On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns fell silent along the Western Front. The First World War had effectively ended.
Issue information
To commemorate this important centenary and honour those who served, a series of official stamps and legal tender commemorative coins were issued.
This striking set of stamps was designed by New Zealand artist Dave Burke. Four of the stamps depicteded past and present members of New Zealand’s armed forces, each representing the Navy, Air Force, Army and medical services. A fifth stamp featured the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RNZRSA) red poppy, New Zealand’s official symbol of remembrance. The stamps were unified by a stained-glass window design, bordered by an archway of doves, ferns and koru, symbolising a future of peace.
Miniature Sheet and First Day Covers
These stamps had been designed in consultation with the New Zealand Defence Force and the RNZRSA in acknowledgement and remembrance of New Zealand’s Defence Force personnel, past and present.
The miniature sheet displayed the New Zealand flag over a black background. The miniature sheet first day cover depicted the sun rising over Flanders Fields. The first day cover featured a poppy and silver fern design.
Product Listing for Armistice 1918 - 2018
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.20 'Air Force' gummed stamp. New Zealand contributed to the First World War in the air by training hundreds of pilots for service in British squadrons. The Royal New Zealand Air Force was established in 1937. |
$1.20 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.20 'Medical Services' gummed stamp. More than half of New Zealand’s 700 registered doctors and 550 nurses from the New Zealand Army Nursing Service served in the Medical Corps during the First World War. |
$1.20 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $2.40 'Army' gummed stamp. The vast majority of Kiwis who served overseas during the First World War were in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The New Zealand Army was formally established in 1950. It now makes up more than half of the New Zealand Defence Force. |
$2.40 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $3.00 'Navy' gummed stamp. During the First World War, Royal Navy cruisers stationed in New Zealand waters in peacetime were sent to the Mediterranean. The Royal New Zealand Navy was established in 1941. |
$3.00 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $3.60 'Poppy' gummed stamp. Since the publication of ‘In Flanders Fields’ red poppies have evoked memories of wartime loss and are used around the world as official symbols of remembrance. In New Zealand, poppies are worn on Anzac Day. Since the publication of ‘In Flanders Fields’ red
poppies have evoked memories of wartime loss
and are used around the world as official symbols
of remembrance. In New Zealand, poppies are
worn on Anzac Day.
|
$3.60 |
 |
Miniature Sheet | Mint, used or cancelled gummed miniature sheet. | $11.40 |
 |
First Day Cover | First day cover with five gummed stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $11.90 |
 |
Miniature Sheet First Day Cover | First day cover with gummed miniature sheet affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $11.90 |
 |
Presentation Pack |
This presentation pack was the premium collectable in the Armistice 1918-2018 stamp issue. You could read more about the flow-on effects of the end of the First World War with copy by David Green, an historian at Manatü Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. |
$29.90 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 1 October 2018 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Five gummed stamps |
| Denominations: | $1.20 x 2, $2.40, $3.00, $3.60 |
| Stamps and first day covers designed by: | Dave Burke, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Printer and process: | Southern Colour Print, New Zealand, by offset lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours plus matt varnish and spot UV overgloss |
| Stamp size and format: | 45.6mm x 35mm (horizontal) |
| Miniature sheet size and format: | 185mm x 95mm (horizontal) |
| Paper type: | Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 25 |
| Perforation gauge: | 14.286 x 14.47 |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 30 September 2019. The first day covers remained on sale until 23 November 2018. |
