To commemorate the centenary of the birth of Lord Rutherford, two commemorative stamps were issued.
Issue information
Rutherford was born at Spring Grove in the province of Nelson in 1871. He became one of the greatest scientific scholars of all time, and for his outstanding work in the field of atomic physics was created a knight, and later earned a peerage as Baron Rutherford of Nelson. His greatest contribution to science was when he propounded the nuclear theory of the atom, previously thought to be indivisible, following experiments by another famous New Zealand scientist, Dr Ernest Marsden and himself on the bombardment of metal foils with the alpha particles emitted by radium. Rutherford's work enabled others to harness energy from radioactive materials.
1c
Lord Rutherford with a molecular structure.
7c
Lord Rutherford with a chemical formula.
Technical information
| Date of Issue: | 1 December 1971 |
|---|---|
| Designers: | M Cleverley, Auckland |
| Printers: | Bradbury Wilkinson, England |
| Stamp Size: | 40mm x 24mm |
| Sheet Size: | 100 stamps per sheet |
| Process: | Lithography |
| Perforation Gauge: | 14 |
| Paper Type: | Chalk surfaced, unwatermarked |