This stamp issue commemorated the centennial of the province of Marlborough.
Issue information
In collaboration with the Historical Society of Marlborough, it was decided that the stamps should depict unique features from the Province including Captain Cook's landing at Ship Cove in 1769; the salt works at Blenheim; and the wool industry of the region.
After the stamps had been on sale for a short time, there was considerable controversy regarding the accuracy of the designs for the 2d and 3d values. Members of the Tauranga Historical Society expressed the opinion that, for the purpose of careening the Endeavour, Cook would not have beached the ship. Letters to the editors of the Marlborough Express and of the Christchurch Star and an article in the Free Lance claimed that the design of the 3d was inaccurate. Generally the criticism referred to the position of the boat. It was claimed that it should have been shown facing out to sea. One correspondent asserted that there were no wool presses in 1857 in use in New Zealand. He claimed that wool was forced into the packs manually by means of wooden spades resulting in round ended and unhandy bales. One Marlborough farmer whose wool had been shipped from the Wairau Bar wrote in support of the design.
Acknowledgments
New Zealand Post would like to acknowledge the following for their assistance and guidance in bringing together this stamp issue.
Historical Information
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/
Stamp Bulletin
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/
Stamp Bulletin
This stamp issue first appeared in New Zealand Post Stamp Bulletin No. 16 on 26 January 1959.
Product Listing for Marlborough Centennial
Click on image to enlarge.
Technical information
Date of issue: | 2 March 1959 |
---|---|
Designers: | G Bull and G R Smith |
Printers: | Harrison and Sons, England |
Stamp size: | 41mm x 24mm |
Sheet size: | 120 stamps per sheet |
Process: | Photogravure |
Perforation gauge: | 14.5 x 14 |
Paper type: | Guard Bridge, multiple NZ and star watermark |
Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 30 May 1959. |