1954 Queen Elizabeth II Official

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		Cat.	Mint Unhinged	Mint Hinged	Fine Used
1d	Orange (Simplified)	94a	$1.80	$1.60	$0.90
	(i) On Ordinary Paper	94a1	$3.95	$3.60	$1.00
	(ii) On White Paper	94a2	$2.00	$1.80	$1.00
1½d	Brown	94b	$3.60	$2.70	$4.50
2d	Green (Simplified)	94c	$2.15	$2.25	$0.80
	(i) On Ordinary Paper	94c1	$7.20	$6.30	$0.90
	(ii) On White Paper	94c2	$2.70	$2.50	$0.90
2½d	Overprinted On 2d Green (Issued 1961)	94d	$2.70	$2.25	$2.70
2½d	Olive (Issued 1963)	94e	$5.40	$3.60	$1.80
3d	Deep Orange / Red (Simplified)	94f	$0.90	$1.35	$0.85
	(i) On Ordinary Paper	94f1	$2.00	$1.80	$1.10
	(ii) On White Paper	94f2	$1.00	$0.90	$1.10
4d	Blue (Simplified)	94g	$3.15	$2.25	$0.90
	(i) On Ordinary Paper	94g1	$3.60	$3.60	$1.35
	(ii) On Gummed Side of Paper	94g2	$396.00	$360.00
	(iii) On White Paper	94g3	$3.15	$2.70	$1.35
6d	Overprinted On 1½d Brown (Issued 1959)	94h	$4.50	$3.15	$2.50
9d	Carmine Red	94i	$9.00	$7.20	$3.60
1/-	Purple (Simplified)	94j	$6.95	$5.40	$0.90
	(i) On Ordinary Paper	94j1	$7.20	$6.30	$1.00
	(ii) On White Paper	94j2	$9.00	$8.10	$2.25
3/-	Grey (Issued 1963)	94k	$67.50	$45.00	$67.50

	Set of 11 individual stamps	94l	$102.25	$72.90	$82.60

	First Day Cover - 1 March 1954	94m			$22.50
	… 1d (94a), 1½d (94b), 2d (94c), 3d (94f), 4d (94g), 9d (94i), 1/- (94j)
	First Day Cover - 1 October 1959	94n			$34.20
	… 6d (94h)
	First Day Cover - 1 September 1961	94o			$10.80
	… 2½d (94d)
	First Day Cover - 1 March 1963	94p			$117.00
	… 2½d (94e), 3/- (94k)

From the late 1940s, James Berry had proposed that Official Government stamps should have their own design - along the lines of the Government Life Insurance issues. James produced sample designs featuring native flowers and eventually the New Zealand Post Office agreed but opted for a simple design featuring the Queen's head. This made the 1954 Official issue unique as the only issue designed specifically for government department use. All previous Official stamps were over-prints of the then current definitive or pictorial issue and this was the last New Zealand Official issue. Stamps for general official purposes ceased altogether when this issue was withdrawn in March 1965.

The stamps feature a side portrait of Queen Elizabeth II against a background pattern of the letters 'NZ'. Close examination reveals James Berry's skill as a master stamp designer and engraver.

The three shilling stamp, which was used for parcels and the issuing of summonses, was only on sale for two years and is relatively scarce.

Bibliography

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

Pages 344 - 347, 440 - 441

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

Pages 245 - 246

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