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RAILWAY TRAVEL STAMPS

Issued 9^th November 1935, by Railways Department to fifty-two larger stations and four booking offices for sale to public intending to travel and used later, towards the cost of ticket provided they were securely posted in the approved folder ‘SAVE TO TRAVEL’ approved by Government Railways Board on 21^st August 1935.

Printed in sheets of 120 on unwatermarked paper by the Government Printer Wellington. They were in 1/-, 2/-,2/6 and 5/- denominations measuring 45+52mm the design being simply a full-sized representation of the reverse of the current coin of these values printed in silver on a shade dark blue background. Under the coin and inside the dark blue outer frame is the denomination in words. Outside this frame and below the denomination is the inscription “NZ RAILWAYS/TRAVEL SAVINGS” in two lines. All the lettering is in sans serif capitals. The stamps are perf. 10; the edges of the sheet are imperforated. Stamps remained on sale for a number of years but the scheme eventually lapsed. Stamps exist overprinted “Specimen” in san serif, upper and lower case in blue, the overprint being 25mm long.

Instead of having ruled blue lines, this folder has perf 10, 45+52mm for each stamp so they can be removed easily once used. Also has two 5/- stamps attached ready for use.

The Government was asked to bind up the Travel stamps into 250 books of each denomination. The folder in which stamps were to be stuck was printed in dark grey blue, the cover being inscribed “My Savings for My Holidays/Buy Travel Stamps 1/-,

2/-, 2/6 and 5/- from Railway Stations and Book Offices/Scenic New Zealand /Trips by Rail”. The pages were ruled in blue for nine stamps per page. The initial estimate of costs was $4 for each of the two blocks ($8) ; 2000 folders at $10 ($20); 500 sheets of 120stamps at 1d per sheet, a total of approximately $44 ($88).