Page 131 - 148 Years of the Royal Philatelic Society London

In 1996: Benjamin Netanyahu elected prime minister of Israel; reported that global warming

hits new high; Mad Cow disease hits U.K.; Ella Fitzgerald, Gene Kelly and Timothy Leary die.

At the RPSL: Past President Alan Huggins awarded MBE for services to the Philatelic Trust.

London Philatelist publishes article explaining possible impact of the internet on philately.

RPSL Presidents were Francis Kiddle and Jane Mou bray. Patron H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.

Membership 1552 - 1500.

NEW ZEALAND WITHDRAWN HEALTH ISSUE -

THE DISAPPEARING TEDDY BEAR

From the collection of Luigi Wiechula.

Member since 2015. Lives in England.

' NEW ZEALAND

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plus 5c
CHILDREN'S HEALTH

New Zealand's 1996 Health Issue was withdrawn and reprinted due to safety concerns. The

original version was withdrawn prior to issue following criticism of the design, which showed

the baby sitting the wrong way in car seat relative to seat-belted teddy bear. However, 1500

stamps were accidentally released to two post offices, Te Ngae (Rotorua) and Royal Oak

(Auckland). 539 were retrieved by the post offices, leaving 961 that were sold over the

counter. Most of the stamps at Royal Oak seem to have been purchased by the Auckland

Savings Bank and used on its mail. When alerted to the situation it had 88 stamps left, and

auctioned off 87 stamps for charity, keeping one copy for its records.