New Zealand is home to an abundance of ferns, of which around 45 per cent occur nowhere else in the world. Five of these ferns were celebrated in the New Zealand Native Ferns stamp issue!
Issue information
Ferns are an important part of New Zealand’s vegetation, and can be found throughout New Zealand’s picturesque landscapes. The fern is also an important design element in Māori culture, and has become a symbol of New Zealand’s national identity.
The New Zealand Native Ferns stamp issue reflects New Zealand’s remarkable biodiversity, and the five distinctive ferns portrayed are hen and chickens fern, kidney fern, Colenso’s hard fern, umbrella fern and silver fern. Each of the species was beautifully illustrated on a gummed stamp that contained both the common and scientific names of the fern.
Native Treasures of New Zealand
The New Zealand Native Ferns stamp issue included a miniature sheet and first day covers. The stamp first day cover featured an illustration of an unfurling silver fern frond that symbolises new life, growth, strength and peace. The koru is an integral symbol in Māori art, and is based on the shape of the furled fern.
Product Listing for New Zealand Native Ferns
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Stamp |
Single 70c - Hen and Chicken fern' single stamp. Hen and chickens fern (Asplenium bulbiferum) is a common forest species found in wet habitats throughout most of New Zealand. It is a fairly large fern that grows on the ground, especially along stream banks. It is easily recognised by the numerous small plantlets (or ‘chickens’) that arise on the upper side of the fern frond. |
$0.70 | |
| Single Stamp |
Single $1.40 'Kidney fern' gummed stamp. Kidney fern (Cardiomanes reniforme) is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive ferns. The kidney-shaped frond, the projecting clusters of reproductive structures around the margin, and the green translucence of the fronds when seen against the sun make this an enticing fern. |
$1.40 | |
| Single Stamp |
Single $1.90 'Colenso's hard fern' gummed stamp. Colenso’s hard fern (Blechnum colensoi) was named in honour of William Colenso, an early missionary and botanist who collected the species near Lake Waikaremoana in 1841. The plant occurs in wet forest, usually hanging from steep banks or streamsides in dark places, often near waterfalls. |
$1.90 | |
| Single Stamp |
Single $2.40 'Umbrella fern' gummed stamp. Umbrella fern (Sticherus cunninghamii) derives its common name from the parasol-shaped frond. The Māori name, tapuwae kōtuku means 'the footprint of the white heron'. Ferns in this family characteristically produce a bud at the top of the frond stalk. |
$2.40 | |
| Single Stamp |
Single $2.90 'Silver fern' gummed stamp. Silver fern (Cyathea dealbata), with its distinctive white underside to the frond, is probably New Zealand’s most widely recognised fern. It has a woody trunk that produces a crown of fronds, and grows to about 10 metres tall in dry forest. |
$2.90 | |
| Miniature Sheet | Mint, used or cancelled gummed miniature sheet. | $9.30 | |
| First Day Cover | First day cover with five gummed stamps affixed. | $9.80 | |
| Miniature Sheet First Day Cover | First day cover with gummed miniature sheet affixed. | $9.80 | |
| Presentation Pack | Inside the presentation pack was information on New Zealand's native ferns written by Patrick Brownsey - a Research Fellow at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, as well as the five gummed stamps, the miniature sheet and the first day cover. | $29.90 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 7 February 2013 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Five gummed stamps |
| Stamps, miniature sheet, first day covers and presentation pack designed by: | 2Di4 Design, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Denominations: | 70c, $1.40, $1.90, $2.40 and $2.90 |
| Printer and process: | Cartor Security Printing, France by offset lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours |
| Stamp size and format: | 40mm x 30mm (horizontal) |
| Paper type: | 102gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 25 |
| Perforation gauge: | 13.25 x 13 |
| 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 6 February 2014. |
