1931 Health
|
|
Cat. |
Mint Unhinged |
Mint Hinged |
Fine Used |
1d |
Red Boy |
41a |
$495.00 |
|
$216.00 |
|
$225.00 |
|
2d |
Blue Boy |
41b |
$495.00 |
|
$216.00 |
|
$135.00 |
|
|
|
|
Set of 2 |
41c |
$940.50 |
|
$410.40 |
|
$342.00 |
|
|
|
|
First Day Cover - 31 October 1931 |
41d |
|
|
|
|
$4,500.00 |
|
|
… Two Stamps : 1d (41a), 2d (41b) |
The 1931 red and blue smiling boys are the best known and
rarest of all the health stamp issues. The stamps feature a smiling boy
with a New Zealand lake and mountain landscape in the background. The four
stars of the Southern Cross constellation appear to the left of the Anti
Tuberculosis cross.
Originally intended as the design for the 1930
health stamps, the issue was beset by problems from the beginning. The 1d
plates were prepared in London by the Royal Mint. When they arrived in New
Zealand it was discovered that the vertical spacing between stamps did not
allow sufficient clearance for the comb perforation machine. The plates
were cut and metal spacers were inserted but the end result was stamps that
were quite often poorly spaced.
In June 1931 postal rates were
doubled. Letters increased from 1d to 2d and commercial postage from ½d
to 1d. In light of this, it was decided to issue two health stamps and W.R.
Bock was commissioned to produce a new 2d plate from the
original.
The set was issued at the height of the world-wide
financial depression and sales were small. In all around 75,000 of the red
boy and 112,000 of the blue boy were sold. However, the blue boy is harder
to find mint.
Bibliography
The Postage Stamps of New Zealand (Volume I)
Edited by R. J. G. Collins and H. T. M. Fathers B.A. B.Sc.
Published 1938 by The Philatelic Society of New Zealand Incorporated
The Postage Stamps of New Zealand Volume IV
Edited by R. J. G. Collins FRPSNZ and C.W. Watts FRPSNZ
Published 1960 by The Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand Incorporated
The Postage Stamps of New Zealand Volume VI
Edited by D. E. G. Naish FRPSNZ and K. J. McNaught FRPSNZ FRPSL
Publsihed 1975 by The Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand Incorporated
If you have any questions or comments please contact us - we'd love to hear from
you.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year
This page was last updated on 09 Dec 2024
All content and images copyright © 2008 - 2024 StampsNZ