1904 Pictorial 4d Lake Taupo invert

4d Taupo inverted centre
Date of production 1904
Nature of rarity Invert error
Number in existence 1
Face value 4d
Estimated value NZ$125,000[1]

The 1904 Pictorial 4d Lake Taupo invert is a postage stamp error considered to be the rarest New Zealand stamp. The centre vignette is inverted in relation to the outer frame. The stamp was discovered in a schoolboy album in 1930 and no other copy has been found since then. [2]

The 4d stamp depicts Lake Taupo in New Zealand's North Island. It was part of the first pictorial series originally issued in 1898 but reissued in different colours and sizes in 1899 and 1900.[3] The same design was used for a 1d value issued in 1898.[4]

The sole example is used, postmarked Picton 1904.[2]

Contents

Previous owners

In 2010 NZ Post deposited the stamp in the New Zealand national museum Te Papa on a long term loan.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Selling by Auction". John Mowbrey International. http://www.mowbraycollectables.co.nz/SITE_Default/SITE_mowbray_international/x-files/109429.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-27. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f "New Zealand Post buys invert for record $66,500". Glen Stephens. 1998-06-08. http://www.glenstephens.com/linnsJune8-98.html. Retrieved 2010-05-27. 
  3. ^ "1898 Pictorials". New Zealand Post. http://stamps.nzpost.co.nz/new-zealand/1900/pictorials. Retrieved 2011-07-14. 
  4. ^ "1898 Pictorials". New Zealand Post. http://stamps.nzpost.co.nz/new-zealand/1898/pictorials. Retrieved 2011-07-14. 
  5. ^ "Rare stamp to be displayed". New Zealand Herald. 2010-05-17. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10645581. Retrieved 2010-05-27.