The Christmas 2013 stamp issue reflected a classic Kiwi Christmas, including sunshine, Christmas lunch and cricket on the beach!
Issue information
For many New Zealanders, Christmas Day signals the beginning of a long-anticipated summer holiday. It’s a time to celebrate with friends and family and enjoy some good-old Kiwi sunshine. The five square-shaped gummed stamps in this festive issue were a vibrant reflection of Christmas in Aotearoa, and were sure to brighten up your Christmas mail.
As well as the gummed stamps, three self-adhesive stamps were available in denominations of 70c, $1.90 and $2.40.
Two first day covers formed part of the Christmas 2013 stamp issue – one with the gummed stamps affixed and the other with the self-adhesive stamps affixed. Both featured New Zealand Christmas trees – one is a traditional pine tree decorated with ornaments, and the other is the pōhutukawa, which is often referred to as the New Zealand Christmas tree.
If you purchased a $1.90 or $2.40 stamp booklet you received 10 stamps and only paid for 9.
Product Listing for Christmas 2013
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Stamp |
Single 70c 'Gift giving' gummed stamp. The giving of gifts is a longstanding Christmas tradition, both in New Zealand and around the world. For children, the opening of presents from ‘Santa’ and family is by far the most exciting part of Christmas Day, and watching the children’s faces as presents are unwrapped is often just as much fun. |
$0.70 | |
| Single Stamp |
Single $1.40 'Christmas lunch' gummed stamp. Although Christmas falls in summertime in New Zealand, many Kiwi families still indulge in hot meals. Whether it’s the Northern Hemisphere tradition of ‘turkey with all the trimmings’ or a few sausages on the barbeque, New Zealanders are sure to over-eat on Christmas Day. |
$1.40 | |
| Single Stamp |
Single $1.90 'Decorating the tree' gummed stamp. Once the tree has been decorated (whether it’s pine or artificial) the feeling of Christmas really starts to set in. As well as traditional ornaments, New Zealand Christmas trees are often adorned with ‘Kiwi’ decorations such as jandals, kiwis and pukeko. |
$1.90 | |
| Single Stamp |
Single $2.40 'Cricket on the beach' gummed stamp. If the sun is shining, Christmas Day in New Zealand is often spent outside. Christmas lunch is regularly followed by a game of cricket on the beach or lawn, a swim in the sea, or perhaps a snooze in a deckchair for those less energetic! |
$2.40 | |
| Single Stamp |
Single $2.90 'Carol singing' gummed stamp. Christmas carols have been part of the festive season for as far back as we can remember. In the lead-up to Christmas in New Zealand, numerous Christmas shows and concerts take place around the country, at which both traditional and ‘Kiwi’ Christmas songs are sung. |
$2.90 | |
| Single Stamp | Single 70c self-adhesive stamp. | $0.70 | |
| Single Stamp | Single $1.90 self-adhesive stamp. | $1.90 | |
| Single Stamp | Single $2.40 self-adhesive stamp. | $2.40 | |
| First Day Cover | First day cover with five gummed stamps affixed. | $9.80 | |
| First Day Cover | First day cover with three self-adhesive stamps affixed. | $5.50 | |
| Self-Adheisve Dispenser | Dispenser box of 100 x 70c self-adhesive stamps. | $70.00 | |
| Self-adhesive Booklet | Booklet of 10 x 70c self-adhesive stamps. | $7.00 | |
| Self-adhesive Booklet | Booklet of 10 x $1.90 self-adhesive stamps (pay for nine and receive ten). | $17.10 | |
| Self-adhesive Booklet | Booklet of 10 x $2.40 self-adhesive stamps (pay for nine and receive ten). | $21.60 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 2 October 2013 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Five gummed and three self-adhesive stamps |
| Denominations: | Gummed: 70c, $1.40, $1.90, $2.40, $2.90; Self-adhesive: 70c, $1.90, $2.40 |
| Stamps and first day cover designed by: | Martin Bailey, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Printer and process: | All products produced by Southern Colour Print Ltd by offset lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours (self-adhesive tagged with red phosphor) |
| Stamp size and format: | Gummed: 35mm x 35mm; Self-adhesive: 25mm x 30mm (vertical) |
| Paper type: | Gummed: Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper; Dispenser box stamps: Avery Dennison 210gsm B90 Kraft Back WLK5 Adhesive; Booklets: Tullis Russell 210gsm red phosphor PSA stamp paper |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 25 |
| Perforation gauge: | Gummed: 14.285; Self-adhesive: die cut |
| Special blocks: | Plate/Imprint blocks were obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks were available in A and B formats. |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 1 October 2014. |