Major New Zealand Error To Be Sold

 

 

                                                                      Glen Stephens - "Linn's" front cover story, February 9, 1998.

 

The most spectacular post war design error from the British Commonwealth must surely belong to New Zealand.  Outside of Australasia, remarkably little has been written on this striking modern issue.

 

In mid 1996 the annual "Health" issue was printed and about to be issued by New Zealand Post.  That  issue consisted of the usual two stamps and a miniature sheet, all items with a charity surcharge. 

 

The domestic letter rate 40¢ (+5¢)  value was at the very last minute discovered to have a major design fault. The stamp showed a baby child in a child restraint, alongside a Teddy Bear, who was wearing the car seat belt.

 

It is clear from the design that the child and teddy bear are in the rear seat of the car, and facing toward the front, i.e. the same direction as the driver.  In New Zealand this is not permitted.  It is required that infants in such car seats be facing to the REAR of the vehicle, so as to minimize impact and damage, in the event of an accident.

 

The design was amended at the last moment, and the original printing supposedly destroyed, the final issued design having no Teddy Bear, and no seat belt, so it was not apparent the child was facing in the "illegal" direction. 

 

Amended design stamps were issued on June 5th 1996.  It soon became apparent, due to an alert stamp collector, that at least some of the original "Teddy Bear" stamps had not been destroyed.  A commercial cover was sighted, which still exists intact. 

 

The story develops further .... the error in design exists in both the "peel'n'stick" self adhesive version of the stamps, and the regular gummed sheet stock issue.  Therefore it is possible to obtain this error in two kinds. The self-adhesive error appears to be extremely scarce.

 

The commercial cover was advertised in the leading "Australasian Stamps" monthly magazine, and the developing story of the "Teddy Bear" errors was updated to readers over a period of several months.  New Zealand retail price for a mint example is presently around $2,0000 apiece.

 

Investigations showed that a financial institution,  The Auckland Savings Bank had purchased most of the errors and used them on normal business mail.  A part sheet of mint copies was sold and the proceeds donated by the bank to charity.  Error stamps were sold from at least one other Post Office.

 

A corner block of  6, quite possibly unique, showing the printer imprint and believed to originate from the bank "find" will be auctioned late February, in Sydney Australia. 

 

This imprint "Teddy Bear" block shows the marginal imprint of  "Enschede Holland" where all the stamps were printed.  Stanley Gibbons Australia will auction the block, which is estimated to reach $A10,000.  (Face value is $NZ 2.70.)   Gibbons will auction at the same time two single Mint copies of this error stamp, estimate $A1,600 each. 

 

Airmail catalogues for this February 28th sale are available free on request from Stanley Gibbons Australia, 36 Clarence Street Sydney, NSW, 2000 Australia or via fax to (+612) 9290 1999.

 

There is no question as to the authenticity of this error, and it's existence is noted in major stamp catalogues, and I understand provision for it has been made in some brands of printed albums for New Zealand.  It must rate as one of the most appealing design errors of the QEII reign from Commonwealth countries.

 

There was a sensation late 1997 when the Miniature Sheet of this issue, which contains two of the 40¢ (+5¢) values was offered for auction in the Netherlands.  Not only one Miniature Sheet, but the same sheet with "Capex 96" overprint .  All four stamps on both sheets were the "Teddy Bear" error.

 

Knowing the stamps were printed in the Netherlands, and the so far unique Miniature Sheets were offered for sale there first, one must harbour some doubt as to their background and authenticity.  One theory aired in Australia was that the vendor of the sheets was based in New Zealand, so this story has many twists and turns.

 

Warwick Delamore, N.Z. correspondent for "Australasian Stamps" speculated in the November 1997 magazine that although such a pair of sheets would have a value of around $10,000, the New Zealand Post Office would not be keen to see them purchased or offered by a dealer within New Zealand. 

 

Whatever the background to the Miniature Sheets, the stamps have an interesting and well documented track record. Best of all they have that very elusive quality that always makes for a popular variety - a catchy name!  The "Teddy Bear" stamps will for some time remain the premiere post war New Zealand issue. 

 

 (Glen Stephens is a stamp dealer and philatelic journalist based in Sydney Australia. )