BECHUANALAND
Postal History, Postmarks
POSTAL HISTORY
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| AB4186 |
1887 (2nd April) envelope addressed to Ladysmith Natal, where it appears to have been redirected to Dundee and finally Newcastle. Bearing a single 2d pale bistre (SG 6). tied by a ‘555’ Barred Oval Numeral Canceller with a proving strike of the VRYBURG / BECHUANALAND (28 Jan) single circle datestamp alongside. Backstamped Cape Town (13 Apr), G.P.O. Natal (21 Apr), Dundee (22 Apr, struck on the front) Newcastle (26 Apr) Ladysmith (29 Apr) Dundee (7th May) Newcastle (10 May). At some point the envelope was endorsed ‘1d to pay’ in red manuscript, presumably representing a forwarding / reposting fee. The flap with oval Coat-of-Arms embossed in vermilion with wording ‘ADMINISTRATORS OFFICE BECHUANALAND’. A few edge faults including a closed tear at left, otherwise a fine and characterful envelope. Very rare, with less than 12 covers bearing stamps of the first issue believed extant.
Note: the addressee ‘Miss Shippard’ was the daughter of the Sir Sydney Shippard, Administrator of British Bechuanaland from 1885 to 1895. A fine example of the 2d per half ounce rate between British Bechuanaland and Natal (which also applied to other southern African territories).
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