NATAL / ZULULAND
Recent acquisitions are numbered in blue. Last update: 6th April, 2024
NATAL
POSTAL HISTORY
MN200 1865 3rd November, blue envelope with embossed flap 'NATAL FIRE ASSURANCE PIETERMARITZBURG', bearing QV 6d lilac horizontal pair (SG 23), cancelled '1' numerals, alongside 'PIETER-MARTIZBURG / (crown)' datestamp, addressed to England. Struck alongside with red 'PAID / DAVENPORT / CAPE-PACKET / 19 DE 65' datestamp. Apparently carried by the Union steamer Mauritius to Cape Town and then by the Union steamer Cambrian arriving on the 18th December. Delightful. £325
MN199 1867 8th March, blue envelope bearing QV 6d lilac pair at lower left (SG 23), cancelled twice with '1' barred ovals and then centrally struck with PIETERMARITZBURG MR 8 1867 despatch. Addressed to England, apparently by the Union steamer Natal to Cape Town and then by the Union steamer Norseman arriving on the 20th April. Most attractive. £225
MN114 1867 (November), envelope bearing QV 1s green (SG 25), cancelled with barred numeral and alongside 'PIETERMARITZBURG / Crown NOV 8 1867 / NATAL' datestamp, addressed to England. Further crisp red 'LONDON / PAID / 23 DE 67' strike plus Birmingham arrival for the same day on reverse. Original contents enclosed being a very lengthy 12 page letter written palimpsest, somewhat of a challenge to read but no doubt a most fascinating account from the time. £285
NA43 1878 (January), envelope to England bearing 6d violet overprinted 'POSTAGE' (SG 83) tied by '15' in barred oval numeral canceller and shield type datestamp (Hart type L.1) with number '15' dated 16 January, struck at top right. Both these cancels were allocated to Bushman's River. With G.P.O. NATAL (17 Jan) backstamp and London 'PAID' (21 Feb) arrival datestamp struck in red on front. £650
MN34 1879 (October), envelope bearing QV 6d surcharged 'POSTAGE' (SG 83), barred oval cancel, addressed to Cheltenham, England. Durban (6th October) transit and Cheltenham (7th November) arrival backstamps. A neat and clean cover. £90
NA184 NATAL / TRANSVAAL ZAR 1885 (February), incoming mourning envelope from England bearing QV 6d dull green (SG 194) tied by Sidmouth squared circle (26 Feb) datestamp. Addressed to “Alan E. Ede Esqre” / Post Office / Newcastle / Natal / South Africa” and endorsed “viâ Plymouth / Pr Spartan / Feb 27, 1885”. Upon arrival in Natal, the cover was readdressed to “Barberton / Moodies Reef” (ZAR), the postage to the ZAR being receipted with the addition of a single Natal QV 4d brown (SG 102) tied by a Newcastle (30 Mar) datestamp with an additional stike on the reverse. Backstamped Plymouth (27 Feb), GPO Natal (25 Mar). A very scarce example of redirected mail, especially to the ZAR goldfields. Alan Ede along with Sam Newmarsh, J T Rimer and R Otto discovered the Umvoti Reef early in 1884. £275
NA443 NATAL / TRANSVAAL ZAR 1885 (May), incoming mourning envelope from England bearing QV 6d dull green (SG 194) tied by a Sidmouth (14 May) squared circle datestamp. Addressed to “Alan E. Ede Esqre / Post Office / Newcastle / Natal / South Africa” and endorsed “viâ Dartmouth / Pr ‘Hawarden Castle’ / May 15, 1885”. Upon arrival in Natal, the cover was readdressed to “Barberton Moodies” (ZAR). The postage to the ZAR was receipted by the affixing of a single Natal QV 4d brown (SG 102) tied by a Newcastle (11 June) single circle datestamp. Dartmouth (15 May), G.P.O. Natal (17 July), Newcastle (21 July), Pretoria ? / Zuid Afrika transit / arrival backstamps. A very fine and scarce example of redirected mail, especially to the ZAR goldfields. Alan Ede along with Sam Newmarsh, J T Rimer and R Otto discovered the Umvoti Reef early in 1884. £275
MN30 1881 home made envelope bearing QV 1d cancelled '1' in barred circle, alongside 'G.P.O. / NATAL' datestamp alongside, addressed to Longmarket Street (Cape Town). Containing original printed coloured greetings card in the Chinese taste of a Mandarin duck over a pond. Some staining, but most appealing. £45
MN192 1882 25th September, envelope bearing QV 1d rose strip of three and 6d mauve pair (SG 99, 103), cancelled G.P.O. / NATAL, addressed to Italy. Endorsed with large red '5', arrival backstamp (27 10). Attractive. £65
NA595 1885 (8th March), QV ½d postal stationery card addressed to Pietermaritzburg, the imprinted stamp is cancelled with a G.P.O. / NATAL (8 Mar) double circle datestamp. The reverse with printed details for ‘SCHENK’S FORWARDING AGENCY’ detailing plans to open new premises at Estcourt to take advantage of the imminent arrival of the railway line. SOLD
MN193 1885 29th December, envelope bearing QV 3d blue and 6d mauve x three (SG 100, 103), sent registered with manuscript endorsement as such, to Italy. Arrival backstamp. Most attractive. £95
MN186 1886 26th October, envelope bearing QV ½d dull green, 3d blue and 4d brown (SG 97a, 100, 102), twice cancelled G. P. O. NATAL, addressed to the USA. London transit and arrival backstamp (DEC 5). Attractive. £55
MN195 1887 26th October, envelope bearing QV ½d dull green, 1d carmine x two pairs and 3d blue (SG 97a, 99a, 100), cancelled G.P.O. / NATAL, addressed to Italy, arrival backstamp. Most attractive. £75
MN179 1888 31st October, envelope bearing QV ½d dull green, 1d carmine x four and 6d mauve x three (SG 97a, 99a, 103), cancelled DUFFS ROAD, addressed to the USA, arrival backstamp (DEC 8). Attractive. £95
MN194 1889 3rd March, envelope bearing QV 1d carmine, 4d brown and 6d mauve (SG 99a, 102, 103), cancelled G.P.O. / NATAL, addressed to Italy. Further struck with large black 8d circular cachet, although this apparently deleted with a 919 barred oval. Arrival backstamp (4 89). Attractive. £75
MN191 1889 November, envelope bearing QV 1d carmine x 7 (SG 99a strip of five and a pair), cancelled with slightly oily P. O. A. 12 strikes. The reverse with despatch IXOPO 15 11 89 small single circe and then DURBAN NO 17 89 datestamps. Addressed to the USA and endorsed with large red accounting figure. Arrival backstamp. MOST UNUSUAL
 
Note: these POA numerals apparently only recorded as being in use from 1891. Both the backstamps clearly show the year as 1889. Ixopo is not recorded as having one of these numbers, and was apparently the head office for Undeen. Being a low numeral, it may be that it was allocated to a small agency prior to the otherwise recorded dates of use
£275
MN197 1890 19th November, envelope bearing QV 6d mauve (SG 103), cancelled RICHMOND, addressed to the USA with arrival backstamp (DEC 29). £40
NA594 1891 (17th November), QV ½d postal stationery card addressed to Johannesburg, uprated with an additional QV ½d dull green adhesive (SG 97a), tied by a very fine CHARLESTOWN / NATAL (17 Nov) double circle datestamp. The reverse with printed heading ‘MANN & CO’ and list of destinations with rates of transport from Charlestown added in manuscript. With a very scarce LLANWARNE / Z.A.R (17 Nov) single circle transit and Johannesburg (19 Nov) arrival datestamps, both struck on the reverse. Very fine. An attractive and interesting card. SOLD
MN185 1892 13th January, envelope bearing QV ½d dull green and 2d olive-green x two (SG 97a, 107), twice cancelled DURBAN NATAL, addressed to the USA. Arrival backstamp (FEB 19). Attractive. £40
MN181 1892 28th January, envelope bearing QV 2½d bright blue and 6d mauve (SG 113, 103), cancelled LADYSMITH NATAL, sent registered to the USA. Arrival backstamp (3 4 1892). Attractive. £45
MN167 1892 20th May, QV ½d stationery post card cancelled crisp 'VAN REENAN' dc datestamp, addressed to Pietermaritzburg. Arrival backstamp. £20
NA599 1893 (March), QV 1d carmine postal stationery wrapper addressed to England. The imprinted stamp is cancelled with a G.P.O. / NATAL double circle datestamp (date unclear). Apparently underpaid, the wrapper received a large ‘1d’ circular tax marking (apparently late use of Hart, Kantey & Leon Type S.4.1.1). London (28 Mar) arrival backstamp. The reverse with sender’s cachet ‘ARTHUR PEEL, / SADDLER / PIETERMARITZBURG / NATAL’. A bit grubby, otherwise fine. SOLD
MN165 1894 23rd May, QV THREE HALFPENNY stationery postcard with THREE deleted, cancelled 'VDURBAN' sc datestamp, addressed to Musgrave Road. Arrival strike on front. £35
MN246 1895 15th March, envelope bearing single QV 'Half-Penny' surcharge on 6d (SG 114), cancelled 'G. P. O. / NATAL', flap unsealed and addressed to Durban, arrival backstamp. A very scarce single value usage, used three days after the issue of this surcharge. £295
MN259 1895 23rd March, envelope bearing QV 'HALF' surcharge pair (SG 125), cancelled 'G. P. O. / NATAL', addressed to Fort Napier. £35
NA112 1895 (April), QV 1885 type 1d postal stationery card addressed to London, the imprinted stamp cancelled with ‘2’ in barred oval cancellation of Durban. The reverse with Durban (25 Apr) datestamp, despite the message “Leaving today in the Inchanga” being dated 26th April. £45
MN260 1895 7th July, envelope bearing QV 'HALF' surcharge x six, 2d and 4d (SG 125, 102, 107), cancelled 'REGISTERED G.P.O. / NATAL', sent registered to Canada, paying the correct 9d rate. Transit and arrival backstamps. £145
NA298 1895 (August), stampless official ‘O.H.M.S. post office printed ‘Memorandum’ sent from ‘H.D. Tedder’ the acting postmaster at Lower Tugela to the ‘Acting Magistrate’ at Verulam regarding an item of mail. With LOWER TUGELA / NATAL (20 Aug) single circle datestamp struck on the front and with printed ‘POSTAL DEPARTMENT / NATAL’ at lower left which has been endorsed by Mr Tedder. The flap roughly opened affecting a Verulam datestamp. Backstamped Durban (21 Aug). Also with Resident Magistrate’s Office / Inanda Division (21 Aug) oval datestamp struck inside in violet. Most unusual and a very fine strike of this scarce datestamp. £275
MN182 1895 4th October, envelope bearing QV 2½d bright blue (SG 113), tied by very fine WILLOW GRANGE (4 Oct with inverted '4') double circle datestamp. Addressed to the USA with GPO Natal (4 Oct), London (29 Oct) and New York (6 Nov) transit / arrival backstamps. £35
MN187 1896 3rd March, envelope bearing QV 1d carmine x three and 4d brown (SG 99a, 102), twice cancelled with crisp P. O. A 26 strikes, alongside light proving TONGAAT sc datestamp. Addressed to the USA. Most attractive and scarce. £95
MN168 1897 27th May, envelope bearing QV ½d and 1d pair (SG 97a, 99), lightly cancelled 'REIT VLEI' and addressed to England. Transit strikes on from and reverse. Some cover faults. £35
MN180 1898 26th November, wrapper with embossed imprint for the Gordon Memorial, Umsinga, bearing QV ½d dull green (SG 97a), cancelled crisp UMSINGA sc datestamp, addressed to the USA. Endorsed at top 'Photos only' and thus the reduced rate. Most unusual. £45
NA216 1899 (April), envelope addressed to England bearing a single QV 1d carmine (SG 99a) tied by CHAPEL ST. P.M.BURG (AP 8 99) double circle datestamp. GPO Natal (8 Apr) transit and Newcastle on Tyne (1 May) arrival backstamps. £30
MN189 1899 25th August, printed 'Hands across The sea' and 'A Greeting from the Old Country' envelope, bearing QV ½d dull green and 1d carmine pair (SG 97a, 99a), cancelled DURBAN, addressed to the USA. Arrival backstamp (AUG 3). Minor edge faults, most attractive and scarce.
 
Note: the ½d has been REPLACED being cancelled by a part MOOI RIVER datestamp. The 2½d rate is correct for the period, so one can only assume that the original ½d became detached/defective at some point
£55
MN198 1899 27th October, printed 'Natal Government Railways' envelope, bearing QV ½d dull green and 1d carmine x two (SG 97a, 99a), twice cancelled G.P.O. NATAL datestamps. Addressed to the USA, arrival backstamp (NOV 25). Attractive. £35
MN163 1899 3rd November, QV ½d stationery postcard cancelled crisp 'FAWNLEA' dc datestamp, addressed to Pietermaritzburg. Arrival strike on front. £30
NA597 NATAL / Anglo-Boer War 1900 (23rd February), small printed ‘Army Form C. 398’ envelope addressed to England, bearing a single QV 1d carmine (SG 99) tied by a WEST END P.M.BURG / NATAL (23 Feb) double circle datestamp. Pietermaritzburg (23 Feb) transit and Brighton (17 Mar) arrival backstamps. Unusual. £85
NA499 NATAL / Anglo-Boer War 1900 (11th June), Natal QV 1d postal stationery card addressed to England. The imprinted stamp cancelled with an INCHANGA / NATAL (JU 11) double circle datestamp. With a Durban (JU 11) transit backstamp.
 
Note: the message reads “Just moving up to join Buller hope to see some sport”
£65
NA138 NATAL / Anglo-Boer War 1900 (August), stampless envelope addressed to England endorsed ‘On Active Service’ and countersigned at lower left ‘C.R. James / NMR (Natal Mounted Rifles). Bearing a BESTER’S / NATAL (24 Aug) temporary rubber single circle datestamp struck in violet, partially overstruck by an Abingdon (16 Sep) duplex canceller, where the cover was re-addressed. Ladysmith (24 Aug) and Abingdon (16 Sep) transits and Worthing (17 Sep) arrival backstamps. Some crumpling at right, though a very scarce cancellation. £125
NA516 NATAL / Anglo-Boer War 1901 (11th May), QV 4d registered postal stationery envelope addressed to Hilton Road. Bearing an additional pair of QV 1d rose (SG 99) all cancelled or tied by KRANTZKOP / NATAL (MY 11, with sideways ‘2’ for time code) double circle datestamps. Durban (11 May) transit backstamp. The envelope with some staining, otherwise fine. £35
NA502 NATAL / Anglo-Boer War 1901 (23rd July), Natal QV 1d postal stationery card addressed to Germany. The imprinted stamp cancelled with a very fine strike of the MAHLABATINI / NATAL (JY 23) single circle datestamp. With a very faint MELMOTH / ZULULAND (JY 24) double circle transit datestamp on the reverse and a Durban (25 JY) transit and MULHAUSEN (17 Aug) arrival datestamp struck on the front. Some staining, otherwise fine. £110
NA458 NATAL / Anglo-Boer War 1901 (7th September), envelope addressed to Pretoria bearing a single QV ½d dull green (SG 97a) tied by a partial Pietermaritzburg (7 Sep) double circle datestamp and also tied by a triangular ‘PASSED PRESS CENSOR’ cachet struck in red. Pretoria (10 Sep) arrival backstamp. A very fine and scarce example of the unsealed open letter rate. £225
MN166 1902 27th May, QV ½d stationery post card cancelled crisp 'NEW HANOVER RAIL' dc datestamp, addressed to Wartburg. Transit and arrival strikes on front. £35
NA591 1902 (16th August), envelope addressed to England endorsed ‘Circular’ at upper left. Bearing a single QV ½d dull green (SG 97a) tied by a PIETERMARITZBURG (16 Aug) double circle datestamp. With very fine commercial oval cachet ‘J. WARWICK TAINTON / Patent and Trade Mark Solicitor for South Africa. / HEAD OFFICE, MARITZBURG, NATAL’ struck in violet alongside. London (6 Sep) arrival backstamp. Vertical fold and small tear at lower right, otherwise very fine and attractive. Although the flap has subsequently become stuck down, this would have been sent at the very scarce unsealed open letter rate. £150
NA50 1902 (October), cover to the USA bearing QV ½d dull green and 1d rose x 2 (SG 97a, 99), tied by INANDA (OC 17) double circle datestamps. Durban (17 Oct) transit and Springfield Mass (16 Nov) arrival backstamps. Flap missing and peripheral tear at top (not affecting adhesive). £45
MN162 1902 8th November, post card bearing QV ½d strip of four plus single KEVII (SG 97a, 127, 2½d foreign letter rate), cancelled 'DURBAN' and addressed to Sweden. The reverse applied with a reduced sepia real photograph of Durban from Berea and a lengthy message in Swedish. Arrival strike on front. The photo accounting for the full letter rate charged. Most attractive. £45
MN164 1902 22nd November, post card bearing KEVII ½d x three and 1d (SG 127, 128 2½d foreign letter rate), cancelled 'DURBAN' and addressed to Sweden. The reverse applied with a reduced sepia real photograph of natives crossing a river and a lengthy message in Swedish. The photo accounting for the full letter rate charged. Most attractive. £45
NA497 1902 (11th December), incoming Transvaal KEVII ½d postal stationery card cancelled with a Johannesburg (11 Dec) segmented datestamp. Addressed to Natal with Pietermaritzburg (15 Dec) transit and (on the reverse) a NOODSBERG / NATAL (DE 15) single circle datestamp. The address appears to have been amended at Noodsberg with the addition of the word ‘Road’. With a NOODSBERG ROAD / NATAL (16 DE) arrival double circle datestamp struck on the front. £35
NA514 1902 (27th December), picture postcard with black and white view titled ‘The Beach – Durban’. Bearing a KEVII 1d carmine (SG 128) tied by a CLARKE ROAD DURBAN / NATAL (DE 27, no year apparent) double circle datestamp. With a ROBERTSON / C.G.H. (1 JA) arrival backstamp. £35
NA521 1903 (2nd May), picture postcard with colour view titled ‘Durban (S.A.) Town Garden’. Addressed to England, bearing a KEVII 1d carmine (SG 128) tied by a WEST END DURBAN / NATAL (2 MY) double circle datestamp. Pietermaritzburg / Natal (2 MY) transit and Cambridge (MY 23) arrival datestamps. £25
NA520 1904 (19th March), picture postcard with black and white street view titled ‘Dundee’ (Natal). Addressed to England and bearing a KEVII 1d carmine (SG 128) tied by a very fine VANTS DRIFT / NATAL (MR 19) single circle datestamp. Very fine. £45
NA276 1904 (6th September), envelope sent registered to Tasmania bearing QV 2½d bright blue and KEVII 2d red and olive-green x 2 (SG 113, 130) tied by GREYTOWN (6 Sep) double circle datestamps. Pietermaritzburg (7 Sep) transit and Hobart (4 Oct) arrival backstamps. Spike hole and one 2d with corner fault, otherwise fine £55
NA598 1904 (7th October), QV ½d brown postal stationery wrapper locally addressed. The imprinted stamp is cancelled with a PIETERMARITZBURG / NATAL (7 Oct) double circle datestamp. Endorsed ‘Left’ in pencil next to the address and showing a fine ‘GONE NO ADDRESS’ unframed straight line cachet (apparently not recorded by Hart, Kantey and Leon). Backstamped with a RETURNED LETTER OFFICE / NATAL (10 Oct) double circle datestamp struck in violet. Very scarce. £175
NA311 1904 (October), black and white picture postcard (‘Zulu Intombis’) addressed to England bearing a single KEVII 1d carmine (SG 128) tied by a VANTS DRIFT (22 Oct) single circle datestamp. The adhesive additionally tied by two strikes of a Dundee (22 Oct) transit datestamp. The card with weak corner and a diagonal line which appears to be a pre-printing paper fault. Scarce. £45
NA488 1904 (12th November), picture postcard with colour view titled ‘Moonlit Waters – Durban Bay’. Bearing a single KEVII 1d tied by a DURBAN (NO 12) single circle datestamp. Addressed to ‘Riga / Russia’ (now Latvia) and with an arrival datestamp of 23rd November. Scarce destination.
 
Note: this card is an example of a postal item appearing to show ‘impossible dates’, sometimes appearing to arrive before they were sent. The date of posting was 12th November (Gregorian calendar). It would have travelled to Cape Town and then carried on the ‘Norman’ which left on the 16th November, stopping at Madeira on the 29th November and arriving at Southampton on the 3rd December. Adding 13 days to adjust for the Julian calendar in use in Russia at that time, gives an arrival of the 6th December by the Gregorian calendar.
£45
NA511 1904 (2nd December), KEVII 1d postal stationery envelope addressed to Johannesburg. The imprinted stamp cancelled with PAULPIETERSBERG / NATAL (2 FE) double circle datestamps. VRYHEID / NATAL (DE 3) and Johannesburg (DE 4) transit / arrival backstamps. £20
NA503 1904 (23rd December), picture postcard with printed Christmas Wishes and colour illustration of ladies in festive cheer. Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a poor GREENWOOD PARK / NATAL (DE 23) double circle datestamp. With Pietermaritzburg (DE 23) transit datestamps struck on both sides and with an IMPENDHLE / NATAL (24 DE) single circle arrival datestamp. £35
NA513 1905 (6th January), Natal QV 1d postal stationery card addressed locally (no message). The imprinted stamp cancelled with a fine ENNERSDALE / NATAL (JA 6) double circle datestamp. £35
NA484 1905 (3rd March), colour picture postcard (African child eating ‘Early Breakfast’). Addressed to England and bearing a single KEVII 1d rose-carmine (SG 147) tied by a very fine strike of the ‘P.O.A. / 58’ cancellation. With Pietermaritzburg (3 Mar) transit at left. Post Office Agency ‘58’ has been attributed used in Amatikulu in 1906 and 1907 (The P.O.A. Cancellations of Natal, 1982 by B.A. Kantey). The message gives the sender’s location as ‘Elands Kop Station’. However, it is not unknown if this is where the cancellation was applied or if the card was carried privately to another location where it entered the postal system. £55
NA491 1905 (9th March), picture postcard with black and white photographic view titled ‘Queen’s Statue, Park Durban’. Addressed to England, bearing a KEVII 1d carmine (SG 128) tied by a HLABISA / PROVINCE OF ZULULAND (MR 9) double circle datestamp. Derby (1 Apr) arrival datestamp. Very fine and a scarce postmark. £40
NA508 1905 (9th July), picture postcard with sepia photograph titled ‘Kitty Gordon & Daughter.’ Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a BRAKWAL / NATAL (JY 9) double circle datestamp. With a LADYSMITH / NATAL (JY 9) transit and a Port Elizabeth (JY 12) arrival datestamp. Some discolouration mainly around adhesive, otherwise fine. £20
NA489 1905 (16th July), incoming picture postcard from Transvaal with colour view titled ‘Round the Bandstand – Joubert’s Park – Johannesburg’. Bearing a Transvaal KEVII 1d scarlet (SG 274) tied by a Johannesburg machine cancellation (16 Jul). With a HILLARY / NATAL (JY 17) double circle datestamp struck in violet. £25
NA517 1905 (20th July), picture postcard with colour view titled ‘INCHANGA HOTEL AND GROUNDS.’ Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by an INCHANGA / NATAL (JY 20) double circle datestamp. With a Durban (JY 20) transit datestamp. £30
NA312 1905 (7th October), official G.P.O. ‘Registered’ envelope addressed to the USA bearing KEVII ½d blue-green, 1d rose-carmine (pair) 1½d green and black and a 5d black and orange (SG 127, 147, 129, 134), all cancelled or tied by Registered / P.M. Burg (7 Oct) double circle datestamps. London (29 Oct) transit and Boston (10 Nov) arrival backstamps. An attractive multi-colour franking. £110
AT002 1905 (21st October), envelope sent registered to Germany bearing KEVII 1d, 1½d and 4d (SG 129, 147, 152) tied by fine KRANTZKLOOF (21 Oct) double circle datestamps struck in violet. Durban (21 Oct) and German railway Bahnpost (11 Nov) transits and Kahla (12 Nov) arrival backstamps. A neat and attractive multicolour franking with a scarce postmark. £165
NA510 1905 (26th December), picture postcard with black and white view titled ‘Railway Station – Charlestown’ Bearing a Cape KEVII 1d carmine (SG 71) which probably does not belong. With a very fine SOUTH COAST JUNCTION / NATAL (DE 26) double circle datestamp struck on arrival. The card with diagonal crease. A scarce postmark. £55
MN88 1906 (February), official printed 'NATAL GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS. / O.H.M.S.' envelope (142x81mm). Bearing a single KEVII ½d blue-green overprinted 'OFFICIAL' (SG O1) tied by part VERULAM (2 Feb) double circle datestamp. The cover is addressed locally and is unsealed, confirming the ½d reduced open letter rate. Folded horizontally, otherwise very fine and scarce. £165
NA363 1906 (3rd February), official printed 'NATAL GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS. / O.H.M.S.' envelope (142x81mm). Bearing a single KEVII ½d blue-green overprinted 'OFFICIAL' (SG O1) tied by a VERULAM (3 Feb) double circle datestamp. The cover is addressed locally and is unsealed, confirming the ½d reduced open letter rate. Some minor buckling, otherwise very fine and scarce. £275
NA507 1906 (8th May), picture postcard with colour view titled ‘Natal River Scenery’. Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a CHAKA’S KRAAL / NATAL (8 5, with number for month) double circle datestamp. With a COLENSO / NATAL (MY 10) double circle datestamp struck on arrival. £30
NA515 1906 (15th May), picture postcard with colour view titled ‘St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.’ Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a PIETERMARITZBURG / NATAL (MY 15) double circle datestamp. With RICHMOND / NATAL (MY 15) double circle transit and SPRING·VALE / NATAL (16 MY) single circle arrival datestamps. Very fine. £30
NA308 1906 (28th September), colour picture postcard (‘Natal Bush’) addressed to Lidgetton bearing a single KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a neat CREIGHTON (28 Sep) skeleton / relief type single circle datestamp (apparently unrecorded by Putzel / Visser). Pietermaritzburg (28 Sep) transit and Lidgetton (29 Sep) transit / arrival datestamps struck on the message side. Rare. £145
NA278 1906 (8th December), envelope addressed to Germany bearing a single KEVII 5d black and orange (SG 134) tied by DURBAN (8 Dec) double circle datestamp. Schweinfurt (31 Dec) arrival backstamp. £65
NA483 1906 (14th December), stampless envelope, locally addressed and sent unsealed. Bearing a POSTAGE PAID DURBAN / NATAL (14 DE) double circle datestamp. Some light staining, otherwise fine.
 
Note: in ‘The Postal Markings of Natal’, Hart, Kantey & Leon (p43) record this as Type T.3.2 and state the “handstamp was used as a canceller for bulk postage paid in advance during a short-lived experiment in 1906/1907. The example illustrated [also dated 14 Dec 1906] was struck in black and sent from the election office of the Hon. T. Maydon.” In ‘Postmarks’ (Vol. 2, p361), Putzel states “Postage Paid datestamp used on cover for advanced postage payments. It was used from late 1906 to early 1907. It is rare”.
£125
NA519 1907 (8th February), picture postcard with colour view of a man serenading a lady with the help of a lute. Addressed locally though unstamped and presumably did not pass through the postal system. With a PINETOWN BRIDGE / NATAL (FE 8) double circle datestamp. The card with a corner repair, otherwise fine. £25
NA509 1907 (19th February), picture postcard with black and white view titled ‘Roodepoort’ with manuscript date ‘19.2.1907’. Bearing on the view side a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a P.O.A. 3 cancellation, then allocated to SUNKELSDRIFT. With a second strike on the reverse along with the private cachet of ‘C.L. SUNKEL, / P.O. SUNKELSDRIFT, / VIA VRYHEID, / NATAL, S. AFRICA.’ struck in violet. Addressed to Algeria though apparently not sent. £45
NA522 1907 (13th May), incoming picture postcard from New Zealand with colour view titled ‘Te Kootis Church, Awahou. Auckland, N.Z.’ Bearing a 1d ‘Universal’ overlapping the card and tied by an Auckland roller cancellation (MAY 13 07). With an UMSINDUSI / NATAL (JU 19) double circle arrival datestamp. £20
NA490 1907 (1st June), picture postcard with black and white photograph of ‘Mrs Lewis Waller’. Bearing a KEVII ½d tied by a neat KRANTZKOP / NATAL (1 JU) single circle datestamp. With a GREYTOWN / NATAL (JU 2) double circle arrival datestamp. Some corner creases, otherwise fine. £20
NA307 1907 (1st July), envelope addressed and sent registered to Tasmania, bearing a single KEVII 6d green and brown-purple (SG 135) tied by a POINT / NATAL (1 July) double circle datestamp with a second strike alongside. The cover with unobtrusive spike holes well clear of the adhesive, otherwise fine and attractive. Cape Town (4 July) transit and Hobart (31 July) arrival backstamps. Attractive. £75
NA501 1907 (22nd July), picture postcard with sepia view titled ‘UMKOMAAS, NATAL FROM WIDENHAM’. Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a LOWER UMKOMAAS / NATAL (22 JY) double circle datestamp. Addressed to Transvaal with a fine strike of the scarce HEIDELBERG / TVAAL (23 Jul) double circle datestamp showing most of the ‘T’ missing. £45
NA306 1907 (3rd August), envelope addressed and sent registered to Tasmania, bearing a single KEVII 5d black and orange (SG 134) tied by a POINT / NATAL (3 Aug) double circle datestamp with a second strike alongside. The cover with unobtrusive spike holes well clear of the adhesive, otherwise fine and attractive. Durban (3 Aug) transit and Hobart arrival backstamps. Attractive. £75
NA211 1907 (2nd September), envelope addressed to Tasmania bearing KEVII 1d carmine (SG 128) tied by Durban (2 Sep) double circle datestamp. Filing holes clear of adhesive. Partial Tasmania backstamp. Australia presumably qualified for this 1d per half ounce rate? Unusual. £35
NA525 1907 (27th November), picture postcard with colour view titled ‘A breakdown in a Transvaal Spruit’. Addressed to Thorny Bush (Natal) and bearing on the view side a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by an UMLAAS ROAD / NATAL (NO 27) single circle datestamp. The reverse with some staining, otherwise fine. £30
MN161 1907 (29th November), coloured post card of Meneni River bearing KEVII 1d, crisply cancelled IMPENDHLE sc datestamp, addressed to England. Pietermaritzburg transit strike alongside. Most attractive. £40
NA512 1907 (19th December), picture postcard with black and white view of cows and native titled ‘Native Milking’. Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a BATSTONE / NATAL (DE 19) double circle datestamp. With ESHOWE / NATAL (DE 21) arrival datestamps. Card with creases, otherwise fine. £20
NA504 1908 (22nd March), ‘Rapid’ picture postcard with sepia photograph titled ‘MISS HOPE’. Addressed to Colenso, Natal and bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a GLENCOE JUNCTION / NATAL (MR 22) double circle datestamp. £20
NA492 1908 (27th August), picture postcard with sepia photograph titled ‘Miss Edna May.’ Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a THORNY BUSH / NATAL (AU 27, with numerals poorly aligned) single circle datestamp UMLAAS ROAD / NATAL (AU 27) and Pietermaritzburg (AU 28) transit / arrival datestamps. The card with small edge fault, clear of the adhesive. £25
NA495 1908 (3rd November), picture postcard with attractive colour river view titled ‘Port Shepstone. St. Helen’s Rock’. Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a BATSTONE / NATAL (NO 3) double circle datestamp with a Durban (NO 4) arrival datestamp. Small corner faults on view side, otherwise fine. £25
NA524 1909 (22nd January), picture postcard with various colour views. Addressed to England and bearing a KEVII 1d rose-carmine (SG 147, creased) tied by a large part NEW HANOVER RAIL / NATAL (JA 22) double circle datestamp. Pietermaritzburg (JA 22) transit backstamp. £25
MN183 1909 6th March, coloured post card of two natives, bearing KEVII ½d pair, cancelled P. O. A. 82 strike, this allocated to ESIDUMBENI (a small mission station). Struck below with UPPER TONGAAT datestamp apparently the closest postal agency. A lengthy message with references to the Church at this station. Most unusual. £55
NA505 1909 (4th August), picture postcard with sepia photographic view titled ‘GOVERNMENT (BOYS’) SCHOOL, NEWCASTLE, NATAL.’ Bearing a KEVII 1d rose-carmine (SG 147) tied by a NEWCASTLE / NATAL (AU 4) double circle datestamp. With a superb DANNHAUSER / NATAL (AU 4) double circle arrival datestamp struck in violet. £65
NA493 1909 (5th October), picture postcard with black and white photographic view titled ‘Musgrave Road, Berea – Durban’ Bearing a KEVII 1d rose-carmine (SG 147) tied by a BELLAIR / NATAL (OC 5) double circle datestamp. Initially addressed to Sydenham, Durban where it received a poor strike of a SYDENHAM / NATAL (OC 6) single circle datestamp. The card was readdressed and bears a Durban (OC 6) datestamp and finally a BESTERS / NATAL (OC 7) double circle datestamp was struck on arrival. £30
NA506 1910 (5th February), picture postcard with printed Christmas wishes altered in manuscript to ‘Birthday’ with colour views of sheep, flowers etc. Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by an ELANDSKOP / NATAL (FE 5) double circle datestamp. With PIETERMARITZBURG / NATAL (FE 5) arrival datestamp. £20
NA498 1910 (14th February), picture postcard with colour view titled ‘Waggon Hill’. Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a SCHROEDERS / NATAL (FE 14) double circle datestamp. Pietermaritzburg (FE 14) transit and MURCHISON / NATAL (FE 16) arrival double circle datestamp. £25
NA596 1910 (6th April), QV 1d postal stationery wrapper addressed to Germany. The imprinted stamp is cancelled with a DURBAN / NATAL (6 Apr) double circle datestamp. Showing a superb strike of a ‘FOUND WITHOUT / CONTENTS AT / DURBAN.’ boxed cachet struck in black (Hart, Kantey, Leon Type U.7.2). Very scarce. £325
NA518 1910 (17th April), picture postcard with sepia photographic view titled ‘PALACE OF MUSIC Franco-British Exhibition, London, 1908’. Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by a VRYHEID / NATAL (AP 17) double circle datestamp. With LADYSMITH / NATAL (AP 19) and ESTCOURT / NATAL (AP 19) transit / arrival double circle datestamps. £25
NA526 1910 (16th August) Interprovincial Period (Cape used in Cape). Picture postcard with colour view titled ‘Johannesburg. The Pagoda in the Zoo. Above on the Hill the residence of Col. Schumacher.’ Bearing a single Cape KEVII ½d green (SG 70) tied by a neat TOUWS RIVER (AU 16) single circle datestamp with a second strike alongside. Addressed to Durban and with a Durban (AU 19) transit and a light but readable strike of the scarce WEST’S BLUFF (20 AU) double circle datestamp (apparently with ‘NATAL’ removed) struck on arrival. Putzel / Visser suggest this datestamp was used at WESTS RAIL between 1910 and 1925 though the address and mutilation suggests otherwise. £25
NA494 1910 (22nd October) Interprovincial Period (Natal used in Natal). Picture postcard with privately produced (?) sepia photograph of cattle and farm workers in a field. Addressed to Germany and bearing a KEVII 1d rose-carmine (SG 147) tied by an ESPERANZA / NATAL (OC 22) double circle datestamp. Uncommon. £25
MN160 1910 18th December, envelope bearing KEVII 1d (SG 128), cancelled 'DURBAN' and with further 1d at lower left corner similarly cancelled, endorsed alongside 'Late fee Pd'. Addressed to England, transit and arrival backstamps. An attractive example of the Late Fee service. £55
NA523 1911 (16th February) Interprovincial Period (Natal used in Natal). Untitled picture postcard with faded sepia photograph (family portrait ?) Bearing a KEVII ½d blue-green (SG 146) tied by an UNTUNJAMBILI / NATAL (FE 16) double circle datestamp. With a lightly struck KRANTZKOP / NATAL (16 FE) transit and Pietermaritzburg (FE 17) arrival datestamps. £25
NA500 1911 (6th September) Interprovincial Period, incoming ‘Tuck’ picture postcard from Scotland with gloomy colour view titled ‘The Busy Guidwife’ (from a painting by Henry John Dobson, 1858-1928). Bearing a GB KEVII 1d tied by a Glasgow (SP 6) datestamp. With a neat TWEEDIE / NATAL (SP 29) double circle datestamp struck on arrival. £25
MN159 1942, envelope posted and sent internally in India, the reverse printed in red with an image of the Natal KEVII £5 as the logo for Mohamadali Jafarali, Dealers in Stamps, Bombay. A most intriguing decision to use this image, as apparently no direct link to the province. £25
POSTMARKS
NA336 NATAL / Postmarks 1876-1910 four postmarks each on small piece comprising shield type with numeral 38 (Beaumont) and double circle types for INCHANGA, NQUTU and STANGER. £15
NA527 NATAL / Postmarks Collection of 68 different postmarks on 98 stamps, all mounted on small pieces annotated with details of period of operation. Comprising: ADDINGTON, ALCOCK SPRUIT, BABANANGO, BLACKRIDGE RAIL, BOTHAS PASS, BLOOD RIVER, BUFFALO RIVER, CHAPEL STREET P.M.B., DARGLE ROAD, DE JAGERS DRIFT, DRONK VLEI, DUNDEE COALFIELDS, DURSLADE, EMPANGENI RAIL, ENTUMENI, EQUEEFA, ESTCOURT RAIL, ESPERANZA, FOX HILL, GOODHOPE, GROUTVILLE, GOBENI, HARTS HILL, HATTING SPRUIT, HELPMAKAAR, HIGHLANDS, HILTON ROAD, HOUDBOSCH RAND, HLOBANE RAIL, INSINGA, INGOGO RAIL (2 types), INYONI RAIL, LOWER TUGELA, MANDERSTON, MID-ILLOVO, MID-ILLOVO CENTRAL, MOGUNTIA, MTUNZINI, MOUNT MORIAH, NDWEDWE, NELSRUST, NEW GUELDERLAND, NOODSBERG, NORMANDIEN, OBANJENI, OTTAWA, OTTOS BLUFF, REDHILL, REUNION, RIET-VLEI, ROSETTA, SEVEN OAKS, SHAFTON GRANGE, SINGLE TREE, SOUTHDOWNS, STAMFORD HILL, THORNY BUSH, THORNYVILLE JUNCTION, UBOMBO, UMKOMANZI, UMSINDUSI, UMSINGA, UMTAMVUNA, UMTWALUMI RAIL, UPPER TUGELA, YORK, UTRECHT Z.A.R.. and UTRECHT. Also three cork-type cancellations on QV 1d. Most are readable, large part or complete strikes on stamps of Natal, Cape and Transvaal (interprovincial period) and Union of South Africa. A wonderful group. £275
NA349 NATAL / Postmarks 1890-1907 group of eight postmarks: DEEPDALE, EQUEEFA, HERMANNSBURG, NEW GUELDERLAND, NEW SCOTLAND, REIT-VLEI, THORNVILLE JUNCTION and UMSINGA. Deepdale is scarce while Equeefa is rare. £45
NA153 NATAL / Postmarks (31 Jan 1903) PAULPIETERSBURG / NATAL temporary rubber single circle datestamp in violet. A superb strike on QV 1d rose on small piece. Rare. SG 99 £55
NA218 NATAL / Postmarks (DE 14 05) PINETOWN BRIDGE double circle datestamp struck on KEVII Official 1d carmine. SG O2 £25
POSTAL STATIONERY
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