New Zealand Post Children's Book Festival Stamps

This stamp issue was a tribute to the creativity of New Zealand's younger generation, to their love of books and to their passion for pictures. Each of the 10 winners in the 2002 'Design a Stamp' competition had translated their reading experience into a bold and colourful statement - and as you could see, each displayed the potential for a promising artistic career.

New Zealand Post is delighted to play a part in encouraging young people to both appreciate books and understand the magic of stamps. Our sponsorship of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Festival and Awards is an important part of this work - they are now a popular feature of the literary calendar and recognised as the premier celebration of children's books in New Zealand. The sponsorship reflects the Company's commitment to and affinity with the written word, and our passion for building literate communities and encouraging the pleasure of reading.

Celebrating Words Through Pictures

They say a picture paints a thousand words, but do words in turn inspire pictures? That was the challenge for more than 2,300 schools in the recent New Zealand Post Children's Book Festival 'Design a Stamp' competition.

Primary and intermediate students throughout New Zealand seized the opportunity to design a stamp based on one of the finalists in the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. Choosing from three categories - picture book, junior and non-fiction - each child or class endeavoured to create a 'mini artwork' to fit the small stamp format.

The remarkable results led to this unique stamp issue. A national competition decided the 10 winners, whose ages range from five years to twelve years and whose homes span the length of the country.

First Day Cover

The New Zealand Post Children's Book Festival Stamps first day cover was a glorious splash of colour. It featured all 10 stamps in the collection, it highlighted in a single setting just how much thought and work went into creating each distinctive design.

Stamp Sheetlet

The stamp sheetlet was a unique opportunity to get a delightful reminder of the natural talent and artistic flair with which so many of our children are blessed. The stamps were also available as a 10-stamp se-tenant block.

Product Listing for New Zealand Post Children's Book Festival Stamps

Image	Title	Description	Price
	Sheetlet	Mint, used or cancelled sheetlet of 10 x 40c stamps. The individual stamps in this issue were: Single 40c 'Cardinal McKeefry School - National Winner' gummed stamp. National Winner Anna Poland, Cardinal McKeefry School, Wellington Age12 From Brodie Single 40c 'Glendowie Primary School' gummed stamp. First Runner Up Hee Su Kim, Glendowie Primary School, Auckland Age 12 From The Last Whale Single 40c 'Rangiora Borough School' gummed stamp. Second Runner Up Jayne Bruce, Rangiora Borough School, Rangiora Age 5 From Scarface Claw Single 40c 'Ararimu School' gummed stamp. Paul Reed, Ararimu School, Auckland Age 12 From Knocked For Six Single 40c 'Salford School' gummed stamp. Maria Rodgers, Salford School, Invercargill Age 10 From Scarface Claw Single 40c 'Glendene Prinary School' gummed stamp. Jessica Hitchings, Ashleigh Bree, Malyna Sengdara and Aniva Kini, Glendene Primary School, Auckland Age 10 From Grandpa's Shorts Single 40c 'Gonville School' gummed stamp. Hazel Gilbert, Gonville School, Whanganui Age 8 From Which New Zealand Bird? Single 40c 'Temuka High School' gummed stamp. Gerard Mackle, Temuka High School, Temuka Age 11 From The Plight of the Penguin Single 40c 'Takapuna Normal Intermediate School' gummed stamp. Olivia Duncan, Takapuna Normal Intermediate School, Auckland Age 12 From Which New Zealand Bird? Single 40c 'Ararimu School' gummed stamp. Teigan Stafford-Bush, Ararimu School, Auckland Age 11 From Which New Zealand Bird?	$4.00
	First Day Cover	First day cover with se-tenant block affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue.	$4.50