BECHUANALAND
Postal History, Postmarks
POSTAL HISTORY
AB4494
1887 stampless ‘O.H.M.S.’ entire, signed on front by ‘E C Baxter’ (later Postmaster General of British Bechuanaland) at upper right and endorsed ‘C.C. Office / Vryburg’ at lower left. With printed notice on the reverse in Dutch (translation: NOTICE / OLD STELLALAND DEBT / PROMISSORY NOTES AND TITLEDEEDS TO ERVEN IN VRYBURG) requesting all persons owing unpaid promissory notes to the late Stellaland Government to provide security within 2 months or face legal proceedings. Also, persons holding title deeds to redeem them by 30 June 1887, pay quitrent due, or forfeit such Erven to the Crown. ‘By Order of his Honour the Administrator / P.J. Truter, Civil Commissioner, Vryburg 14th April 1887’. Addressed locally with VRYBURG / BECHUANALAND (18 May) single circle dispatch datestamp, then readdressed to Bloemhof, Transvaal. Showing the scarce ‘GEADVERTEERD EN ONAFGEHAALD.’ (Advertised and Unclaimed) boxed cachet struck in purple, applied in the Transvaal. Backstamped with Bloemhof (23 Jul) and Kimberley (25 Jul) datestamps. The letter never reached the intended recipient and eventually ended up in Cape Town five months later where it received a RETURNED LETTER OFFICE / CAPE TOWN (24 Oct) datestamp, struck on the front. Rare, and in remarkably fine condition A superb end piece to a Stellaland exhibit.
£575