In order to commemorate the first printing of the Bible in the Māori language, this special stamp was produced.
Issue information
The provision of a suitable design was entrusted to the Display Section of the Post Office, which chose to depict Bishop Hadfield's personal bible, opened at the book of Deuteronomy and resting on a carved kauri lectern in the Rangiatea Māori Church at Otaki. The green satin sashes depicted on the stamp were hand embroidered in a pink fuchsia design which in Māori interpretation signifies "opportunity". The border on the sashes is the hammerhead shark scroll design signifying "prestige".
Stamp Bulletin
This stamp issue first appeared in New Zealand Post Stamp Bulletin No. 46 in February 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 First Maori Bible
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp | Single 3c 'Bible at Rangiatea Māori Church, Otaki' gummed stamp. | $0.03c |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 23 April 1968 |
|---|---|
| Designers: | New Zealand Post Office, Wellington |
| Printers: | Thomas De La Rue, England |
| Stamp size: | 28mm x 24.5mm |
| Sheet size: | 100 stamps per sheet |
| Process: | Delacryl, in five colours |
| Performance gauge: | 13 |
| Paper type: | Chalk surfaced, NZ and star watermark |
| Period of sale: | This stamp remained on sale until 31 December 1968. |
