1920 Victory

1920 Victory

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		Cat.	Mint Unhinged	Mint Hinged	Fine Used
½d	Green British Lion and Peace	34a	$13.50	$8.10	$3.60
1d	Red British Lion and Peace	34b	$6.30	$3.60	$1.80
1½d	Maori Chief	34c	$16.20	$7.20	$1.80
2d	Overprinted on ½d (from 1922 on)	34d	$22.50	$9.00	$4.50
3d	Lion flanking Nelson's Column	34e	$58.50	$27.00	$31.50
6d	Angels of Progress and Peace	34f	$108.00	$43.20	$40.50
1/-	King George V	34g	$166.50	$72.00	$81.00

	Set of 7	34h	$371.95	$161.60	$156.45

	First Day Cover - 27 January 1920	34i			$8,100.00
	… Six Stamps : ½d (34a), 1d (34b), 1½d (34c), 3d (34e), 6d (34f), 1/- (34g)

Immediately following the cessation of World War I in November 1918 a request was made to issue a set of stamps commemorating the declaration of peace. The designs were intended to be imperial rather than national with a modest indication of country of origin.

The stamps were designed and manufactured in London, and were available for sale in London three months before the issue was released in New Zealand. Some New Zealand collectors received copies of the stamps from British stamp dealers before the Post Office had released the issue. This caused sufficient commotion that a decision was made to in future not sell issues abroad.

The numbers printed were in the millions and the stamps continued in use as de facto definitives for several years. In 1922, the ½d stamp (which had little use after the postage rate for newspapers was increased to one penny in 1920) was surcharged 'TWOPENCE' in red.

The halfpence green stamp features the British Lion representing the British Empire with the allegorical figure of Peace sitting with him.

The penny red stamp also features the British Lion, this time standing with the allegorical figure of Peace walking beside him.

The 1½d stamp features a Maori Chief wearing the tail feathers of the now extinct Huia and a Whakakai or ear pendant made from shark teeth.

The three penny stamp features the British Lion again - this time one of the lions which flank Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, London. Trafalgar Square was very familiar to New Zealand soldiers who fought in the war.

The 6d stamp shows 'Progress' attendant on the angel of Peace. The design alluding to peaceful uses of knowledge and technology rather than the horrific uses inflicted on soldiers in the trenches in the First World War.

The shilling stamp features King George V flanked by traditional Maori carvings.

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

Pages 322 - 325, 380 - 384, 585 - 586

The Postage Stamps of New Zealand Volume II

Edited by R. J. G. Collins FRPSNZ and C. W. Watts FRPSNZ

Published 1950 by The Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand Incorporated

Pages 235 - 236

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 385 - 389

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 136, 361

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