May I Have This As My Aviator

one more for the smiling assassin :D

A slightly belated welcome to you Bruce.

Nice stamp and avatar. What does "UNIVERSAL POSTAGE" mean? Is/was it New Zealand's way to indicate the stamp was for international posting?

Marty

Hi Marty thanks for your question

Universal Postage:

On 1st January 1901 New Zealand changed the postage rate to one penny for both inland mail and overseas mail. It made posting letters easy one penny to where ever you want to go. Heavy letters paid double etc.

Many overseas countries (e.g. Great Britain) agreed to accept letters with only one penny but others (e.g. USA and Australia) didn't. New Zealanders some times forgot what countries they were so there are quite a few covers round with postage due on them. Later on many of these countries also agreed to accept letters with only a penny stamp.

This design continued till 1908 then a very similar design (also for one penny) with the word "Dominion of New Zealand" continued until 1926.

Penny Universals are one of my specialty collecting areas.

Thanks Bruce!

An interesting bit of stamp history. One of the reasons I enjoy stamp collecting is that I learn so much fascinating history.

Marty

Bruce in the Dominion of New Zealand:

Lovely stamp, and I'm sure there is a wealth of material, varieties, covers, etc. for that stamp. Show us some!

David in the Dominion of Canada