What better way to begin the first year of the 21st century than with a landmark stamp issued, celebrating the last 100 Years of Moving the Mail within New Zealand and overseas?
This sheetlet of ten stamps presented ten different chapters of our postal history, ranging from the earliest modes of mail transportation to our most recent and fastest growing form of communication, electronic mail.
The 100 Years of Moving the Mail issue commemorated New Zealand’s introduction of ‘Universal Penny Postage’ in 1901. The first 40c stamp on the sheetlet reproduced aspects of the original Penny Universal stamp, of which 2,000,000 were produced. The centre of the stamp featured the steamship, Sonoma, one of three vessels to carry mail during 1901 between Auckland and San Francisco.
Each stamp provided a unique look at the modes of transport which have shaped mail transportation in New Zealand over the last 100 years: horse-drawn coach, paddle steamer, Railway Travelling Post Office, early motor transport, airmail, bicycles, modern motor and modern air transport. Today New Zealand Post is writing the next chapter in postal history by creating a range of electronic postal products to link with its existing physical delivery capabilities.
Rail, air, two wheels or four, it is truly remarkable how much technology has defined the way we move our mail. 100 Years of Moving the Mail presented a colourful overview of our postal history. New Zealand, with its geographical isolation, rugged terrain and fast-flowing rivers, has presented its challenges over the decades for safe and rapid transportation of mail.
100 Years of Moving the Mail contained several innovative features. Each stamp had a title and brief description printed on the reverse and this issue was the first to carry the new New Zealand Post logo printed on the reverse selvedge of the sheetlet.
Product Listing for 100 Years of Moving the Mail
Click on image to enlarge.
|Date of issue:||1 January 2001|
|Number of stamps:||10|
|Denominations:||40c Penny Universal Commemoration, 40c Horse-drawn Coach, 40c Early Motor Transport, 40c Paddle Steamer Transport, 40c Railway Travelling Post Office, 40c Airmail, 40c Bicycles, 40c Modern Motor Transport, 40c Modern Air Transport and 40c Electronic Mail|
|Stamps and first day cover designed by:||Designworks, Wellington, New Zealand|
|Printer and process:||Southern Colour Print, New Zealand by offset lithography|
|Number of colours:||Four process colours|
|Stamp size and format:||30mm x 30mm|
|Number of stamps per sheetlet:||10 stamps|
|Paper type:||103 gsm red phosphor coated|
|Special blocks:||Special blocks were not available for this stamp issue|
|Period of sale:||These stamps remained on sale until 31 December 2002.|