COVER N.193 - NEW ZEALAND

Postmark: Illegible

Posted on the 26th November; Received on the 30th December 2022
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Just as the year was drawing to its final day a very beautiful and Season oriented cover dropped into my letterbox from literally the other side of the earth. Thank you so much, Belinda, for this great cover, with beautiful stamps and also for the outstanding postcard (#100) from an outstanding place, that came inside.

I have already stated here that I love a good handwriting, especially because mine is quite the opposite. Belinda not only addressed the letter with two very fine types of handwriting but she also embellished the envelope with a lot of rubber stamps and tapes and even a sticker of a little uniformed guy, as befits the Season. All in all, Very nice!

Sadly the postmark was applied mechanically and almost didn't touch the stamps. There are faint blue traces of it on  a couple of the stamps but for the most part the stamps are unmarked.

Stamps. left to right:

- Meri Kirihimete, Maori for Merry Christmas, reads the legend in this very beautiful 1,70 NZD stamp, part of a set of 5 (1,70; 3; 3.80; 4.30; 4.50 NZD) issued in souvenir sheet form issue by New Zealand Post on 05OCT2022 as their annual Christmas issue.

I take it that the main motif in the centre is a stylised snowflake, but I have to confess that I was a bit puzzled by the use of what looks to me like chilli peppers framing the flake, so I went and googled it and lo and behold... it seems that Chilli peppers are traditional Christmas ornaments in several places.... that I didn't know, but I can understand that their colours, green and red, really do fit the mood of these festive days... 

- on 02FEN2022, New Zeland Post issued a souvenir sheet comprising 4 stamps (1,50; 2,80; 3.60; 4.10) dedicated to "Historic Ships".

The stamps replicate absolutely stunning paintings by New Zealand artist Sean Garwood, who specialises in Still life and Marine Art and I do recommend a visit to the artist's website, to get to know his masterly works.

The oil on canvas painting that is replicated on the stamp on my cover is also featured on the site's gallery (and so are the other three), it being called "Early Golden Years, Waka and sailing ships, Golden Bay 1843", although the legend included in the stamp reads "Early trading between Mähori and Päkheä at Tata Beach, 1843", Päkheä being the Mähori term for European Settler.

A set of six definitive stamps with scenic views of New Zealand with was issued on 18MAY2016, as the 6th issue of the series. The 40 cent stamp featuring the Church of the Good Shepherd, in Lake Tekapo, on my cover is part of this issue.

The first issue of this series, comprising 10 stamps,  began to circulate on 09MAY2007. The 20 Cent stamp on the cover with an image of the Rainbow Falls in Northland is part of this set.