The statue of Eros which sits atop the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, in Piccadilly Circus, London was the subject of the 1947 stamp issue.
Issue information
The fountain was unveiled on 29 June 1893, and was erected in memory of Anthony Ashley-Copper, the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, who was recognised as one of the greatest reformers of the 19th century. He is remembered particularly for his noble work for the abolition of child labour. In 1833 he introduced the Factory Act which forbade employment of young children in factories.
The sculptor was Alfred Gilbert who was knighted in 1932 and who died in 1934 at the age of 80. The model who sat for the sculptor was an 18 year old Italian youth, Angelo Colarossi, who was employed by a firm of aircraft manufacturers in England. The proceeds of the 'Health' value of these 1947 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 1947 Health
Click on image to enlarge.
Technical information
Date of issue: | 1 October 1947 |
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Designers: | J Berry, Wellington |
Printer: | Waterlow and Sons, England |
Stamp size: | 24mm x 40mm |
Sheet size: | 96 stamps per sheet |
Process: | Recess printed - Intaglio |
Perforation gauge: | 13.5 |
Paper type: | St Cuthbert's 'Royal Cypher', and other papers multiple NZ and star watermark |
Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 28 February 1948. |