The America's Cup is the unquestioned symbol of international yachting supremacy.
Issue information
Three times in the 1980's and 1990's, New Zealand attempted and failed to wrest the Cup from the holders, and the optimistic hopes of the entire country evaporated in bitter disappointment as the challengers came home empty-handed.
But the sailors and designers, and the organisers behind them, learned each time and the failures proved just the prelude to the 1995 triumph of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's entry, Team New Zealand and their black hulled New Zealand, the yacht better known as Black Magic.
The expertise and experience painstakingly gained in the first three challenges were put to superb use in the waters off San Diego, California, in 1995 as the New Zealanders, led by syndicate boss Peter Blake, sailed majestically to overpower the best the world could throw against them.
New Zealand's Black Boat brought home the America's Cup after defeating Dennis Conner in the final series of the 1995 America's Cup - a wonderful moment for all New Zealand to savour. Only one nation had done that in 144 years of competition - Australia. All the tough knocks and close calls over the years had been worth it, and the nation took its place as the champions of the yachting world.
Limited Edition Sheetlet
Special sheetlets of ten x 45c America's Cup stamps were gold foiled 'America's Cup Victory 1995 - Limited Edition' and individually numbered from 1 to 10,000 and sold in a special 'Victory 1995' stamp pack.
Product Listing for America's Cup - Victory
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 45c 'America's Cup' gummed stamp. Black Magic's superiority was clear from the moment the early rounds of the challenger series for the subsidiary Louis Vuitton Cup began. Later New Zealand sailed to victory to take the America's Cup from the San Diego Yacht Club defeating them 5-0 and took the very highest level of international yachting. |
$0.45 |
| First Day Cover | First day cover with stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $1.15 | |
 |
Sheetlet | Mint, used or cancelled sheetlet of 10 x 45c stamps. | $4.50 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 16 May 1995 |
|---|---|
| Designer: | Alan Hollows, Wellington, NZ |
| Printer and process: | Southern Colour Print, New Zealand by lithography |
| Stamp size: | 30mm x 35mm |
| Sheetlet size: | 100mm x 215mm |
| Number of stamps per sheetlet: | 10 |
| Perforation gauge: | 12 |
| Paper type: | Harrison and Sons, red phosphor coated, unwatermarked |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 16 May 1996. |