As the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Girl Guides association was celebrated in 1953 it was felt that a stamp design incorporating a girl guide or some aspect of guiding would be appropriate for the 1953 Health stamp issue.
Issue information
Two designs by James Berry were selected for use on the stamps - one depicting girl guides and the other boy scouts. Signalling is one of the subjects both guides and scouts were taught, so inscriptions in morse code were introduced into the designs. The dots and dashes at the top of both stamps represent the word 'Health', down the sides of the 2d + 1d stamp they read 'New Zealand'. The proceeds of the 'Health' value of these 1953 Health stamps were donated to the Children's Health Camps movement.
Acknowledgments
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 1953 Health
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 1 1/2d + 1/2d gummed stamp. Girl guide marching with a flag held aloft and bearing the girl guide symbol. |
2d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 2d +1d gummed stamp. Typical scout camp scene with a boy scout boiling a billy. |
3d |
Technical information
| Date of Issue: | 7 October 1953 |
|---|---|
| Designers: | J Berry, Wellington |
| Printers: | Harrison and Sons, England |
| Stamp Size: | 40mm x 24mm |
| Sheet Size: | 120 stamps per sheet |
| Process: | Photogravure |
| Perforation Gauge: | 14 x 14.5 |
| Paper Type: | Guard Bridge, multiple NZ and star watermark |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 31 January 1954. |