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NEWSPAPER STAMPS

 

INTRODUCTION

1890 – 1925

 

In New Zealand while the carriage of letters was a monopoly of the Post Office newspaper and parcels could also be carried by other means. In the first instance, newspapers despatched by rail were carried free. On 25th May 1877 the Superintendent Engineer, N.Z Constructed Railways (Frank B. Passmore of the Public Works office) note “arrangements have been made by me from time to time with newspaper proprietor where all Railway advertisements are inserted free in return for which newspaper parcels are conveyed without charge….” In 1880 a scheme of charges for newspaper carriage was promulgated but then cancelled. Prior to October 1890, the Manawatu Railway Company also allowed the free carriage of 56lb of newspaper. The Railways had as early as 1876 issued stamps to repay the carriage of parcels, including newspapers in Australia colonies, but not followed in N.Z. until 1890. By notice in the N.Z Gazette of 31st Octobert, 1889 the N.Z Railway Commissioners established a rate for the carriage of newspapers. This actioin was the direct result of a suggestion by W.H. Gaw, District Traffic Manager, Invercargill who noting that advertisements were appearing in the Southland Times that “persons in the country” could have their papers thrown off at any Railway Station or Siding, proposed that a charge be made for conveyance of newspapers singly or in packages “and that adhesive stamps bel used for the purpose, stamps to cover the charges to be affixed to each parcel by the sender”.

 

In July 1910 the Government Printer reporter that one plate of each 1/2d,1d,2d,3d,4d, and 6d value were in use.

 

DESIGN:

 

The stamps were surface-printed by the Government Printer, Wellington. The late R.J.G. Collins stated that the design was by J.F. Rogers of the Printing Office who also (with F.J. Moss) designed the first Cook Islands stamps of 1892. The newspaper stamps were set up from type; the outer border was a wavy line, the inner, formed from Greek meanders. The central portion consisted of the words N.Z. RAILWAYS  above the crown, with NEWSPAPER below separated by a short scroll from the value  in words at the foot. The scrolls were all initially 1.5mm between crests (type A); in the printings of the 1/2d and 1d values, scrolls with 2.5mm between crests were used (type B)

 

PLATE PRODUCTION FLAWS:

 

Because of the construction of the plate four classes of flaws can be traced in which the design was set up in type and used to make fifteen electros. The lettering “N.Z. RAILWAYS” the crown and ‘NEWSPAPER.’were inserted next and fifteen subsidiary dies created (the position of the word ‘NEWSPAPER “is not constant). These were locked up in rows of five and a stereo then made from these. In the stereo were inserted the values in words, and the scrolls. Ultimately, eight stereos each carrying three rows of five impressions were produced for each value to make a printing plate with 12 rows each of 10 impressions.

 

 

The four classes of flaws are:

On all values:

 

(A)  On the primary die made from the type-set original

(B)   On the fifteen successive subsidiary dies

 

The stereo prepared from these when locked together, bore these flaws and reproduced them, each in eight positions on the whole sheet.

 

On individual values:

 

(C)  On the stereo prepared for each value, occurring eight times on the sheet.

(D)  On the whole plate, occurring once only

 

There are numerous major and minor flaws in these categories.

 

The fifteen individual subsidiary dies were locked up in a number of different settings to make the fifteen-impression stereo, the various settings thus showing, characteristic

positions for the subsidiary-die flaws. In the three  settings one example in each of the 15 impression stereo shoes the flaw “Cut across R in RAILWAYS” and “line at right below the value” “NEWPAPER slopes down at right.”

 

Every stamp shows the flaw in the inner frame – a bent rule-half way up the left-hand side which originated from the primary die.

 

The variety “no stop after N of NZ” is caused by poor impression or wear occur in numerous positions in the sheet, as does the similar “worn scroll”.

 

CANCELLATION METHODS:

 

Manuscript, rubber stamp (private N.Z. Times & N.Z. Mail Newspaper, official – Railways Department). Rectangular and oval stamps reading “N.Z.R” and CANCELLED” and single line station names in various types. Oval obliterator of bar or circular geometric design seen. “Transhipped at Wanganui “ in large double-lined oval frame also recorded.