|
Special
Flag.
The overiding consideration for the stamp was how
to represent the Nations of Oceania with a single stamp. With so
many Nations and a sensitive history- for instance the Spanish slave
trade, seemed a way to bring discord. It was then decided to feature
an all embracing flag, yet no flag exists for all the Nations of
Oceania. It was thus decided to design such a flag around the theme
of the Southern Cross which is a constellation of the Pacific Nations.
A peace wreath embraces the stars on Pacific blue. The only other
color apart from blue and white is the gold lined stars representing
the sun which shows on many individual countries flags. But it was
also decided to print the stamp in a single color of pacific blue
so that the flag would appear dark blue on a light - almost sky
blue background. The stamp was to be small and have the date as
part of the design with the words Oceania Nations postage and a
value in New Zealand dollars of 81 cents.
Back
Catalogue Index pages 1-6
 |
The
first step was the designing of the flag. This Grey pencil sketch
was produced for the flag and developed into a blue artist essay
sketch. |
 |
The
peace wreath and the stars were added and this was developed
into this mono color blue version. |
 |
Then
this color version was created with gold on the inside of the
stars. By this time it was decided the stamp would be printed
in tones of blue, and so the blue monocolor version of the flag
was chosen above. |
|
|
 |
|
The
first essay version to be printed was this 81cent plain background.
This was printed in pairs in a tone of blue. These had the words
New Zealand in white along the bottom and the phrase - stand
united behind the flag, The stars and the wreath appear faintly
blue and the flag background very dark. |
 |
|
Essay
two had the cloud background and the border was ragged. New
Zealand appeared solid. This was printed in pairs with a modification
to the words- stand united behind the flag , to A united flag.
|
|
|
|
At
this stage it was decided to balance the colors and to lighten
the flag. For the first time a scenic background was used instead,
so this was from a new grey toned plate and some grey tone images
were printed for contrast balance. |
|
 
|
|
The blue printings without words or values
were printed until the desired tone of blue was achieved below.
These color trials were done in strips until the desired tone
and contrast was achieved. These color balancing printings
were printed on ungummed paper five across from dark to the
lightest.
|
 |
Proofs
were printed in blocks of four. The words- A united flag, was
deleted as it was decided the stamp would be too political.
The value was still 81 cents. |
 |
For the proof printing of sheets of twenty
and the imperforate specimen overprints the value was changed
to 85 cents. Production printing of
sheets departed from previous by printing onto prior perforated
sheets and the stamps printed into each perforation frame
|
Wine Post © |
