Evolution of the Poppy

The RSA Poppy has undergone several changes over the last 80 years, as shown here, but what has remained constant is the original purpose of the Poppy Day appeal — remembrance and welfare.

The Original

The silk Poppy (right) is actually one of the original poppies sold in London on the First Poppy Day, Armistice Day 1921. The same poppies, made by Madame Guérin's French Children's League, were sold in New Zealand four months later on 24 April 1922. NZRSA imported poppies from the France until 1927 and then from the Royal British Legion until 1931. The "opened" or flat Poppy design became known as the Earl Haig Poppy because of the former Commander-in-Chief's support of the Poppy Appeal in the United Kingdom.

1930s–1950s

The NZRSA began to make its own poppies from 1931. The "closed" Poppy (left) is made of cloth and dates from the 1950s.

1960s–1970s

The Poppy (right) is made of lighter cloth as well as slightly smaller petals than its predecessor.

Today's Poppy

The current design was adopted for Poppy Day 1978 and is a modern adaptation of the original "Earl Haig" design.

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