Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is Head of State of Tokelau, and as such Tokelau will join the rest of the world in celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in 2012
Issue information
A Diamond Jubilee marks the 60th anniversary of a monarch’s accession, and is a rare and prestigious occasion. To commemorate the event, Tokelau is issuing a special stamp issue that pays tribute to the important role The Queen plays as Head of the Commonwealth.
The two stamps in this issue have been officially approved by Buckingham Palace, and portray The Queen from the early years of her reign to the current day. Each image has been complemented with traditional Tokelauan weaving, which forms an intricate diamond pattern. The denominations are perfect for posting to New Zealand and the United Kingdom, so be sure to use them if you want to send a congratulatory letter to The Queen!
$2.00 – 1963 Tour
The $2.00 stamp features an image of Queen Elizabeth II during her 1963 visit to New Zealand. She is standing at the top of the Parliament steps in Wellington, New Zealand's capital. Tokelau has been administered by New Zealand since 1926 and is non-self-governing territory.
$3.00 – 2012 Portrait
The $3.00 stamp features the official 2012 New Zealand portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The portrait pictures The Queen wearing the Sovereign's insignia of the Order of New Zealand, the New Zealand Order of Merit, Star, Sash and Badge and the Queen's Service Order.
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee stamps are presented beautifully on the unique miniature sheet. The background of the miniature sheet depicts woven young coconut leaves (kau kie) and mature pandanus leaves (lau hulu and lau kie). Weaving is a technique commonly used by Tokelauan women to make traditional handicrafts.
A first day cover and miniature sheet first day cover are also available as part of this special issue. Both first day covers incorporate the official 2012 New Zealand portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. The Queen married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947, and ascended the throne in 1952 at the age of 25.
Technical information
| Date of Issue: | 23 May 2012 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Two gummed stamps |
| Denominations: | $2.00 and $3.00 |
| Designer: | Stamps Business, New Zealand Post, Wellington |
| Printer: | Collectables and Solutions Centre, New Zealand Post, Whanganui, New Zealand |
| Stamp Size: | 30mm x 40mm (horizontal) |
| Sheet Size: | 16 stamps |
| Perforation Gauge: | 13.33 |
| Period of sale: | Unless stocks are exhausted earlier, these stamps will remain on sale until 22 May 2013 |
