New Zealand: The Penny Dominion 1909 - 1926

The design of the Penny Universal was changed in 1909 in recognition that New Zealand was now a Dominion. Starting in late 1909 the 1d “Dominion” was supplied to the Post Offices for 17 years, during which time several hundred million stamps were delivered.

The sheet stamps were printed in sheets of 240 impressions from 2 plates – plates 12 & 13.

Various papers were used during the course of its life. These include :

De La Rue chalk surfaced – from 1909 to 1924
Jones chalk surfaced white gum – 1924
De La Rue unsurfaced medium paper with toned gum – 1925
De La Rue chalk surfaced paper with toned gum & wmk sideways – 1925
Art paper with a lithographed wmk printed on the back – 1925
Cowan thick, opaque chalk surfaced paper with white gum – 1925-26
Wiggins Teape thin hard chalk surfaced paper with white gum – 1926


Booklet stamps were printed from a special booklet plate of 144 impressions. Some of the booklet sheets had advertisements printed in the selvedge. Booklets with Kodak adverts, all on Cowan paper with reversed watermark, appeared in 1927.
NB Examples with a heavy and blurred look are from booklets.


Booklet stamp with a blurred and heavy look


Damage which occurred in plate making and during the usage of the plates over such an extended period caused a multitude of flaws, offering collectors the pleasure of seeking out the many varieties in any unsorted accumulation.
There are many varieties to look for that are easily seen with the naked eye. The major ones being:

The ‘Split Globe’ flaw
The ‘Feather’ flaw
The ‘NN’ flaw
The ‘Split Bow’ flaw
The ‘O’ flaw

There are also numerous frame breaks, shield flaws, value tablet flaws to look for and can be used by those wanting to plate a particular stamp.

Here is a link to the NZSGB website covering this issue ==> Penny Dominion - NZSGB


Sheet of Penny Dominions – Plate 12


Sheet image courtesy of Roly Runciman




Dave