ERRORS IN POSTAGE STAMP DESIGN
The September 1979 issue of the Postal History Society of NZ magazine, Mail-Coach ran the following book review by L.G Dale. It’s an entertaining read. The book was published before the avalanche of new issues which would now make this sort of exercise all but impossible.
A REVIEW of ERRORS IN POSTAGE STAMP DESIGN
DEG Irvine & M. Seshold. Published by National Philatelic Society, ENGLAND.
192 pages plus 12 illustration pages. Published January 1979
It is human to err but even more human to enjoy detecting the erring. Dr Irvine and Mr Seshold have listed in their book nearly 3000 stamps and postal stationery items which contain an error in basic design, conception or series. They do not list faults in the printing process. While some of the errors are minor (missing full stops and apostrophes) there are errors which have helped precipitate wars and in each case the story is told. Most of the listing appear to be unintentional errors – alarmingly so for it appears that most collectors accept without question the information given them by philatelic agencies, catalogues, or the stamps themselves. The accumulation of material must have taken many hours, the research to prove the allegations many more hours, and the final compilation of the book deserves our admiration for a tremendous effort. It is a pity, though, that the illustrations were not cross-referenced with the text.
Members may be interested in the errors on New Zealand stamps listed by Irving and Seshold:
(Some of them are very 'picky'!!)
1898 ½d Pictorial. Officially described as Ranunculus flowers flanking sides of stamp which have 6-9 rounded petals, not 5 as shown.
1898 2½d Pictorial. Wakitipu instead of Wakatipu (quickly corrected by the Post Office.—Ed.)
1898 2/- Pictorial. Reversed image of scene
1900 1½d Boer War. Apostrophe missed (The Empires Call does mean something different to The Empire's Call)
1906 3d Exhibition. Maori would not shake hands
1906 6d Exhibition. Proclamation of British sovereignty, not annexation
1931 1d+1d Health. Stamp Colour should be green (commercial rate 26.6.31)
1931 2d+1d Health. Stamp colour should be red (letter rate from 26.6.31)
1935 2/- Cook. Epaulettes not adopted for naval officer uniform until June 1795.
1936 ½d Commerce. Lorry should have H number plates
1936 Anzac issue. 'Anzac Cove' pictured is actually Karaka Bay, Wellington
1939 Health Ball too big for children's cupped hands
1940 3d Centennial. Maori with moustaches
1940 2½d Waitangi. According to eye witness Hobson came in civilian clothing but wearing his cocked hat 1940 3d Centennial. Double topsail yards on ships came into use in 1855.
1940 5d Centennial. H.M.S. for H.M., 11th August for 21st May.
1940 7d & 8d Centennial. European style ladder - Maori used notched poles.
1946 3d Peace. Incomplete tail fin - correct in retouches!
1946 5d Peace. Smoke from both "Dominion Monarch" funnels, after one was a dummy.
1948 1d Otago Cent. Anchored ship under full sail
1950 1d Canterbury Cent. Arms should be three eight-pointed stars (with wavy arms)
1980 1/- Canterbury Cent. Aeroplane shadow too big
1956 2d Southland. No rope attached to harpoon
1958 Kingsford Smith. Plane still bore registration letters G-AUSU for the flight. One 2-bladed propeller was used.
1959 2d Marlborough. Not a barque but a full rigged ship
1968 2½c Christmas. Not "Adoration of Shepherds” but "Adoration"
1974 4c Hobson see 1940 2½d - no cocked hat this time
1898 1/- Pigeongram. The bird is actually a swift.
Postal Stationery: various, it is a breach of etiquette for the monarch to have back to the Coat of Arms