Stanley Gibbons ~ Supplements~an Appreciation

Anyone who has seen the past examples of publications
of philatelists around the globe, can appreciate the enormous debt
we owe people who have gone before, and with great husbandry,
collated and saved material, we can all take advantage of today.

We begin with a Supplement on the Georgian Issues of New Zealand
July 1928


Acknowledgement to Stanley Gibbons
for the excellent work they offer in their magazines,
and how we all benefit from prudent handling of philatelic material.

This information was nearly lost, thrown out, but recovered....


Gibbons Stamp Monthly July 1928

Drawings and Essays for the Georgian Issues of New Zealand

(WITH ONE PLATE} By STANLEY PHILLIPS

IN connection with Mr. R. J. G. Collins' article on the later issues of New Zealand, I am very glad to have
the opportunity of reproducing in this magazine some interesting drawings and proofs of trial designs for
the first Georgian issue of New Zealand.

For this opportunity I am greatly indebted to Captain Rupert Clutterbuck, in whose collection they now are.

These drawings, etc., very nearly shared the fate which must have overtaken so many other similar items, which
philatelists would now give anything to have the chance of inspecting. During a change-over from one room to
another, they were thrown away as rubbish by one New Zealand official, and rescued by another, who, although
not a philatelist, evidently thought they were worthy of a better resting-place than the waste-paper basket.
Fortunately for collectors, the papers of the rescuing official were gone through after his death by one of our
readers well able to appreciate the interest of these drawings and essays, and from the estate they passed to our
Publishers and thence to the fine collection of Captain Clutterbuck.

(A.) The first item in this interesting little collection was a black and white sketch on Bristol board. This design
(marked "A" in blue pencil) shows the King's head in a central oval, facing left. The oval is supported by two
allegorical figures: the one on the left, a female figure representing New Zealand, is holding a banner showing
three stars ; the figure on the right is a Maori chief, wearing the feather mat and holding a " taiaha," or native
spear.

In the centre, at the top of the board, is placed an unused British penny stamp bearing King Edward VII's head,
to the right of which is written, in pencil, " Stamp to be this red." In the top left corner is written " Size 18 X2i
m/m." With the exception of the actual sketch and the artist's signature in the right bottom corner, all the notes
on this and subsequent sketches are in pencil. In the left bottom corner are two small pencil sketches showing
details of the " taiaha " and the Maori's head ; the former labelled " Head of Taiaha, Native weapon which
Maori is holding in his hand," and the latter, " General shape of head of Maori and tattoo marks." The tattoo
marks are put in in blue water-colours. In the right-hand bottom corner of the board, above the artist's signature
(which is in ink), is a used British penny stamp of the " Coronation type," to the left of which is written, " do not
tone King's head all over the lights as in this stamp."

The right-hand side of the board contains detailed instructions to the printers (Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co.,
Ltd.) which read as follows :—
" Please retain values of design as closely as possible :—
i. Darkest tones : the numbers ; the lettering ; the background of King George, background of crown, parts of
hair, uniform, etc,


to be continued..........