Back in 1932, Jim White was a prominent young Dunedin architect when the Postmaster-general invited entries for a proposed new set of air mail stamps.
A talented artist who served as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps in 1918, Mr White drew three designs of aircraft flying over Mt Cook, Wellington Harbour and Mt Ngauruhoe, and fired them off for consideration and the chance of a 25 prize for each design.
His efforts were not selected, and the winning designs did not reproduce at a small size well so the proposed stamp was scrapped.
Eighty-six years later, Jim has had the last laugh.
Dunedin Stamp Centre owner Don White, Jim's youngest son, has issued a set of stamps bearing the three designs.
They are fully usable for postage as they have been issued as Custom Advertising Labels (CALs).
Mr White (70) reckoned his father would be pleased his designs, which have reproduced well in small stamp size, are finally in circulation.
As the Dunedin Stamp Centre was fifty years old this year, the stamps doubled as a celebration of the Hanover St business reaching its half-century, he said.
``I think it's great that in my small way I can commemorate my father, while at the same time commemorating my business.''
His father, who died in 1970, left a lasting architectural legacy across the city.
As part of Miller White & Dunn, he designed buildings including the Regent Theatre and the Art Deco bus station now used for the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum.
Mr White said while children rarely collected stamps these days, his business and philately (stamp collecting, appreciation and research) in general were in good health, thanks to a lively online trade and huge demand from China, where there were estimated to
be 25million stamp collectors.
- Sets of three selvedge blocks of four cost $30 while a set of three singles costs $15, available from Dunedin Stamp Centre.
