New Zealand’s Penny Universals

he 20 December 1898 brought smiles to the faces of millions of Britons with family members and friends girdling the globe; all relying heavily on postage stamps to pay for their communications. A GPO notice issued that day brought news that on and after 25 December ‘letters to the following British possessions and protectorates may be posted at the rate of 1d per ½ oz, instead of the 2½d rate as at present.’ A long list – from Aden to Zanzibar – followed; but notable non-participants included the Australian States, Cape Colony, Jamaica, Malta, Mauritius… and New Zealand. Each, with one exception, had declined to take part on the grounds that they could not afford the reciprocal rate