The Edwardian stamps had only been in use for six months when King George V ascended the throne. The Postmaster-General therefore agreed to wait before issuing new stamps so that the Edward VII stamps could be used up.
Issue information
Several of the George V stamps that were issued on and after 1915 were overprinted 'Official' for use on letters, packets and telegrams sent on public service.
The stamps all depicted a side face portrait of the new King, the stamp design being influenced by that of the 1840 1d Black of Great Britain. The dies were engraved by Perkins, Bacon & Co.
For economic reasons several denominations of this issue were produced by the surface printing method as well as bring recess-printed. Surface printing was a much cheaper option and the change was made for economic reasons.
The surface version of these stamps has the the solid background colour broken up by fine white diagonal lines forming diamond shapes. The recess version has a background design made up of fine coloured lines giving an almost solid look - broken by tiny white dots.
The stamps remained in production until 1935.
Acknowledgments
New Zealand Post would like to acknowledge the following for their assistance and guidance in bringing together this stamp issue:
Historical information included on this page sourced from The Postage Stamps of New Zealand published by the Royal Philatelic Society of NZ. Their web site offers further information useful to those interested in the stamps and postal history of New Zealand. Link: https://www.rpsnz.org.nz/
Product Listing for King George V Officials
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 1/2d 'Green George V (Surface)' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'Official'. First issued 12 October 1915. |
1/2d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 1 1/2d 'Grey George V (Surface)' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'Official'. First issued December 1916. |
1 1/2d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 1 1/2d 'Orange/Brown George V (Surface)' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'Official'. First issued April 1919. |
1 1/2d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 1 1/2d 'Grey George V ((Surface 'local plate')' gummed stamp. This 'local plate' stamp differs from the other surface print stamps (whose plates were produced in London) in the shading of the face and neck - on this stamp the shading is made up of diagonal lines. Overprinted 'Official'. First issued June 1916.
|
1 1/2d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 2d 'Yellow George V (Surface)' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'Official'. First issued April 1917. |
2d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 3d 'Chocolate George V (Recess)' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'Official'. First issued December 1915. |
3d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 3d 'Brown George V (Surface)' gummed stamp. Over printed 'Official'. First issued November 1919. |
3d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 4d 'Violet George V (Recess)' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'Official'. First issued April 1925. |
4d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 6d 'Red George V (Recess)' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'Official'. First issued June 1916. |
6d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 8d 'Brown George V (Recess)' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'Official'. First issued August 1922. |
8d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 9d 'Olive George V(Recess)' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'Official'. First issued September April 1925. |
9d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 1s 'Vermilian George V (Recess)' gummed stamp. Overprinted 'Official'. First issued September 1916. |
1s |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 30 July 1915 |
|---|---|
| Designers: | H Linley Richardson, Wellington |
| Printers: | Government Printing Office, New Zealand |
| Stamp size: | 20mm x 24mm |
| Sheet size: | Recess prints: 120 stamps per sheet; Surface prints: 240 stamps per sheet |
| Process: | Recess printed - Intaglio and Surface printed - Typography |
| Perforation gauge: | Various combinations |
| Paper type: | Various papers utilised, N Z and star watermark. |
