Following a request from the New Zealand Air Force Association that there should be some form of recognition for 'Battle of Britain Day', it was decided to release a special stamp issue with a 'Services' theme in 1968.
Issue information
Such a timing would mean the issue would coincide with the 23rd anniversary of the ending of the World War Two in Europe and to pay tribute to the men who served in both World Wars and to present members of the armed forces.
Each of the three stamps commemorated one of the three services - Army, Air Force and Navy. Each design depicted a present day serviceman together with the equipment of the relevant service, with an earlier serviceman and equipment of the time in the background.
Stamp Bulletin
This stamp issue first appeared in New Zealand Post Stamp Bulletin No. 47 in April 1968.
Acknowledgments: Bulletin scanned and provided by John Biddlecombe of the New Zealand Society of Great Britain. Their web site offers further information useful to those interested in the stamps and postal history of New Zealand. Link: http://www.nzsgb.org.uk/
Product Listing for Armed Forces
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 4c 'Army' gummed stamp. Infantrymen and tank. |
$0.04 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 10c 'Air Force' gummed stamp. Fighter pilots with a Canberra in the foreground and Kittyhawk in the background. |
$0.10 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 28c 'Navy' gummed stamp. Sailors with HMNZS Waikato in the foreground and HMNZS Achilles in the background. |
$0.28 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 7 May 1968 |
|---|---|
| Designers: | L C Mitchell, Wellington |
| Printers: | Thomas De La Rue, England |
| Stamp size: | 40mm x 24mm |
| Sheet size: | 100 stamps per sheet |
| Process: | Delacryl |
| Performance gauge: | 14 x 13 |
| Paper type: | Chalk surfaced, NZ and star watermark |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 31 July 1968. |