ZUID-AFRIKAANSCHE REPUBLIEK / TRANSVAAL
Postal History and Postal Stationery
POSTAL HISTORY
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| T2650 |
1880 (16th December), envelope addressed to England ex the ‘Ward’ correspondence, endorsed at top ‘Via Kimberley & Cape Town’ and posted on the day of the outbreak of the 1st Anglo-Boer War. Bearing a single Transvaal QV ‘Bourne Head’ 1/- green (SG 138), a lower left corner example (corner fault) tied by a ‘12’ target-type canceller with proving MIDDELBURG / TRANSVAAL (16 Dec) single circle datestamp struck below. Partial Durban transit and Godalming arrival backstamps, the latter with date ‘5 JY / 81’, which is either an error for ‘JAN’ or is evidence of a seven month delay. Also showing two ‘H’ in circles struck in red, the meaning of which is unclear (‘Held’ has been suggested). The envelope with tear at top, otherwise a fine and remarkable item of mail from this campaign. Ex David Underwood collection.
Note: the sender was Surgeon Espine Charles Ward (1849-1909) who served in the Zulu War, the Sekukuni War and the First Boer War. At this date he was with the 94th Regiment stationed in Lydenburg as part of the garrison there. While en route to Pretoria, the 94th were ambushed on 20th December by the Boers at Bronkhorstspruit. Surgeon Ward was wounded during the battle and captured.
This letter was sent from Middelburg, approximately half way between Lydenburg and Pretoria, four days before the fateful ambush at Bronkhorstspruit.
Despite the endorsement, it is apparent from the Durban datestamp that the letter was sent via Natal rather than via the Cape. As the rate via Natal was 10d per half ounce, the letter was overpaid 2d. |
| £1,300 |
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