Kiwi  Stamp  Circuit

Box 18-337    Glen Innes    Auckland    New Zealand 1743

 

Newsletter  #35                                                       July 2009

 

 

With this newsletter, we have released our 2009 Kiwi CAL.  As with our two previous CALs, the artwork is by Alistair Burns, and like last year, adapted from the Freepost Day covers issued in 1996 and designed by our nephew Ian Young.

 

The CALs were printed by NZPost in sheets of 50 (5 x 10), with a limited print run of 2000.
2009, the year of issue, is printed vertically in small letters at the bottom left of the CAL.
We anticipate it being listed in Campbell Paterson's catalogue supplements.

 

 

British collectors may well have thought that Royal Mail was playing an early April Fools Day joke, upon examining closely some of the new definitive stamps, issued earlier this year.

 

In the top right hand corner of self-adhesive first-class and second-class Queen Elizabeth definitives (known as Machins) are the words 'ROYAL MAIL' printed in iridescent ink in a wavelike pattern.  But only on stamps from sheets of 50 sold over post office counters, are the words are spelt correctly.  Stamps printed in other formats (e.g. booklets) contain various perversions,  e.g.,  'ROYAL MBIL',  'ROYAL MCIL'.. 'FOYAL MAIL'

 

Royal Mail said that the purpose of the codes (referred to as 'identifiers') is to identify the original format of the stamps, in order to correct any printing problems that may arise.

The codes appear either in the word 'ROYAL' or 'MAIL', found in the wavy line background.

Codes used so far are ~

B for business sheets                  F for retail booklets of four
S for retail booklets of six            T for retail booklets of twelve
C for custom retail booklets which include commemoratives

 

Whilst the C, F, S, and T each appear in one particular position within the 'ROYAL MAIL', the B appears in different locations, depending on the type of stamp.

For example, on stamps inscribed  'Large' the B replaces the first A so the phrase reads ROYBL MAIL, but on the standard rate stamps, the B replaces the second A, resulting in ROYAL MBIL.

2nd blue viewed under special lighting

Although Royal Mail scheduled 31 March for the introduction of these 'identifiers', booklets containing stamps with 'B' codes were actually put on sale on 13 March 2009.

 

Another 'security feature' of the stamps is a pair of elliptical slits, which means that if anyone attempts to soak them off an envelope, they will "fall to pieces".

Collectors will have to keep these stamps 'on paper'.

We rather doubt that Her Majesty will be amused by either of these developments in 'her' stamps !

2

 

When planning the release of last years Kiwi CAL, three different designs were considered for the 'official' first day cover.

 

In February, we offered for sale on Trademe, the two alternatives that were not chosen for general release.

 

As a result of the generous bidding by two of our members, $150 was donated to one of our countries important research organisations, the New Zealand Neurological Foundation.

 

Members have given us several suggestions for fundraising, we will be following one or more of these up later in the year.

 

 

Welcome to 7 new members

 

Mr G Nicol   North Shore                                     Mr F Latta   Auckland

Mr G Halling   Matamata                                     Mr B Pattison   Te Puke

Mr H Dickens   Masterton                                    Mr L Hotton   Christchurch

Mr J Botermans   Dunedin

 

Congratulations to our winners in the 2008 Christmas Lotto Draw

 

Gerald van der Vegt  Auckland                          Maurice Austen  Rotorua

 

 

Full Subscription ~ $22 pa (less various discounts).

Associate and Junior members ~ $8 pa (NZ)   $12 pa (overseas).

 

Associate members receive newsletters but do not usually participate in circuit activities.

Junior members (age 10-15) get their own newsletters etc, and are allowed to receive circuit books, as long as they have a senior member to oversee them.

 

Good Member Discount ~ All members get a discount on their subscription for prompt payment.
This depends on the financial success of the club in the preceding year ~ this year we are able to give our helpful members in 2008 prompt payment discounts of up to $10, plus their other bonuses.

Email Discount ~ for members who maintain email contact and help us keep track of boxes.

 

Postal Discount – for members who provide us with the extra security of a PO Box for mail delivery of circuit boxes or receive them via Counter Delivery at their PO.

 

Special Discount ~ for non-circuit members, accounts being wound-down, estates, overseas etc.
New Member Bonus ~ a $5 bonus for each new buying member you help to enroll for a full year.

Statements ~ sent twice yearly ~ with Christmas and Mid-year newsletters.

Members can request additional statements at any time ~ $1 charge to cover postage, printing etc.

Sales Payments ~ sent with December accounts, unless arranged otherwise.
Sales Commission ~ 15%  (reduced to 12% for top quality material) $1 minimum per book.

 

 

Members will probably be aware of the sale of ACS following the retirement of Warwick Delamore.

David Holmes (a former partner in ACS) and Nigel Shanks have bought the assets and relocated the business to Newmarket under the umbrella of Stamp Associates Ltd.  They will no longer be stocking stamp accessories but plan to continue publication of the ACS catalogue.

 

Long time Kiwi members, Earle and Ruth Howe of Nustamps have bought the new issues part of the business and are finding it a demanding but rewarding activity.

 

We wish them well with their new ventures.

3

 

Since the postal market was deregulated in 1998, several small competitors to NZ Post have emerged, including Fastway, NZ Mail, DX Mail and Pete's Post.

 

The latest player in the field, stationery manufacturer Croxley has announced that it is setting up its own postal service in competition with NZPost, and hopes to gain 10 per cent of the $500 million postal market in two to three years.

 

Croxley, owned by United States multinational Office Max, already distributes NZ Post stamps and envelopes through a variety of retailers including The Warehouse, Office Max, and Whitcoulls.

 

It has signed an access agreement with NZPost, enabling Croxley Mail items to be posted in NZPost mail boxes and pass on through the delivery system.

 

Croxley has registered as a postal operator and is offering a range of stamps and envelopes under the Croxley Mail brand, including pre-paid envelopes and boxes, and stamp denominations from 50c to $1.50

 

The first set of six Croxley Mail stamps feature Kumeu designer Paul Green’s landscape images photographed under moonlight at Muriwai Beach on Auckland’s west coast.

 

Dispenser packs of 100 50c Croxley Mail stamps are available on the internet for $46.

 

 

 

From this month, prices for sending letters and parcels overseas go up about 15%.

The only good news is that a new 'large' size (C5) has been include in the price scale.

 

The new rates for standard letters are ~

 

 

 

All letters have a maximum weight of 200g and thickness of 10mm

 

Postcards and aerogrammes can be sent anywhere overseas for $1.80

 

Letters can be sent  'Economy ' to the rest of the world for 50c less than the standard rate.

 

NZPost has released a new range of scenic definitives to allow for the rate changes.

4

 

Something rather worrying seems to going on at present with sorting of mail between Auckland and other towns in the North Island.

Mail that is clearly addressed, is being delayed and misdirected by up to two weeks.

 

1)    A card to the KSC from a Whangarei member was postmarked 30 April in a mail centre somewhere, then re-marked 1 May at Wellesley St, then again 5 May in Greenlane,
and finally delivered to our PO Box in Glen Innes on 7 May.

     The address is circled in red, highlighted by two red crosses.

     At the time we wondered if it might have been delayed through not having a postcode.

 

2)    A letter from Albany, postmarked 29 June at a mail centre, was re-marked in Tokoroa 7July and reached us on 9 July.  This time the envelope was marked with two blue crosses drawing attention to Glen Innes.

 

3)    In the same delivery we received a letter from a Masterton member, postmarked 3 July and re-marked 6July in Greenlane.

     The letter had our correct postcode, so there is no good reason for it going astray.

 

 

4)    A letter we posted at the Philatelic Sales Centre in Auckland on 9 June reached its destination in Hamilton on 22 June.

     Another item posted at the same time appears to be still in Never-never Land !

     Both of these items had postcodes on them.

 

These are only a few examples - It is all rather disturbing.

Clearly the presence of a postcode provides little guarantee of speedy delivery !!

5

 

Having gone to great length to encourage use of postcodes on addressed mail, we have yet to be convinced they have been of real benefit to NZPost staff or customers (see page 4).

 

One of NZ's largest philatelic companies told us earlier this year  "We are no longer able to post items in New Plymouth, unless the recipient's postcode is stated on the parcel", however at our local Auckland PostShop it is a different picture.  This month I endeavoured to send a parcel addressed 'Paparoa, Northland 0571'.  "Is that Dargaville or Tauranga ?", the Glen Innes postal clerk queried (obviously rather ignorant of New Zealand Geography).  "Cant you tell from the postcode ?" I replied.  "No !" she said, "We don’t use post codes here and anyway they are not in the system !!"  At this point I admitted defeat.

 

Nevertheless, at KSC we have tried to do our bit.  Our own code (1743) is now printed on outgoing correspondence and we have included members codes on addressed envelopes.

Thankyou to members who responded to our recent request to supply their postcodes,
we now have them on file for nearly everyone.

 

 

Unofficial Listing of CALs issued so far

 

Thanks to Margaret Ingley and Jo Blyth for help in compiling this information

 

Bremen  (Antarctic Expedition)                50c                      S/A                        14 January  ›

Bremen on Ice  (Antarctic Expedition)    50c                      S/A                        30 January  ›

Timpex-1  (National Stamp Exhibition)   50c                      S/A  &  perf           2 February  ›

Blockhouse Bay Radio  (cats)                  50c  $1  $2         perforated             4 February  › #

Leading Edge Foundation  (koru)           50c                      S/A                        23 February

TV2 'What Now'  (4^th issue)                       50c                      S/A                        April

Sri Lankaramaya  (10^th Anniversary)       50c                      S/A                        10 May

Coachouse  (part of LEF group)              50c                      S/A                        22 May

Medrecruit  (job agency)                            $1                        S/A                        29 May

Timpex-2  (Phar Lap)                                  50c                      perforated             5 June  ›

Timpex-2  (Railcar)                                     50c                      perforated             12 June  ›

Youth Stamp Camp  (Kaiapoi)                  50c                      S/A                        12 July  › **

Kiwi Stamp Circuit                                      50c                      S/A                        15 July  ›

 

›  =  official first day covers known to have been issued

 

# proofs of this CAL have been perforated, illegally postmarked and offered for sale on the internet !

 

** Although 12 July is given as the official date for FDCs for the Youth Stamp Camp CAL, supplies were distributed to TIMPEX supporters earlier than this - some were even offered for sale on Trademe in mid June.

 

           

           

6

 

Several countries have incorporated scent and vision in recent stamp designs in order to attract collectors.

 

Polar Holograms

 

As part of the Fourth International Polar Year, a project proposed by the presidents of Finland and Chile, 42 countries and regions worldwide have issued stamps to raise awareness about global warming and enlist support to preserve the polar regions.

 

Most of the stamps issued feature animal species, found in Arctic and Antarctic regions that are endangered by climate change and all stamps feature the crystal insignia and the campaign's theme: "Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers."

 

Issued on June 30, these Japanese stamps feature a hologram depicting the ice crystal.

 

Sound and Video

 

In February, Bhutan, issued its second set of CD-ROM stamps that you can watch and listen to.  When the stamps are inserted into a computer, the CD-ROM plays an eight-minute video about Bhutan and provides a link to a web site with information about
the small Himalayan kingdom.  These stamps commemorate the coronation of a new king and the holding of democratic elections.

 

In earlier years, Bhutan has issued 3-D stamps, scented stamps and stamps produced on silk and steel.

 

Flowers and Chocolate

 

Issued in February, Slovakia's Easter stamp had the scent of the narcissus added during the colour printing process, and just needs warmth or friction to release the fragrance.

 

To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first chocolate beans at the port of Bayonne, France issued a strip of
10 se-tenant stamps resembling rectangles of a chocolate bar
all carrying the scent of chocolate.

Birch scented Sauna stamps

 

A Finnish booklet of five stamps issued in May include microscopic scent capsules.  When the stamps are rubbed, the capsules burst and spread an aroma of birch leaves.

 

“I aimed for Finnishness and the authentic sauna atmosphere” said the designer of the booklet, Päivi Vainionpää.

“The first stamp shows a moment before a sauna.  The sun is going down, there’s a fresh birch whisk in the bucket on the jetty, and soft towels await the bathers.  The second stamp shows the bathers actually in the sauna, and the third stamp depicts an idyllic shoreline sauna in its natural setting.

The fourth and fifth stamps show sauna atmosphere inside and out: a sauna whisk bathes in the sunlight on a log wall, and inside the sauna, the sunshine lights up the bathing place through a window.”