New Zealand Health Stamps. 1945 Set, ½+1d,1+2d. SG# 665-66.MNH.

Date of Issue :  1 October 1945

Designer: J Berry, Wellington.

Printer: Bradbury Wilkinson, England

Process:Recess printed - Intaglio.  

                               

          We first see two colour stamps for the 1945 Health Issue another development of the Health Stamp Series. The stamp design depicts the statue of Peter Pan in the Kensington Gardens, London. The statue was the work of Sir George Frampton, a renowned sculptor. This subject was from the popular children's story of Peter Pan, chosen because of its symbolic theme of immortal youth.

Health stamps are a long-running series of charity stamp issued by New Zealand which include a premium for charitable causes in addition to the charge for postal service. Health stamps were issued annually from 1929 to 2016.

The idea of issuing health stamps in New Zealand originated in the late 1920s. Initial credit is given to a 1926 request by Mr E Nielsen of Norsewood on behalf of his mother that special fundraising for deserving health projects. Letters and articles promoting the idea appeared in newspaper articles in subsequent years, although the official suggestion for the issue of a stamp is credited to the secretary of the Post Office Department, Mr. G. M'Namara.

The stamps were modeled on Christmas Seals, first issued in Denmark in 1904 and subsequently in other countries. While in other countries Christmas Seals were charity labels that could be affixed to mail along with postage stamp, the New Zealand seals combined both postage and charity in a single label.