Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand
The Postage Stamps of New Zealand:
1855-1873
The Chalon head Issues
Robert P Odenweller, RDP, Hon. FRPSL, FRPSNZ
A joint publication with The Royal Philatelic
Society, London
This is a complete new study of the classic “Chalon” issues
of New Zealand. It represents the culmination of over 50 years of research
and collecting by the author, most recently aided by the gathering of all
known records from many sources.
The book is case-bound, and in production quality is a twin of the author’s
book on Samoa. It has almost 400 pages and many hundreds of illustrations
which show over 1,000 different stamps and covers, including virtually all
the shades listed in the most thorough catalogues. The result is a display
of the most outstanding and notable items in each issue. New discoveries
are revealed for almost every issue. Starting with the London prints,
questions now have answers. The quantities of the stamps that were
previously “known” to have been issued to various provinces can now be seen
to have been only the beginning. Two denominations were under heavy
pressure and were used up quickly while the other was returned by the provinces
after a long period during which the stamps were not used up.
The Richardson blue paper prints are now explained in depth, including the
evidence of when the blue paper was replaced by the white paper. Both
the blue and white paper printings by Richardson had overlap varieties, due
to the paper being smaller than the plate. A new discussion about them,
with varieties illustrated, updates the current level of knowledge beyond
the author’s earlier paper on the subject. Pelure paper was used in
late 1962, with the very rare 3d produced at the end of the year. Both
known copies are illustrated. The 2d Provisional on thick unwatermarked
paper was printed in earl 1863, and was the only one with vertical overlaps.
These varieties are shown, including the unique cover withy the vertical overlap.
Discussion of when the colour of the three denominations was changed in
1871 has to date been based on observed covers. The records of printings
from 1865 to 1873 are included in an appendix, which enables us to show the
actual date of introduction of the first changed colour printings. The
perf 10 machine, with variants that include this in combination with 12½
is shown, along with some of the rarer varieties.
Use of papers with the “NZ” watermark and lozenges, as well as basically
unwatermarked paper have traditionally been assigned to either 1871 or 1872.
Printing records and notations from the Colonial Secretary’s office show they
were all printed in 1873. The papermakers’ watermarks are covered in
detail.
A chapter on the damaged and retouched bottom quarter of the 2d Plate II
illustrates virtually all the positions damaged, before retouch, retouched
in blue, retouched in vermilion and on the black reprints.
Previous books have shown re-entries often as the latest states from the
reprints. A very thorough section shows the acknowledged retouches in
early, middle and late stages of the place on actual stamps. This allows
an evaluation of the progress of the change of the state of the plate at
that particular point.
The postal history section acknowledges that there are other thorough coverages
available. In spite of that, the vast majority of known covers fit into the
more usual rates, which are all covered, with examples, and dates and amounts
of charge. It offers a very useful and easy approach to the analysis
of a cover. The one shilling bisects are discussed, showing they did
not originate where they were long thought to be from. A full illustrated
list, corrected from previous lists, shows each known cover.
Two appendices summarise what is known about the numbers and dates of issue
of the stamps. Others cover the “Dwarf” and Castle font, elemental analysis
of inks, and full transcriptions of some early documents that concern these
issues.
SOLD OUT
Shipment to New Zealand is expected end of October.
Total print run is 1,000; numbers available locally were very limited.
Orders or inquiries to The Office Manager rpsnz@orcon.net.nz
in the first instance.