The steel plate for the 1d value was produced by the Royal Mint in London. As postal rates were increased in July 1931, a 2d value was needed. W.R. Bock made the new die by etching in zinc and a copper plate was made at the Government Printing Office in Wellington.
The 1931 design is of a smiling boy and was designed by L.C. Mitchell.
The stamps were surface printed at the Government Printing Office, watermarked NZ and star and perforated 14½ x 14.
Due to the world-wide economic recession, sales were low.
As a result, these are now the most expensive of the
New Zealand health issues.
Dates:
- Issued Oct 31 1931, withdrawn 29 Feb 1932
Numbers sold:
- 1d: 74,802
- 2d: 111,929
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The above information is taken from The Postage Stamps of New Zealand Vol 1, published by the Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand in 1938. All scans were made by the author.