The Tarapex '98 National Stamp Exhibition was held between the 7th and 9th August 1998, at the TSB Stadium in New Plymouth.
Issue information
This was the third national exhibition that the Taranaki Philatelic Society (Inc) supported. New Zealand Post was the major sponsor of Tarapex '98.
The theme of the exhibition was the centenary of the 1898 Pictorials. This was the first pictorial issue released in New Zealand and one of the first in the British Empire. It was the first New Zealand issue in more than 40 years not to include the portrait of the monarch.
More than 600 frames of exhibits including stamps, postal history, postcards and banknotes were all on display by New Zealand and overseas collectors. All areas of stamp collecting were represented from a junior level to the highly specialised.
To commorate the exhibition, New Zealand Post issued a special miniature which featured both the original, incorrect Wakitipu stamp and the reprinted Wakatipu stamp, cleverly replicating the original 2 1/2d stamps, with new denominations of 80c. A souvenir cover was also available.
Product Listing for Tarapex '98
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Miniature Sheet | Mint, used or cancelled miniature sheet. | $1.60 |
 |
Souvenir Cover | First day cover with miniature sheet affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $2.10 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 7 August 1998 |
|---|---|
| Cost of miniature sheet: | $1.60 |
| Miniature sheet designed by: | Ross Jones, Watermark, Wellington |
| Cost of souvenir cover with Tarapex miniature sheet: | $2.10 |
| Souvenir cover designed and printed by: | Communication Arts Ltd, Wellington |
| Printer and process: | Southern Colour Print, Dunedin by lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours and one PMS colour |
| Period of sale: | These products remained on sale until 1 September 1998. |