After a long gestation, this new joint publication between The Royal Philatelic Society, London and The Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand is at the printers, with delivery expected to NZ in late October.
The Postage Stamps of New Zealand: 1855-1873 The Chalon Head Issues,
by Robert P. Odenweller, RDP, Hon. FRPSL, FRPSNZ
This is a complete new study of the classic "Chalon" issues of New Zealand. It represents the culmination of over 50 years of research and collecting by the author, most recently aided by the gathering of all known records from many sources.
The book is case-bound, and in production quality is a twin of the author's book on Samoa. It has almost 400 pages and many hundreds of illustrations which show over 1,000 different stamps and covers, including virtually all the shades listed in the most thorough catalogues.
The result is a display of the most outstanding and notable items in each issue. New discoveries are revealed for almost every issue.
Bob should need no introduction as an acknowledged Expert (in the true sense of the word) in this issue, and those who have seen his previous work on Samoa know what to expect with this work.
Starting with the London prints, questions now have answers. The quantities of the stamps that were previously "known" to have been issued to various provinces can now be seen to have been only the beginning. Two denominations were under heavy pressure and were used up quickly while the other was returned by the provinces after a long period during which the stamps were not used up.
The Richardson blue paper prints are now explained in depth, including the evidence of when the blue paper was replaced by the white paper. Both the blue and white paper printings by Richardson had overlap varieties, due to the paper being smaller than the plate.
A new discussion about them, with varieties illustrated, updates the current level of knowledge beyond the author's earlier paper on the subject. Pelure paper was used in late 1962, with the very rare 3d produced at the end of the year. Both known copies are illustrated.
The 2d Provisional on thick unwatermarked paper was printed in earl 1863, and was the only one with vertical overlaps. These varieties are shown, including the unique cover withy the vertical overlap.
Discussion of when the colour of the three denominations was changed in 1871 has to date been based on observed covers. The records of printings from 1865 to 1873 are included in an appendix, which enables us to show the actual date of introduction of the first changed colour printings. The perf 10 machine, with variants that include this in combination with 12½ is shown, along with some of the rarer varieties.
Use of papers with the "NZ" watermark and lozenges, as well as basically unwatermarked paper have traditionally been assigned to either 1871 or 1872. Printing records and notations from the Colonial Secretary's office show they were all printed in 1873. The papermakers' watermarks are covered in detail.
A chapter on the damaged and retouched bottom quarter of the 2d Plate II illustrates virtually all the positions damaged, before retouch, retouched in blue, retouched in vermilion and on the black reprints.
Previous books have shown re-entries often as the latest states from the reprints. A very thorough section shows the acknowledged retouches in early, middle and late stages of the place on actual stamps. This allows an evaluation of the progress of the change of the state of the plate at that particular point.
The postal history section acknowledges that there are other thorough coverages available. In spite of that, the vast majority of known covers fit into the more usual rates, which are all covered, with examples, and dates and amounts of charge.
It offers a very useful and easy approach to the analysis of a cover. The one shilling bisects are discussed, showing they did not originate where they were long thought to be from. A full illustrated list, corrected from previous lists, shows each known cover.
Two appendices summarise what is known about the numbers and dates of issue of the stamps. Others cover the "Dwarf" and Castle font, elemental analysis of inks, and full transcriptions of some early documents that concern these issues.
Ordering details are available at our website
http://www.rpsnz.org.nz/pubs/pubs.htm
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