CAPE OF GOOD HOPE
Postal History, Postal Stationery
 -  POSTAL HISTORY
AB3301
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE / BECHUANALAND / Langeberg Rebellion 1897 (23rd April) unstamped officer’s concessionary rate envelope addressed to England, enclosing original letter headed ‘Ryan’s near the Langeberg’ with instructions to address mail to the Cape Mounted Rifles headquarters in Umtata. Endorsed at top ‘On Active Service / Stamps not available’ and at lower left “Geo D. Ward. Lieut / C.M. Riflemen / B.F. Force / 21.4.97’. The sender was a member of the Imperial Forces engaged in the ‘Langeberg Rebellion’ (also known as the Bechuanaland, Rinderpest or Langeberg Campaign). Showing a VRYBURG (AP 23) squared circle transit datestamp with an octagonal-framed ‘T/25c.’ taxe marking alongside. Also showing a British handstruck ‘I.B./2½d’. The reverse with a Marlborough (MY 17) arrival backstamp. Flap a little roughly opened, otherwise a very fine and rare survivor from this relatively obscure campaign.
 
Note: The Langeberg Campaign was one of the specified campaigns where Colonial Forces (including serving officers) received the concession of free postage. However, this privilege did not extend to mail addressed outside the Cape Colony (See ‘Southern African Mails’ pages 534 and 563 by Brian Trotter).
 
A detailed account of this campaign appeared in Runner Post issue 44, p1052 (September 1996) and articles concerning the philatelic aspects, including a census of the postal history, were published in The Runner Post: issue 40, p894 (September 1995) and 45, p1086 (December 1996).
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