More Info →NZ 1929 Health Stamp Miss Nell Burt

Description

In 1929, New Zealand issued its first Health Stamps - with a postage rate of 1d and a charity value of 1d donated to the Children's Health Camps.

In 1979 the Post Office used the same picture for the 50th annversary of the issuing to health stamps. The Horowhenua Chronicle reported that the picture was based on photo of nurse Miss Nell Burt later Mrs N.R. Jones who lived in Levin. Aged 73, she recalls that she was nursing in Masterton when the picture was taken. Three photographs of nurses were considered for the health stamp.

"My uncle, Mr Cryer, was Director General of the Post Office at the time and my photograph was on his desk and I think that's how I came to be chosen. I know the photograph was filed away in the Post Office and I received it back about 30 years later."

Mrs Jones left Levin when she was 19 but returned on several occasions on nursing duties, and for a time was a nurse to the late Dr S.J. Thompson. In her retirement, she lived in Levin for four years.

The 1929 stamp had the legend. "Help Stamp Out Tuberculosis".

REPEATED

In 1930 the design was repeated with the legend, "Help Promote Health".

In 1979 the picture was again used - on the 12 cent stamp in the souvenir sheet issued for the 50th anniversary of the first health stamp - 10 cents postage and 2 cents donation, with the slogan "The National Heart Foundation", proceeds going towards the upkeep of the George V Memorial Health Camps.

Identification