There are four shilling values, 1/-, 1/3, 2/- and 3/-. They were printed by De La Rue and issued on 1 May, 1947.
The centre plate design is the same for all values. Four centre plates were used: 1, 2, 3A and 4. Plate 1 was used for the 1/- and 2/- values, plate 2 for the 1/3 and 3/- values, plate 3A for the 1/-, 1/3 and 3/- values and plate 4 for the 1/- and 1/3 values.
Each value has different frame plates. There is only one frame plate for each of the 2/- and 3/- values (plate 1) while the 1/- and 1/3 values have two frame plates (1 and 2).
The sheets had 160 stamps in 16 rows of 10 and were perf 14.
Centre plate dies
Centre plate dies 1 and 2
There are two centre plate dies. Die 1 was used in plate 1 while die 2 was used in plates 2, 3A and 4. The shading behind the King's head is much heavier in die 2 as can be seen in the examples on the left.
The 2/- only exists from die 1 while the 1/3 and 3/-
are always die 2.
The 1/- exists from both dies.
One Shilling
The 1/- value has two frame plates. Frame plate 1 occurs in combination with centre plate 1 (die 1) while frame plate 2 is in combination with centre plates 3A and 4 (die 2).
1/- stamps from die 1 exist with both sideways and with upright watermarks while the watermark with die 2 is always upright.
Stamps from plate 3A-2 were issued in March 1950 and from plate 4-2
in January 1952.
Frame plates 1 and 2
1/3 frame plates
The two frame plates for the 1/3 value differ in that there is a constant flaw in plate 2 due to damage in the transfer roller. It results in a break in a line in the ornamental panel.
The centre plate of the 1/3 value is always die 2.
Frame plate 1 occurs in combination with centre plates 2 and 3A while frame plate 2 occurs in combination with centre plates 3A and 4.
The watermark of stamps printed from frame plate 1 is always sideways.
Stamps from plate 3A-2 with sideways watermark were issued in March 1950
and with an upright watermark in February 1953.
Stamps from plate 4-2 have an upright watermark and were isued in January 1952.
Two shillings
The 2/- value only exists with frame and centre plates both 1, i.e. the centre is always die 1.
It occurs with both an upright and with a sideways watermark
with the sideways watermark being the more common.
Three shillings
The three shillings exists with centre plates 2 and 3A, i.e. the centre is always die 2. There was only one frame plate. Stamps from centre plate 3A were issued in 1949.
The 3/- always has a sideways watermark.
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The above information is taken from The Postage Stamps of New Zealand Vols 2 and 4, published by the Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand in 1950 and 1964. All scans were made by the author.