Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE, was a man of mountains and much, much more.
Issue information
Achieving global fame when he conquered the world’s highest mountain in 1953, he went on to achieve on many other levels – as an intrepid explorer, an Antarctic adventurer, an international diplomat and, perhaps most significantly, his years of dedication to the people of Nepal.
When Sir Ed died in January 2008, New Zealand lost its greatest hero – a man who, despite his daring and sometimes dangerous exploits, remained humble and unassuming to the end. Described as the ‘quintessential Kiwi’, he epitomised our ‘can do’ attitude, tackling every challenge with tenacity, grit and a belief that nothing was impossible. In this special commemorative stamp series we paid tribute to this great man and his extraordinary achievements.
A Life Lived to the Full
All five stamps featured on the first day cover and in the presentation pack, which also included the first day cover - captured highlights of Sir Ed's long and fulfilling life. It's an achievement that can be summed up in one of his most famous quotations:
“People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.”
Commemorative Coins
 |
Take a look at the commemorative coins that were also part of this issue. Click here to find out more. |
Product Listing for Sir Edmund Hillary 1919 - 2008
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 50c 'Sir Edmund Hillary' gummed stamp. In November 2008, New Zealand Post was honoured to release five stamps, a first day cover and a presentation pack as a tribute to ‘our’ Sir Ed – an ordinary man who achieved extraordinary things, who tackled everything from aircraft navigation to beekeeping, mountain climbing to jet-boating, and international diplomacy to becoming the only living New Zealander to appear on our $5 note. |
$0.50 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.00 'Mount Everest' gummed stamp. It was the climb to the top of Mt Everest that earned Sir Ed his title – Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. On 29 May 1953, he and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first in the world to achieve this feat, the only two of that British expedition to reach the summit. |
$1.00 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.50 'Trans-Antarctic Expedition' gummed stamp. Sir Ed’s explorations didn’t end with Everest. He climbed 10 other peaks in the Himalayas between 1956 and 1965, and in 1958 led a New Zealand group taking part in the British Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Sir Edmund Hillary’s group was the first to reach the South Pole overland since Amundsen in 1911 and Scott in 1912, and the first to use motor vehicles. |
$1.50 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $2.00 'Himalayan Trust' gummed stamp. Sir Ed’s work in Nepal was perhaps his greatest achievement. In 1960 he established the Himalayan Trust, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the conditions and lives of the Nepalese, a people in desperate need of schools and medical services. In four decades he helped to establish more than 30 schools, two hospitals and 12 medical clinics, as well as two airstrips to make it easier to bring in supplies. |
$2.00 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $2.50 'Knight of the Garter' gummed stamp. In 1995, Sir Ed was appointed to the Order of the Garter, the highest possible achievement in the United Kingdom honours system. He also received a number of other honours, including the Indian Government’s second-highest civilian honour, the Polar medal (for his part in the Trans-Antarctic Expedition) and the Order of New Zealand. He also became an honorary citizen of Nepal, the first foreign national to receive such an honour from the Nepalese Government. |
$2.50 |
 |
First Day Cover | First day cover with stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $8.00 |
 |
Presentation Pack | Presentation pack containing a selection of stamp products from the issue and further information on the theme of the stamps. | $19.90 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 5 November 2008 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Five gummed stamps |
| Denominations: | 50c, $1.00, $1.50, $2.00, $2.50 |
| Stamps and first day cover designed by: | Vertigo Design, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Printer and process: | Southern Colour Print Ltd - by offset lithography |
| Number of colours: | Five (four process colours plus metallic silver) |
| Stamp size and format: | 30mm x 50mm (vertical) |
| Paper type: | Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 25 |
| Perforation gauge: | 14.8 x 14.67 |
| Special blocks: | Plate/imprint blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks were available in both A and B formats. |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 4 November 2009. |
