A successful joint venture by the Australian and New Zealand postal administrations produced stamps in honour of the British statesman Sir Winston Churchill.
Issue information
New Zealand readily agreed to the suggestion of the Australian Post Office that commemorative stamps with a common design be prepared for issue on Commonwealth Day, 24 May 1965.
The design was based on the photographic study of Churchill in 1941 by Yousuf Karsh of Ottawa. Legend has it that to catch the impression he wanted Karsh snatched Sir Winston's cigar away from him and took the photograph at that moment.
The value of the corresponding Australian stamp was 5d.
Stamp Bulletin
This stamp issue first appeared in New Zealand Post Stamp Bulletin No. 35 in July 1965.
Acknowledgments: 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/
Product Listing for Sir Winston Churchill - Commonwealth Day
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp | Single 7d 'Sir Winston Churchill - Commonwealth Day' gummed stamp. | 7d |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 24 May 1965 |
|---|---|
| Designers: | New Zealand Post Office, Wellington |
| Printers: | Australian Bank Note and Stamp Printer, Australia |
| Stamp size: | 25.5mm x 38mm |
| Sheet size: | 48 stamps per sheet |
| Process: | Photogravure |
| Perforation gauge: | 13.5 x 13.25 |
| Paper type: | Harrison and Sons, chalk surfaced, no watermark |
| Period of sale: | This stamp remained on sale until 30 June 1966. |