This stamp issue celebrated the 40th anniversary of Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy, the first book in New Zealand author Dame Lynley Dodd’s beloved children’s series.
Issue information
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy written and illustrated by Dame Lynley Dodd, this stamp issue showcases the original canine characters and story from the beloved book series.
Hairy Maclary literally fell out of Lynley Dodd’s scrapbook. She recalls how, when looking for a new idea, a tiny sketch of a dog, drawn years earlier on a slip of notepaper, dropped out from between the pages.
The original sketch would evolve over time into the dog we have come to know, but the essential elements were all there. With just a few strokes of her pen Lynley’s extraordinary ability to convey character, expression and movement brought Hairy Maclary to life. A star was born.
Today, Hairy Maclary continues to be a much-loved character, both in New Zealand and around the world.
Date of issue: 1 March 2023
Author Biography
Lynley Dodd graduated from the Elam School of Art in Auckland with a diploma in Fine Arts, majoring in sculpture. She went on to teach art before taking a break to start a family. She began to work as a freelance illustrator and collaborated with author Eve Sutton on My Cat Likes To Hide in Boxes. There was no looking back as Lynley went on to write and illustrate her own books for children. Exuberant artwork and bouncy rhymes come together perfectly in books like Slinky Malinki and Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy. As well as being a visual delight, these are some of the most rewarding books for children and adults to read out loud. It comes as no surprise that, as a child, she adored Dr Seuss because of his 'crazy sounds and the fact that he took such liberties with the English language.' Other favourite authors included A A Milne and the fairy tales of The Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Andersen. Today, Lynley is a big fan of Quentin Blake 'because of his humour and very clever art work.'
Product listing for Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.70 'Hairy Maclary' gummed stamp. Since the small terrier of mixed pedigree’s first appearance, everything about him was already evident - animated, scruffy, expressive and determined. |
$1.70 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.70 'Hercules Morse' gummed stamp. Hercules Morse, an English Mastiff, is the second dog we meet. He already looks excited as he leaps over the chain at number 54. |
$1.70 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $3.00 'Bottomley Potts' gummed stamp. Bottomley Potts, like all the dogs we meet in the book, is framed by a front gate and yard that seems to echo his own Dalmatian looks and personality. |
$3.00 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $3.80 'Muffin McLay' gummed stamp. The other dog with a Scottish surname (despite being an Old English Sheepdog), Muffin McLay is possibly another reason why Scottish readers have taken Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy to heart. |
$3.80 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $4.30 'Bitzer Maloney' gummed stamp. In her original hand-written plan for the book, Lynley Dodd describes the part greyhound as "a thin bitser". |
$4.30 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $4.50 'Schnitzel von Krumm' gummed stamp. Low slung and keen to keep up, Dachshund Schnitzel von Krumm is the final friend we meet before all six dogs embark on their adventure through town. |
$4.50 |
 |
Miniature Sheet | Mint, used or cancelled gummed miniature sheet. | $19.00 |
 |
First Day Cover | First day cover with six gummed stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $19.50 |
 |
Miniature Sheet First Day Cover | First day cover with gummed miniature sheet affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $19.50 |
 |
Maximum Card |
Set of six maximum cards. The six maximum cards (pre-paid postcards) were a great way to share your enthusiasm for Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy with anyone. Each card had a gummed stamp affixed and included pre-paid postage to anywhere in the world. |
$22.00 |
 |
Presentation Pack | Journalist, editor, publisher and broadcaster Finlay Macdonald wrote The Life and Art of Lynley Dodd (Penguin, 2013). Finlay was editor of the New Zealand Listener magazine from 1997 to 2004, and later a publisher at Penguin Books and Harper Collins. He was an award-winning weekly columnist for the Sunday Star-Times and has written and presented for television and radio. Read Finlay’s account of how Dame Lynley Dodd brought Hairy Maclary to life and collect the full set of stamps, miniature sheet and first day cover. | $49.00 |
 |
Limited Edition |
Limited editions are the most premium of all stamp packs. With this limited edition you could learn more about the history of the Hairy Maclary books from Lynley Dodd biographer Finlay Macdonald. The pack included unique collectables that are not available anywhere else. |
$145.00 |
 |
Greeting Card |
Set of six greeting cards. Happy birthdays, congratulations and thank-yous could all be shared with this set of six greeting cards. Blank inside, each of the six cards featured one of the canine characters from Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy. |
$14.90 |
 |
Pin |
Lynley Dodd’s charming artwork was transformed into an adorable enamel pin – perfect for any Hairy Maclary fan. |
$14.90 |
 |
Hairy Maclary and Friends Little Library |
What do Hairy Maclary and his friends like to do? You could find out in this rollicking little box of books! The Hairy Maclary and Friends Little Library introduced the mischievous Hairy Maclary and his gang in a set of books that were perfect for little hands. You met bumptious and bustly Hairy Maclary, blacker than black Slinky Malinki, pittery pattery Zachary Quack and Schnitzel von Krumm with a very low tum! This colourful collection of four chunky, mini board books was presented in a bright slipcase box. |
$17.99 |
 |
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy 40th Anniversary Edition |
Out of the gate We had limited stock of very special upsized hardback 40th birthday editions of Lynley Dodd's iconic first Hairy Maclary book, which introduced the famous Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy and his canine gang. This book was stocked alongside our stamp issue that celebrated the 40th anniversary of Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy, the first book in New Zealand author Dame Lynley Dodd’s beloved children’s series. |
$19.99 |
 |
Art Print |
$1.70 Hairy Maclary Each stamp in our Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy stamp issue featured one of the six dogs from the original children’s book. You ccould display your favourite character at home with this A3 art print. This was the first appearance in the book of its hero, and everything about him was already evident - animated, scruffy, expressive and determined. With a minimum of black ink and white space, Lynley Dodd can convey a host of emotions and reactions. No one who has observed dogs and their ways can fail to see the essential accuracy of the depiction. |
$49.90 |
 |
Art Print |
$1.70 Hercules Morse Each dog sounds like it looks and looks like it sounds. Hercules Morse, the English Mastiff, is the second dog we meet. He already looks excited as he leaps the chain at number 54. Later, when the dogs are confronted by the cat Scarface Claw, Hercules Morse will appear as one of the more terrified. |
$49.90 |
 |
Art Print |
$3.00 Bottomley Potts Originally conceived as a Beagle (until Lynley Dodd realised that a spotted dog would, of course, have to be a Dalmatian), Bottomley Potts, like all the dogs we meet in the book, is framed by a front gate and yard that seem to echo their looks and personality. |
$49.90 |
 |
Art Print |
$3.80 Muffin McLay The other dog with a Scottish surname (despite being an Old English Sheepdog), Muffin McLay is possibly another reason why Scottish readers have taken Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy to heart. Lynley Dodd has said that young Scots fans have simply refused to believe that Hairy Maclary isn’t one of their own. |
$49.90 |
 |
Art Print |
$4.30 Bitzer Maloney In her original hand-written plan for the book, made before she wrote the words or illustrated them, Lynley Dodd describes one dog that is a “mongrel … a thin bitser” and then asks, “name Bitzer?”. With a curlicued tail and prancing step, Bitzer Maloney seems cheerfully highly strung. |
$49.90 |
 |
Art Print |
$4.50 Schnitzel von Krumm To match his aristocratic name, the little Dachshund emerges from the grandest gates in the book. Clearly, we have come some way up the street from the dairy and the other dogs’ humbler homes. Low slung and keen to keep up, Schnitzel von Krumm is the final friend we meet before all six dogs embark on their adventure through town. |
$49.90 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 1 March 2023 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Six gummed stamps |
| Denominations: | $1.70 x 2, $3.00, $3.80, $4.30 & $4.50 |
| Stamps, miniature sheet and first day covers designed by: | Hannah Fortune, NZ Post, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Printer and process: | Southern Colour Print, Napier, New Zealand by offset lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours plus spot overgloss |
| Stamp size and format: | 35mm x 34.55mm (vertical) |
| Miniature sheet size and format: | 90mm x 150mm (horizontal) |
| Paper type: | Arconvert Securpost Premium Gummed 110gsm |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 20 |
| Perforation gauge: | 14.286 x 13.895 |
| Special blocks: | Plate/imprint blocks could be 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 29 February 2024. First day covers were on sale until 26 April 2023. Miniature sheet first day cover, pin, presentation pack, limited edition, books and art prints remained on sale indefinitely while stocks lasted. |
