
| Sheet size: | 48 stamps per sheet |
| Process: | Recess printed - intaglio |
| Perforation gauge: | 11 |
| Paper type: | Wiggins Teape unsurfaced, NZ and star watermark |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 29 February 1940. |