These two issues were unusual in that the plates were produced by etching. In 1932, the two plates were etched in copper while in 1933 a single steel plate was used.
The 1932 design represents the Goddess of Health, Hygeia, reclining on a pedestal. The designers were W J Cooch and R E Tripe and the die was engraved by H T Peat in Wellington.
The 1933 design represents the pathway to health and was designed by J. Berry.
The stamps cost 2d, 1d for postage and 1d which went towards health camps for children.
In both years, the stamps were printed at the Government Printing Office in Wellington on paper watermarked NZ and star and had a line perforation of 14.
Two plates were made in 1932 and the etching in the second plate is deeper, especially in the shading in the pedestal.
Dates:
- 1932 issued Nov 18, withdrawn 28 Feb 1933
- 1933 issued Nov 8, withdrawn 28 Feb 1934
Numbers sold:
- 1932: 237,504
- 1933: 260,883
1932 Health Plates
The printing plates were etched in copper. Two plates were made with the etching in the second plate being deeper, especially in the shading in the pedestal.
Plates 1 and 2
In the first printing, 750 sheets of 60 stamps were printed from each plate. Subsequent printings were all from the first plate.
The problem with using an etched copper plate is that once the action of acid on the copper has been stopped, it cannot be restarted. Hence, it is difficult to control the depth of the etching and that explains the difference between the two plates.
As the etching in the second plate was deeper, it would have been better able to withstand prolonged use.
However, the shading in the first plate is more subtle
and that may have been the reason why it was used for all later printings.
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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.