Description: The stamp centers around a realistic botanical illustration of the Tītoki plant, scientific name Alectryon excelsus. A cluster of textured, rusty-brown seed capsules split open to reveal bright scarlet, fleshy fruits cradling jet-black internal seeds. Elegant, saw-toothed green leaves frame the colorful berry bunch against a soft, muted grey background panel. The descriptive word "TITOKI" is crisply printed in a simple sans-serif font in the top-left corner. The face value denomination "2½d" is prominently placed in the top-right field. Running across the entire bottom base, the name of the issuing nation "NEW ZEALAND" is boldly rendered in a contrasting black typeface. A partial black postmark arcs across the lower-left section, showing its history in the domestic postal system.
Circa: 1960-1967
Condition: Used - Hinged
Notes:
This stamp was released as a critical component of New Zealand’s iconic 1960 Pictorial Definitive Series, which moved away from traditional royal portraits to showcase the country's unique flora, fauna, and local landscapes. The artwork itself was meticulously redrawn for production by the New Zealand Post Office based on a botanical submission originally entered into a national design competition.