ORANGE FREE STATE
FEATURED ITEM
FEATURED ITEM
1868-91 De La Rue COLOUR TRIALS of the 6d. Imperforate horizontal pairs printed in red-brown, rose-carmine and dull orange (close to the issued colours) on ungummed wove paper. Very fine and scarce.
1877 6d rose surcharged ‘4’. The four types, fine to very fine used. A scarce group. SG 10-13
£750
£275
Last update: 24th July, 2024
REPUBLICAN PERIOD
POSTAGE STAMPS / Proofs / Colour Trials
O582 1868-91 De La Rue COLOUR TRIALS of the 6d. Imperforate horizontal pairs printed in red-brown, rose-carmine and dull orange (close to the issued colours) on ungummed wove paper. Very fine and scarce. £750
OM32 1868-91 De La Rue 6d Colour Trials, in dull orange, pale carmine and light brown. Each a right marginal pair imperforate on ungummed wove paper. Very fine. £800
OM157 1868 1d red-brown. Very fine unmounted. Scarce as such. SG 2 SOLD
O589 1868 6d pale (dull) rose showing the yellowish crackly gum characteristic of the first printing. With wing margin at left, typical of the Somerset House perforator. Very fine mint with light hinge remnant. SG 4 SOLD
O585 1868 6d pale (dull) rose showing the yellowish crackly gum characteristic of the first printing. BLOCK OF FOUR, very fine mint with light hinge remnants. A very scarce multiple. SG 4 £275
O586 1868 6d pale (dull) rose showing the yellowish crackly gum characteristic of the first printing. BLOCK OF FOUR with unobtrusive diagonal crease and perforation faults at base, otherwise fine mint. A scarce multiple. SG 4 £125
O503 1871 6d rose. Block of four with small part of margin at foot. A few perforations trimmed at lower right, otherwise very fine mint with light hinge marks. A scarce multiple. SG 5 £125
O591 1891 6d (pale) rose-carmine, probably from the 4th printing. Rather heavy hinge remnants otherwise very fine mint. SG 6 £20
OM161 1894 6d bright carmine. Pristine unmounted. SG 7 £27
O504 1894 6d bright carmine. A right marginal block of six (3x2). Fine mint with hinge remnants across the upper stamps. SG 7 £70
OM162 1871 1/- orange (2nd printing). Fine unmounted. Scarce as such. SG 9 SOLD
O593 1877 6d rose surcharged ‘4’. The four types, fine to very fine used. A scarce group. SG 10-13 £275
O516 1877 ‘4’ surcharge on 6d rose (Type c). Very fine used, tied to small piece by ‘18’ barred numeral cancellation. SG 12 SOLD
OM160 1878 4d pale blue. Pristine unmounted. SG 18 SOLD
O314 1878 4d pale blue, BLOCK OF 24 (6x4) with sheet margin at left and interpanneau gutter margin at right showing the characteristic wing margins of the Somerset House perforator (proving the earlier printing and colour). All stamps superb fresh unmounted mint. An attractive and rare multiple. SG 18 £475
O271 1878 4d pale blue. Marginal BLOCK OF 54, comprising a block of 36 (6x6) from the base of the upper left pane joined to an irregular block of 18 from the upper right pane by the interpanneau margin. Showing the characteristic wing margins of the Somerset House perforator (proving the earlier printing and colour). Remarkably fresh unmounted mint. A rare and spectacular multiple. SG 18 £1,100
O344 1878 4d pale blue. BLOCK OF 120, comprising the upper two panes of a sheet with margins on all four sides and showing current number ‘4’ at upper left and plate number ‘1’ at upper right. The two panes separated by an interpanneau gutter margin showing the characteristic wing margins of the Somerset House perforator (proving the earlier printing and colour). Odd minor gum wrinkle otherwise remarkably fresh with all stamps superb fresh unmounted mint. An attractive and very rare multiple, especially in such excellent condition. SG 18 £1,800
O319 1878 5/- green (1st printing) BLOCK OF 96 (12x8) being the lower eight rows of the upper two panes with side margins and part of the horizontal interpanneau margin at base. Comprising two blocks of 48 separated by a vertical interpanneau gutter showing the characteristic wing margins of the Somerset House perforator (one central row of perforations rather than rows either side of the gutter). A few very minor marginal faults and gum wrinkles, otherwise superb fresh unmounted mint. A remarkable and impressive multiple. Rare. SG 20 £1,250
OM170 1881 ‘1d.’ surcharge on 5/- green (type a). Interpanneau margin at left, very fine unmounted. Scarce as such. SG 21 SOLD
OM172 1881 ‘1d.’ surcharge on 5/- green (type b). Very fine unmounted. Scarce as such. SG 22 SOLD
OM173 1881 ‘1d.’ surcharge on 5/- green (type d). Very fine unmounted. Scarce as such. SG 24 SOLD
OM171 1881 ‘1d.’ surcharge on 5/- green (type f). Superb unmounted. Scarce as such. SG 26 SOLD
OM165 1882 ‘½d’ surcharge on 5/- green. Gum crease, fine unmounted. SG 36 SOLD
O201 1882 5/- green surcharged ‘½d’ in black with bar cancelling the old value. BLOCK OF 54 (6x9) from the left pane showing interpanneau gutter margin at right. Some creasing as to be expected on a block this size and hinge trace on four, otherwise superb fresh unmounted mint. A rare and spectacular multiple. SG 36 £1,100
OM166 1882 3d on 4d ultramarine (Type a). Superb unmounted. Scarce as such. SG 38 SOLD
OM167 1882 3d on 4d ultramarine (Type b). Very fine unmounted. Scarce as such. SG 39 SOLD
OM168 1882 3d on 4d ultramarine (Type c). Very fine unmounted. SG 40 SOLD
OM169 1882 3d on 4d ultramarine (Type d). Very fine unmounted. Scarce as such. SG 41 SOLD
OM30 1882 De La Rue Die Proof for the ½d duty, printed in black on glazed card (92x60mm). Dated ‘5 SEP 82’ in blue and stamped 'BEFORE HARDENING' in black. Scarce. £750
O515 1882 De La Rue Die Proof for the ½d duty, printed in black on glazed card (92x60mm). Dated ‘5 SEP 82’ in blue and stamped ‘BEFORE HARDENING’ in black. Scarce. £750
OM153 1883-84 ½d chestnut. Gum wrinkles, fine unmounted. SG 48 SOLD
OM154 1883-84 2d bright mauve. Very fine unmounted. SG 50 SOLD
OM155 1883-84 3d ultramarine. Very fine unmounted. SG 51 SOLD
OM148 1885 ‘2d’ surcharge on 3d ultramarine, type a. Superb and unmounted. Scarce as such. SG 52 SOLD
OM151 1890 ‘1d’ surcharge (Type a) on 4d ultramarine. Very fine unmounted. SG 57 £65
O518 1890 ‘1d’ surcharge (Type b) on 4d ultramarine. Showing variety DEFORMED AND RAISED ‘1’. Fine used with ‘12’ in 16-bar numeral canceller, used at Rouxville. SG 58 var £65
OM149 1892 ‘2½d.’ surcharge on 3d ultramarine. Superb unmounted. SG 67 SOLD
OM159 1894 1d purple. Pristine unmounted. SG 68 £8
OM52 1894 1d purple, block of four. Very fine mint. SG 68 £15
OM164 1896 '½d' surcharge on 3d ultramarine. Group of seven being the complete 'set' of overprint types. Very fine or superb unmounted. A very scarce group as such. SG 69-75 SOLD
O636 1896 3d ultramarine surcharged with ‘Halve / Penny.’ and bar. BLOCK OF 36 comprising the lower six rows of an upper left pane with margins on three sides. Crease through top row and lower margin, otherwise superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 77 £45
O633 1896 3d ultramarine surcharged with ‘Halve / Penny.’ and bar. BLOCK OF SIX (3x2) showing variety ‘Bar through perforations.’ Very fine or superb fresh mint with light hinge mark on one, the others are unmounted. SG 77 var. £15
O635 1896 3d ultramarine surcharged with ‘Halve / Penny.’ and bar. BLOCK OF 18 comprising two blocks of nine separated by the interpanneau gutter margin. The surcharge is slightly angled resulting in the bars running through the perforations of many stamps. Superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 77 + var. £45
O606 1896 3d ultramarine surcharged with ‘Halve / Penny.’ and bar. From the top horizontal row showing the variety WITHOUT BAR due to a downward shift of the surcharge. Fine mint with hinge remnants. SG 77 var. £30
O538 1896 3d ultramarine surcharged with ‘Halve Penny.’ and bar. Upper right corner marginal horizontal strip of three showing the variety WITHOUT BAR due to a downward shift of the surcharge. Minute hinge thin on centre stamp otherwise very fine unmounted mint. SG 77 var £75
O612 1896 3d ultramarine surcharged with ‘Halve / Penny.’ and bar. Right marginal BLOCK OF 12 (3x4), stamp [6] showing the variety NO STOP AFTER ‘Penny’. Hinged in the margin only, the stamps are superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 77, 78 £35
O607 1896 3d ultramarine surcharged with ‘Halve / Penny.’ and bar. BLOCK OF FOUR, the upper left stamp showing the variety ‘Peuny’ for ‘Penny’. Also showing misplaced bar at top of each stamp instead of through the value. Superb used with neat central EDENBURG (NO 21 / 96) single circle datestamp. SG 79 £45
O637 1896 3d ultramarine SURCHARGED IN FIGURES AND WORDS. ‘½d’ Type A (SG 69) further surcharged ‘Halve / Penny.’ and bar (SG 77). Fine mint with hinge remnant and with small ‘D.G. CROCKER.’ handstamp on the reverse.
 
Note: in a footnote after SG 82, it is stated these “are not considered issued with authority”. However, Hisey and Bartshe in ‘Orange Free State Philately’ Vol I, p104, state this issue “is perfectly legitimate.”
SOLD
O638 1896 3d ultramarine SURCHARGE IN FIGURES AND WORDS. Complete ‘set’ comprising each of the seven Types of the ‘½d’ surcharge (SG 69-75, Types A-G) each further surcharged ‘Halve / Penny.’ and bar (SG 77). Two showing bar at top and the Type G a lower left corner marginal example. Fine mint with hinge remnants and each with small ‘D.G. CROCKER.’ handstamp on the reverse. A scarce group.
 
Note: in a footnote after SG 82, it is stated these “are not considered issued with authority”. However, Hisey and Bartshe in ‘Orange Free State Philately’ Vol I, p104, state this issue “is perfectly legitimate.”
£350
OM152 1897 ‘2½’ surcharge on 3d ultramarine. Superb unmounted. SG 83 SOLD
O233 1897 ‘2½’ surcharge on 3d ultramarine. BLOCK OF 12 from the top of the left pane with margins on three sides and showing plate ‘1’ at top. Superb fresh unmounted mint. An impressive multiple. SG 83 £150
O257 1897 ‘2½’ surcharge on 3d ultramarine. BLOCK OF 42 (6x7) from the top of the right pane with margins at right and top showing plate ‘1’. Some gum creasing otherwise very fine and fresh unmounted mint. An impressive multiple. SG 83 £250
O312 1897 ‘2½’ surcharge on 3d ultramarine. Horizontal strip of three, the centre stamp (pos 46 on pane) showing the variety ROMAN ‘1’ and ANTIQUE ‘2’. Light gum bend, otherwise very fine mint. Scarce. SG 83/a £150
O270 1897 ‘2½’ surcharge on 3d ultramarine. Complete upper right PANE OF 60 with margins on three sides and showing plate ‘1 at top. One stamp (position 46 on pane) with variety ROMAN ‘1’ AND ANTIQUE ‘2’. Odd tone spot affects six stamps though the majority, including the variety, are superb fresh unmounted mint. A very scarce multiple. SG 83, 83a £450
OM158 1897 ½d orange. Very fine unmounted. SG 85 SOLD
OM44 1897 1/- brown. Very fine fresh mint. SG 87 £24
OM156 1897 1/- brown. Superb unmounted. SG 87 SOLD
O507 1897 1/- brown. BLOCK OF FOUR, one stamp thinned, otherwise very fine fresh mint. SG 87 £70
O602 1897 1/- brown. BLOCK OF FOUR, very fine fresh mint with light hinge marks. SG 87 £120
O599 1896 6d blue ‘PREPARED FOR USE BUT NOT ISSUED’. Very fine fresh mint with light hinge remnants. Scarce. See footnote below SG 87 SOLD
BRITISH OCCUPATION
OM163 1900 First printing (level stops) ½d to 5s. Complete set of ten values, less the 2½d type b. The 6d the second raised stops type, showing crisp offset of surcharge on reverse. Fine or very fine unmounted. SG 101-111. less 105, 108, plus 119 SOLD
O307 1900 First printing (level stops) ½d on ½d orange. An upper marginal block of six [Rows 1-3, stamps 1-2] all showing the variety SURCHARGE DOUBLE (closely spaced). Additionally, the upper left stamp [R1/1] with variety SMALL ‘½’. Hinged in margin and hinge trace on one stamp, otherwise superb fresh unmounted mint. A rare and possibly unique combination of varieties. SG 101g, 101h £750
OM136 1900 First printing (level stops) 1d on 1d purple showing the variety ‘I.’ and STOP AFTER 'R' OMITTED. Fine mint. SG 102g £175
O61 1900 First printing (level stops) 1d on 1d purple showing the variety ‘I.’ and STOP AFTER 'R' OMITTED. Additionally, the ‘R’ has shifted towards the ‘V.’ and the left side appears shaved. Fine mint. SG 102g £220
O342 1900 First printing (level stops) 1d on 1d purple. Showing the variety SURCHARGE TRANSPOSED due to a large vertical shift of the surcharge. Very fine mint. SG 102 var. £110
O328 1900 First printing (level stops) 1d on 1d purple. Single with interpanneau margin at right. Showing the variety SURCHARGE TRANSPOSED due to a large vertical shift of the surcharge. Very fine lightly mounted mint. SG 102 var. £110
O321 1900 First printing (level stops) 1d on 1d purple. Vertical pair from the top of the pane showing large downward shift of the surcharge resulting in the varieties VALUE OMITTED on upper stamp and SURCHARGE TRANSPOSED on the lower stamp. Light owner handstamps on reverse otherwise very fine and fresh mint. SG 102j + var. £220
O523 1900 First printing (level stops) 1d on 1d purple. Vertical pair from the top of a pane showing a large downward shift of the surcharge resulting in the varieties VALUE OMITTED on the upper stamp and SURCHARGE TRANSPOSED on the lower stamp. Very fine or superb mint with light hinge mark on the upper stamp only, the lower is unmounted. SG 102j + var. £225
O327 1900 First printing (level stops) 1d on 1d purple. Vertical pair from the top of the pane showing the current number ‘1’ and a large downward shift of the surcharge resulting in the varieties VALUE OMITTED on upper stamp and SURCHARGE TRANSPOSED on the lower stamp. Very fine or superb mint (hinged on margin and lower stamp, the upper stamp is unmounted). SG 102j + var. £235
O322 1900 First printing (level stops) 1d on 1d purple. Upper marginal block of four showing a large downward shift of the surcharge resulting in the varieties VALUE OMITTED on the upper pair and SURCHARGE TRANSPOSED on the lower pair. The margin proves this is a downward rather than an upward shift. Hinged on the margin only, the stamps are superb unmounted mint. Holcombe certificate. (1993) SG 102j + var. £480
O343 1900 First printing (level stops) 1d on 1d purple. Showing the variety VALUE OMITTED due to a large downward shift of the surcharge (this stamp being from the top row of a pane). Very fine mint. SG 102j £80
O308 1900 First printings (level stops) 3d on 3d ultramarine. Showing the variety SURCHARGE DOUBLE (closely spaced). Well mounted with hinge remnants otherwise fine mint. Unlisted in SG. Rare. SG 106 var £180
O309 1900 First printings (level stops) 3d on 3d ultramarine. Showing the variety SURCHARGE DOUBLE (closely spaced). Fine used with British Army South Africa double circle datestamp. Unlisted in SG. Rare. SG 106 var £180
O278 1900 First printing (level stops) 3d on 3d ultramarine. Showing the variety SURCHARGE TRANSPOSED due to a vertical shift. Fine mint. Rare. SG 106 var £125
OM37 1900 First printing (level stops) 3d on 3d ultramarine. Horizontal strip of four showing the variety SURCHARGE TRANSPOSED due to a vertical shift. Left stamp with minor diagonal bend otherwise very fine mint. Rare. SG 106 vars. £325
O513 1900 First printings (level stops) ERROR OF SURCHARGE 3d on 4d ultramarine (instead of 3d). Lower marginal block of four. Crease in margin only and hinge remnants on one stamp, the others superb fresh unmounted mint. The upper left stamp showing broken base to ‘V’. A major OFS rarity. SG 106 var
 
Note: this is a controversial stamp and a BPA certificate (2013) states the surcharge is forged. We beg to differ and agree with the comments in ‘Orange Free State Philately’ (Volume I, 2002) by Robert W. Hisey and R. Timothy Bartshe who discuss this error on page 140 and conclude “On the basis of evidence to date, it is obvious that some 4d stamps were mistakenly overprinted 3d by a perfectly genuine error.”
£1,500
O268 1900 First printing (level stops) 3d on 3d ultramarine. Showing variety SURCHARGE MISPLACED to left due to a diagonal shift, apparently ex the right column. A little grubby with heavyish hinge remnants and some vertically challenged perforations at top, otherwise fine mint. A spectacular and very scarce variety. SG 106 var £75
OM135 1900 First printing (level stops) 6d on 6d bright carmine. Showing no stop after 'V' (row 10/3). Very fine and fresh mint. SG 108a £225
O597 1900 First printing (level stops) 6d on 6d bright carmine. Horizontal strip of three, the centre stamp showing the variety ‘6’ OMITTED. Light hinge remnants, otherwise very fine and fresh mint. A scarce and spectacular error. SG 108, 108b £325
OM41 1900 First printing (level stops) 6d on 6d blue. Upper left corner block of four showing current number '2' in margin. Folded horizontally, very fine and fresh unmounted. SG 109 £75
O600 1900 First printing (level stops) 6d on 6d blue. Horizontal pair, the left stamp showing variety ‘6’ OMITTED. Fine used with Bloemfontein (AP 7 / 00) datestamp. Underrated. SG 109, 109b £85
O282 1900 First printing (level stops) 6d on 6d blue. Showing the variety SURCHARGE TRANSPOSED due to a vertical shift. Very fine mint. It is believed one pane of 60 stamps had the surcharge shifted upwards resulting in this very scarce variety. SG 109 var £170
O281 1900 First printing (level stops) 5s. on 5s. green showing the variety SURCHARGE TRANSPOSED due to a vertical shift. Fine mint. Rare. SG 111 var £240
O601 1900 First printing (level stops) 5s. on 5s. green showing the variety ‘5’ OMITTED. Several hinge marks or remnants, otherwise very fine fresh mint. PFSA certificate (2008) A very rare and spectacular error. SG 111b £750
O604 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) ½d on ½d orange. Horizontal pair, the right stamp showing the varieties Raised and Level Stops Mixed and Small '½’. Fine mint with light hinge mark. SG 112, 112g £70
OM45 1900 Subsequent printings (raised stops) 1d on 1d purple. Left marginal strip of three, the left stamp showing the Thick 'V' variety and in addition all three stamps showing a curious light second impression of the 'R' above the normal on each stamp. Very fine mint or unmounted. SG113, 124 and vars. £35
O520 1900 subsequent printing (raised stops) 1d on 1d purple. Three examples, each showing a NO STOP VARIETY AFTER ‘V’, ‘R’ or ‘I’. Very fine mint. SG 113c, 113d, 113e £25
O345 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 1d on 1d purple. Vertical interpanneau pair, the lower stamp with surcharge and the stamp above the gutter with the SURCHARGE OMITTED. Creased through the gutter and some gum wrinkles on upper stamp otherwise very fine mint. Very rare. SG 113 var
 
Note: it is believed the upper right pane of one sheet had the overprint omitted, giving rise to six possible vertical interpanneau pairs, two of which are in the Durrell collection and two from the right of the pane were previously sold by us.
£750
O521 1900 subsequent printing (raised stops) 1d on 1d purple. Horizontal pair, the left stamp showing the variety SPACE BETWEEN ‘V’ AND ‘R’. Very fine mint. SG 113, 113k £35
O576 1900 subsequent printing (raised stops) 2d on 2d bright mauve. BLOCK OF 50 (5x10) comprising the right vertical five columns of a pane with margins at right and at top (with plate number ‘1’). Showing varieties: [6] partial ‘Caslon’; [40] ‘Level Stops’; [52], [53] and [58] ‘Raised and Level Stops Mixed’. Faint hinge marks on lower row, otherwise superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 114, 114a, 114b, var £75
O579 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 3d on 3d ultramarine. BLOCK OF 36 comprising the upper six rows of an upper left pane with margins on three sides with plate number ‘1’ at top. The upper right stamp showing Broken ‘V’ and ‘R’. Marginal stain at upper right, otherwise superb unmounted mint. SG 117 + vars. £65
O306 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 3d on 3d ultramarine. Variety SURCHARGE DOUBLE, ONE DIAGONAL. Hinge remnants and slightly rounded corner, otherwise fine mint. Clear RPS certificate (1996) Very scarce. SG 117g £275
O316 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 3d on 3d ultramarine. Variety SURCHARGE DOUBLE, ONE DIAGONAL. Few hinge remnants, otherwise very fine mint. Very scarce. SG 117g £325
O315 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 3d on 3d ultramarine. Variety SURCHARGE DOUBLE, ONE DIAGONAL. With margin at right showing part misplaced ‘(V.)R.I.’ Hinge remnants and the gum evenly yellowed, otherwise fine mint. Very scarce and visually striking. SG 117g £350
O326 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 3d on 3d ultramarine. Block of eight (4x2, two with thick ‘V’). Showing upward shift of surcharge into the perforations, probably from the bottom of a pane as there is no evidence of a surcharge at the base of the lower row. Superb unmounted mint. Unusual. SG 117, 128 £85
O609 1900 Subsequent printings (raised stops) 6d on 6d bright carmine. Vertical pair showing the variety PAIR, ONE WITH LEVEL STOPS. Very fine mint with hinge remnants on the upper stamp. SG 119b £170
O578 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 6d on 6d blue. Right marginal BLOCK OF 36 (6x6). The upper right stamp showing Broken ‘V’. Faint hinge marks on three stamps, the others are superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 120 + var. £25
O300 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 1s. on 1s. brown. Block of six (2x3) each stamp showing the variety SURCHARGE TRANSPOSED due to an upward vertical shift. The upper left stamp additionally with Thick ‘V’. The right column with some hinge reinforced perforations, otherwise very fine unmounted mint. A very scarce multiple. SG 121 var / 131 var £700
O613 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 5s on 5s green handstamped ‘SPECIMEN’ (Samuel Type SAA). Hint of a gum crease, otherwise superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 122s £55
O614 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 5s on 5s green showing variety RAISED AND LEVEL STOPS MIXED. Also showing an INVERTED ALBINO SURCHARGE impressed on the reverse (the ‘5s’ being very clear). PFSA certificate (2009) states “The albino impression results from folding of the full sheet during overprinting.” Very fine fresh mint. SG 122a + var. £450
O617 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 5s on 5s green. Horizontal marginal pair with sheet margin at top showing Current Number ‘5’. The left stamp also showing the variety SHORT TOP TO '5'. Hinged in margin only which is also creased, the stamps are superb unmounted mint. SG 122, 122c £75
OM40 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 5s on 5s green. Upper left corner block of four current number '5' in margin, upper right stamp showing the variety SHORT TOP TO '5'. Hinged on margin which is also creased, stamps very fine unmounted. A lovely positional multiple. SG 122, 122c £135
O616 1900 subsequent printings (raised stops) 5s on 5s green. BLOCK OF FOUR, the lower right stamp with THICK 'V' variety. Very fine used with a Bloemfontein (5 JY / 00) single circle datestamp. SG 122, 132 £125
O661 1900 Cape ‘Hope standing’ ½d green overprinted ‘ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.’ Lower marginal BLOCK OF SIX showing plate number ‘1’. Hinged on one, the others are superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 133 £20
OM91 1900 Cape 'Hope Standing' ½d green overprinted 'ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY'. Upper left corner block of 12 (4x3), showing plate '1' in margin. In addition a good rightwards shift of the overprint, most now appearing to show no stop after 'COLONY'. Some marginal perfs. parted otherwise superb fresh unmounted. SG 133 £20
OM105 1900 Cape 'Hope Standing' ½d green overprinted 'ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY'. Showing No stop variety, left stamp in horizontal pair. Very fine mint. SG 133, 133a £13
O662 1900 Cape ‘Hope standing’ ½d green overprinted ‘ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.’ Upper left corner marginal pair with interpanneau margin at top. The corner stamp showing the NO STOP variety. Gum thin, otherwise fine mint and an attractive positional proving item showing the variety occurring on the lower left pane. SG 133, 133a £10
O652 1900 Cape ‘Hope standing’ ½d green overprinted ‘ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.’ BLOCK OF FOUR showing the variety OVERPRINT DOUBLE with one impression very underinked. Very fine or superb fresh mint with hinge remnant on one stamp, the others are unmounted. Rare. SG 133b
 
Note: in Orange Free State Philately Vol. 1, (p.244-5), Robert Hisey and Timothy Bartshe state two types of double overprints are found on the ½d: the first type with one light and one normal overprint (with both overlapping to some degree). The second type has one very faulty print and one normal with spacing varying from almost overlapping to considerably spaced (as in the block offered here). They further state the latter type is not a ‘kiss’ print (as suggested by Buckley & Marriott in ‘Stamps of the Orange Free State III’, p.34-8) but rather consider it a true double and the faulty print was due to very poor inking. They also suggest their rarity indicates they may emanate from a sheet where much of the overprint was not inked at all or the bad inking was confined to a small area.
£1,100
O584 1900 Cape 'Hope Standing' ½d green overprinted 'ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.' Showing the variety OVERPRINT DOUBLE. Light hinge remnants, otherwise fine mint. Very rare. SG 133b £575
O577 1900 Cape 'Hope Standing' 2½d ultramarine overprinted 'ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.' BLOCK OF FOUR, superb unmounted mint. SG 135 £30
O657 1900 Cape ‘Hope standing’ 2½d ultramarine overprinted ‘ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.’ Upper left corner marginal BLOCK OF FOUR showing plate number ‘1’. Hinge mark in margin only, the stamps are superb unmounted mint. SG 135 £45
O658 1900 Cape ‘Hope standing’ 2½d ultra-marine overprinted ‘ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.’ Lower right corner marginal BLOCK OF EIGHT (4x2) showing plate number ‘1’. Hinge marks in margin and on two stamps, otherwise superb unmounted mint. SG 135 £75
O659 1900 Cape ‘Hope standing’ 2½d ultramarine overprinted ‘ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.’ Upper right corner marginal BLOCK OF 18 (6x3) showing plate number ‘1’ and slanting overprint. Vertical creasing affects columns 4 and 5, otherwise very fine or superb unmounted mint. Scarce multiple. SG 135 £75
OM134 1900 Cape 'Hope Standing' 2½d ultramarine overprinted 'ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.' Showing No stop variety, upper stamp in a positional upper left corner block of four. Very fine unmounted. SG 135, 135a £90
O229 1900 Cape 'Hope Standing' 2½d ultramarine overprinted 'ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.' BLOCK OF 54 comprising the upper nine rows of a pane with margin at left and part interpanneau margin at right. Stamp [1] showing variety NO STOP. Odd minor gum bend, otherwise superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 135, 135a £170
OM107 1900 Cape 'Hope Standing' 2½d ultramarine overprinted 'ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.' Showing No stop variety, upper stamp in a block of four. Light creasing, fine mint or unmounted. SG 135, 135a £50
OM146 1902 '4d' surcharge on 'V.R.I. 6d' overprint. Pristine unmounted. SG 136 £4
OM116 1902 '4d' surcharge on 'V.R.I. 6d' overprint. Showing No stop after 'R' (row 5/5). Very fine mint. SG 136a £35
OM118 1902 '4d' surcharge on 'V.R.I. 6d' overprint. Right marginal pair, left stamp showing No stop after 'R' (row 5/5) and right stamp Thick 'V'. Very fine mint. SG 136a, 136c £40
OM120 1902 '4d' surcharge on 'V.R.I. 6d' overprint. Right marginal strip of three, centre stamp showing No stop after 'R' (row 5/5) and right stamp Thick 'V'. Very fine mint. SG 136, 136a, 136c £45
O644 1902 ‘4d’ surcharge in red on V.R.I. 6d overprint. Lower marginal horizontal strip of four showing plate number ‘1’. The right stamp with the variety Thick ‘V’. Fine unused without gum. SG 136, 136c £15
O642 1902 ‘4d’ surcharge in red on V.R.I. 6d overprint. Showing the variety Inverted ‘1’ for ‘I’ (row 7/1). Very fine fresh mint with light hinge remnants.SG 136ca £12
OM119 1902 '4d' surcharge on 'V.R.I. 6d' overprint. Pair left stamp showing inverted '1' for 'I' (row 7/1). Very fine mint. SG 136, 136ca £15
OM145 1902 'E.R.I. / 6d' surcharge on 6d blue. Very fine unmounted. SG 137 £18
OM115 1902 'E.R.I. / 6d' surcharge on 6d blue. Block of four. Very fine mint. SG 137 £20
OM113 1902 'E.R.I. / 6d' surcharge on 6d blue. Showing Wide space between '6' and 'd'. Hinge remain, fine mint. SG 137b £45
O619 1902 'E.R.I. / 6d' surcharge on 6d blue. Horizontal STRIP OF THREE, the centre stamp showing Wide Space between ‘6’ and ‘d’. Very fine fresh fresh mint with light hinge marks. SG 137, 137b £65
OM108 1902 ‘One Shilling’ surcharge on 5s green. Superb fresh mint. SG 138 £8
OM144 1902 ‘One Shilling’ surcharge on 5s green. Superb unmounted. SG 138 £27
O622 1902 ‘One Shilling’ surcharge on 5s green. Horizontal right marginal pair, the right stamp showing variety Thick ‘V’. Rather heavy hinge remnants otherwise very fine and fresh mint. SG 138, 138a £25
O640 1902 ‘One Shilling’ surcharge on 5s green. Upper left corner marginal horizontal pair, the right stamp showing the variety Short Top to ‘5’. Very fine fresh mint with light hinge marks. SG 138, 138b £75
O620 1902 ‘One Shilling’ surcharge on 5s green. Showing the variety Short Top to ‘5’. Fine unused with little or no gum. SG 138b £25
OM109 1902 ‘One Shilling’ surcharge on 5s green. Showing Short top to '5' variety. Very fine mint. SG 138b £50
O621 1902 ‘One Shilling’ surcharge on 5s green. Showing the variety Short Top to ‘5’. Fine mint with hinge remnants. SG 138b £55
OM111 1902 ‘One Shilling’ surcharge on 5s green. Showing Short top to '5' variety, right stamp in a horizontal pair. Very fine mint. SG 138, 138b £70
O546 1903-04 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII complete set of nine, ½d to 5/-, each overprinted ‘SPECIMEN’ (Samuel type D12). Hinge remnants and the ½d with slightly rounded corner, otherwise fine mint. SG 139s-147s £175
OM99 1903-04 Watermark Crown CA, ½d to 5/- complete set of eight values, fine to very fine mint. SG 139-147 £145
O525 1903-04 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII complete set of nine, ½d to 5/-. Hinge remainders, otherwise fine to very fine mint. SG 139 147 £150
O547 1903-04 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII complete set of nine, ½d to 5/-. Very fine mint with light hinge remnants. SG 139-147 £150
OM143 1903-04 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII complete set of nine, ½d to 5/-. Fine or very fine unmounted. A difficult group as such. SG 139 147 £400
O561 1903 KEVII set of eight duties, ½d to 1/- very fine fresh mint with all but the 2d and 4d being unmounted (1/- is hinged in the margin only). SG 139-146 £155
O333 1903-04 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII complete set of nine duties, ½d to 5/-, in BLOCKS OF FOUR (the 1/- right marginal). Very fine or superb fresh mint with most blocks, including the 5/-, lightly hinged on the upper pairs, the lower pairs being unmounted. Very attractive and an exceptionally rare set in multiples. SG 139-147 £1,650
O563 1903-04 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII group of 14 blocks of four comprising ½d, 1d (2), 2d, 3d (2), 6d (3), 1/- (4) and 5/-. Fine to very fine used with two of the 6d blocks used interprovincially in the Cape and Transvaal. An attractive and scarce group. SG 139-141, 143, 145-147 £175
OM56 1903 Watermark Crown CA, ½d yellow-green. Right marginal block of four. Very fine mint or unmounted. SG 139 £40
O669 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII ½d yellow-green. Lower marginal block of four. Vertical gum crease affects right hand pair, otherwise very fine mint with light hinge mark on the upper pair only. SG 139 £30
O670 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII ½d yellow-green. Lower marginal block of four. Very fine or superb fresh mint with possible hint of a faint hinge mark on the upper pair only. SG 139 £45
OM123 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII ½d yellow-green. Variety WATERMARK INVERTED. Very fine fresh mint. Scarce. SG 139w £225
O428 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII ½d yellow-green. Variety WATERMARK INVERTED. Superb used with ‘1193’ BONC allocated to Bloemfontein. Scarce. SG 139w £85
OM68 1903-04 Watermark Crown CA, 1d scarlet. Block of four, very fine mint. SG 140 £40
O671 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 1d scarlet. Block of four. Very fine or superb fresh mint with hinge remnants on the upper pair only. SG 140 £55
OM57 1903-04 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 1d scarlet. Block of four interpanneau margin at left. Very fine mint or unmounted. SG 140 £50
O673 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 1d scarlet. Upper marginal block of four. Hinge remnants in the margin only, the stamps are superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 140 £65
O431 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 1d scarlet. Upper right corner block of six (3x2) showing plate number ‘1’. Diagonal crease affects corner stamp. Hinged in margins, stamps superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 140 £55
O432 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 1d scarlet. Variety WATERMARK INVERTED. Very fine used with BETHLEHEM (NO 11 / 03) single circle datestamp. Scarce. SG 140w £65
O433 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 1d scarlet. Variety WATERMARK INVERTED. Small surface scuff lower left, otherwise fine used with BE(THLEHEM) (NO 11 / 03) single circle datestamp. Scarce. SG 140w £25
O434 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 1d scarlet Variety WATERMARK INVERTED. Vertical crease, otherwise very fine used with (PHILIP)POLIS single circle datestamp. Scarce. SG 140w £45
O674 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 2d brown. Block of four with very light gum wrinkle, otherwise very fine fresh mint with heavy hinge remnant. SG 141 £45
OM138 1903 Watermark Crown CA, 2½d bright blue. Pristine unmounted. SG 142 £12
OM72 1903 Watermark Crown CA, 2½d bright blue. Block of four, very fine mint. SG 142 £30
O675 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 2½d bright blue. Block of four with interpanneau margin at left. Light hinge mark on one stamp, otherwise superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 142 £40
O676 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 2½d bright blue. Lower left corner marginal block of four from a right hand pane with interpanneau margin at left. Very fine or superb fresh mint with light hinge mark on upper pair only. SG 142 £45
O677 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 2½d bright blue (pale shade). Lower right corner marginal block of four from a left hand pane with interpanneau margin at right. Several gum creases across right hand pair, otherwise fine unmounted mint. SG 142 £35
O296 1903 Watermark Crown CA, 2½d bright blue (a deep shade). Block of eight (4x2) with interpanneau margin at left. Superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 142 £55
O696 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 2½d bright blue. Block of nine with part interpanneau gutter margin at top. Superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 142 £75
O437 1903 Watermark Crown CA, 2½d bright blue. BLOCK OF 24 (6x4) from a left pane with margins at sides (interpanneau at right). Row 2 with unobtrusive horizontal crease. Hinge remnants on four, otherwise superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 142 £125
OM74 1903 Watermark Crown CA, 3d mauve. Overprinted 'SPECIMEN'. Very fine mint. SG 143s £20
OM76 1903 Watermark Crown CA, 3d mauve. Lower left corner pair showing plate ‘1’ in margin. Fine mint. SG 143 £35
OM77 1903 Watermark Crown CA, 3d mauve. Block of four, very fine mint. SG 143 £40
O679 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 3d mauve. Block of four. Very fine or superb fresh mint with very light hinge trace on the upper pair only. SG 143 £50
OM59 1903 Watermark Crown CA, 3d mauve. Lower left corner block of four showing plate ‘1’ in margin. Margin reduced at left, lightly browned on reverse, fine mint or unmounted. SG 143 £35
O681 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 3d mauve. Lower left corner block of four with reduced margin at base showing part of plate ‘1’. Diagonal crease at lower left touches the corner stamp, otherwise fine mint with hinge remnants. SG 143 £50
O697 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 3d mauve. Block of nine, superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 14 £90
OM141 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 4d scarlet and sage-green. Very fine mint. SG 144 £25
O441 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 4d scarlet and sage-green. Showing the variety ‘IOSTAGE’ for ‘POSTAGE’. The ‘P’ showing a more developed stage in the development of this variety. Very fine used with Bloemfontein (22 Apr 07) double circle datestamp. A rare variety on this watermark. SG 144a £375
OM79 1903 Watermark Crown CA, 6d scarlet and mauve. Overprinted 'SPECIMEN'. Fine mint. SG 145s £20
OM62 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 6d scarlet and mauve. Block of four. Very fine mint or unmounted. SG 145 £55
O683 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 6d scarlet and mauve. Block of four. Very fine or superb fresh mint with light hinge marks on two stamps. SG 145 £55
O442 1903 Watermark Crown CA, KEVII 6d scarlet and mauve. Block of four showing damaged ornaments either side of King's Head due to wear. Very fine or superb fresh mint, hinged on the upper pair only, the lower stamps are unmounted. SG 145 £65
OM78 1903 Watermark Crown CA, 1/- scarlet and bistre. Overprinted 'SPECIMIN'. Very fine mint. SG 146s £35
OM142 1903 Watermark Crown CA, 1/- scarlet and bistre. Very fine mint. SG 146 £32
OM80 1903 Watermark Crown CA, 1/- scarlet and bistre. Block of four, very fine mint or unmounted. Uncommon. SG 146 £225
OM81 1904 Watermark Crown CA, 5/- blue and brown. Overprinted 'SPECIMEN'. Very fine mint. SG 147s £45
O283 1904 Watermark Crown CA KEVII 5/- blue and brown, very fine fresh mint. SG 147 £70
O299 1904 Watermark Crown CA KEVII 5/- blue and brown. Hinge remnants otherwise very fine fresh mint. SG 147 £70
O302 1904 Watermark Crown CA KEVII 5/- blue and brown. Hinge remnants otherwise very fine fresh mint. SG 147 £70
OM83 1904 Watermark Crown CA, 5/- blue and brown. Horizontal pair, very fine mint. SG 147 £245
OM33 1904 Watermark Crown CA, 5/- blue and brown. Horizontal pair, very fine unmounted. SG 147 £325
O532 1904 KEVII 5/- blue and brown. Very fine used with large part BRANDFORT (JUL 1 / 08) single circle datestamp. SG 147 £20
OM102 1904 Watermark Crown CA KEVII 5/- blue and brown, vertical pair. Fine used. SG 147 £40
O651 1904 KEVII 5/- blue and brown. BLOCK OF FOUR affixed to fragment. Some split perforations between the upper pair otherwise fine used with JAGESFONTEIN / O.R.C. (14 NO / 04) single circle datestamp (two weeks after issue). SG 147 £125
O650 1904 KEVII 5/- blue and brown. BLOCK OF FOUR very fine used with SCHUTTESDRAAI / O.R.C. (9 DEC 09) double circle datestamps. SG 147 £160
O249 1905-09 Watermark multiple Crown CA, ½d to 1/- complete set of four, fine used. SG 148-151 £15
O698 1907 watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII ½d upper left corner marginal block of 12 (4x3) with interpanneau gutter margin at top. Superb fresh unmounted mint. A scarce multiple. SG 148 SOLD
OM139 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 1d scarlet. Very fine unmounted. SG 149 £18
OM85 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 1d scarlet. Upper marginal showing plate ‘1’ in margin. Very fine mint. SG 149 £15
O699 1905 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 1d scarlet. Left marginal block of six (3x2) superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 149 SOLD
OM86 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 4d scarlet and sage green. Block of four, very fine mint or unmounted. SG 150 £20
O688 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 4d scarlet and sage green. Block of four, faint hinge trace on one stamp, otherwise superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 150 £30
O452 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 4d scarlet and sage-green. Showing the variety ‘IOSTAGE’ for ‘POSTAGE’. Very fine mint. SG 150a £175
O453 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 4d scarlet and sage-green. Showing the variety ‘IOSTAGE’ for ‘POSTAGE’. Fair mint with repaired lower leftcorner. Fine appearance. SG 150a £55
O454 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 4d scarlet and sage-green. Horizontal strip of three, the centre stamp showing the variety ‘IOSTAGE’ for ‘POSTAGE’. The variety has been enthusiastically hinged, otherwise fine mint. SG 150, 150a £175
O455 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 4d scarlet and sage-green. Lower left horizontal corner strip of three from the upper left pane with interpanneau margin at foot. The centre stamp showing the variety ‘IOSTAGE’ for ‘POSTAGE’. Faint hinge marks, otherwise very fine and fresh mint. An attractive positional multiple. SG 150, 150a £250
O456 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 4d scarlet and sage-green. Block of four, the lower right stamp showing the variety ‘IOSTAGE’ for ‘POSTAGE’. Hinged on upper pair, the lower pair, including the variety, is superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 150, 150a £250
O457 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 4d scarlet and sage-green. Block of four, the lower left stamp showing the variety ‘IOSTAGE’ for ‘POSTAGE’. Hinged on upper pair, the lower pair, including the variety, is superb fresh unmounted mint. SG 150, 150a £250
OM46 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, 4d scarlet and sage-green. Lower left corner block of six (margins trimmed), showing ‘IOSTAGE’ for ‘POSTAGE’ flaw on row 2/2 of the block (row 10/2 upper pane). Hinged on upper three stamps, lower three including the flaw superb and fresh unmounted. Attractive in this positional format. SG 150a, 150 £200
O460 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 4d scarlet and sage-green. Showing the variety ‘IOSTAGE’ for ‘POSTAGE’. Very fine used with a light corner datestamp. SG 150a £175
O461 1907 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 4d scarlet and sage-green. Showing the variety ‘IOSTAGE’ for ‘POSTAGE’. Faint vertical crease, otherwise fine used. SG 150a £125
O526 1909 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 1/- scarlet and bistre. Hinge remnants, otherwise fine mint. An elusive stamp. SG 151 £55
OM140 1909 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII 1/- scarlet and bistre. Very fine unmounted. Scarce as such. SG 151 £120
O624 RAILWAY 1905 KEVII 1d scarlet overprinted ‘C.S.A.R.’ in black. Fine used with partial double circle datestamp (Dec 1905) SG RO2 £15
O625 RAILWAY 1905 KEVII 2d brown overprinted ‘C.S.A.R.’ in black. Fine mint with hinge remnants. SG RO3 £140
O574 RAILWAY 1907 KEVII watermark multiple Crown CA. 1d scarlet with ‘C S / A R’ perfin. Fine used. SG RO16 £35
COMMANDO BRIEF / MILITARY FRANK STAMP
OM174 1899 Anglo-Boer War period Commando Brief issue, black on bistre-yellow. Showing additional strike of perforations at left. Very fine unmounted. Unusual. SG M1 var. SOLD
POSTAL HISTORY
O594 POSTAL HISTORY 1887 (19th August), envelope addressed to Germany. Bearing 1d red-brown, 6d rose (with interpanneau margin at right) and a ½d chestnut, (SG 2, 5, 48), tied by ‘2’ in 16-bar numeral canceller of Winburg struck in reddish brown. Backstamped WINBURG despatch (19 Aug, also struck in reddish brown), Bloemfontein (21? Aug) transit and Frankfurt (14 Sep) arrival datestamps. With a large ‘2½d’ accountancy handstamp struck in red indicating the amount due to the British postal authorities. A fine and attractive example of the 7½d rate to Europe introduced on 5th September, 1882. £275
O570 POSTAL HISTORY 1888 (15th April), envelope addressed to England. Bearing a strip of three 2d bright mauve (SG 50) cancelled with ‘3’ in 16-bar oval obliterators struck in red with originating HARRISMITH (AP 19) single circle datestamp on the reverse, also in red. Bloemfontein (AP 23), Cape Town (MY 2) and London (MY 22) transit / arrival backstamps. Some edge faults at top not affecting the adhesives. An attractive colour contrast. £110
O535 POSTAL HISTORY 1890 (31st August), ½d orange postal stationery card cancelled with a neat ‘19’ in 16-bar oval with proving strike of REDDERSBURG (AU 31 90) single circle datestamp below, both struck in purple. Addressed to the Cape with ALIWAL NORTH (4 Sep) single circle transit struck at left, with Bloemfontein (1 Sep) transit and Lady Grey (3 Sep) arrival backstamps. Light unobtrusive horizontal crease and some indents, otherwise a fine proving card for Reddersburg with attractive coloured cancellations. SOLD
O566 POSTAL HISTORY 1891 (30th October), 1d orange Brief Kaart surcharged ‘½d.’ Addressed within the OFS, the imprinted stamp cancelled by two SMITHFIELD (30 Oct) single circle datestamps struck in grey-blue. Showing a boxed ‘TE LAAT’ cachet in black and a BETHULIE (2 Nov) single circle arrival datestamp at lower left. A very scarce instructional marking. SOLD
O86 POSTAL HISTORY 1892 (4th April), stampless cover (shortened at right) to Winburg endorsed ‘In Dienst’ bearing large circular ORANGE VRYSTAAT / ARTILLERIE cachet (Coat of Arms over two crossed canons) struck in purple. Bloemfontein (4 Apr) squared octagon datestamp at left. Backstamped with Winburg (5 Apr) unframed circular datestamp. This Artillery Regiment comprised 30-40 soldiers and was the only permanent force in the OFS to have free mailing privileges. A good strike of this very scarce cachet, usually poorly impressed. £550
OM137 POSTAL HISTORY 1893 (27th May), envelope bearing 2d and 1/-, each cancelled 'VREDE MY 27 / 93' sc datestamps, apparently paying the correct 2 x 4d double rate plus 6d registration fee, addressed to Holland. Struck at top with black boxed 'Geregistreerd No ....' in fancy script, endorsed in ink '240' but then cancelled. Forwarded on via Bloemfontein receiving a crisp oval date stamp for the 1st June, a red London oval dated 26th June and Amsterdam arrival on the back dated 27th June. Apparently travelled on the Union liner Spartan which sailed on the 7th June, arriving in Southampton on the 25th. Some light staining. Most unusual and attractive. SOLD
O694 1893 (26th September), official printed envelope addressed to Holland. With ‘IN DIENST, O.V.S.’ at upper right and ‘STAATS PRESIDENT, / Oranjevrijstaat.’ at lower left. The envelope appears to have been sent stampless and a BLOEMFONTEIN / O.V.S. (26 Sep) single circle datestamp was applied. It was then apparently stopped and ‘IN DIENST’ crossed through, probably indicating free postage did not apply to overseas destinations. A 4d ultramarine adhesive (SG 19) was affixed and tied by a POST WISSEL KANTOOR / BLOEMFONTEIN (27 Sep) single circle datestamp. London (23 Oct) transit and Groningen (24 Oct) arrival backstamps. Unusual. SOLD
O562 POSTAL HISTORY 1896 (26th April), envelope addressed to England. Bearing a single ‘2½d.’ provisional surcharge on 3d ultramarine (SG 67), tied by a clear HARRISMITH (26 AP) single circle datestamp with an additional strike alongside. London (16 May) arrival backstamp struck in red. Some edge faults, otherwise a fine example of this provisional used alone on cover. £35
O96 POSTAL HISTORY 1896 (21st December), cover (closed tears at top) to England bearing ‘2½d.’ on 3d provisional surcharge (SG 67) tied by CLOCOLAN (21 Dec) single circle datestamp. Bloemfontein (22 Dec), Cape Town (30 Dec) transits and London (18 Jan) arrival backstamps. Scarce provisional issue used alone on cover. £125
O256 POSTAL HISTORY 1900 (24th August), Anglo-Boer War period. Registered cover addressed to Cape Town bearing a single 5/- green surcharged ‘V.R.I. / 5s’ (subsequent printing with raised stops, SG 132) tied by Bloemfontein (24 Aug) single circle datestamps with ‘19’ for year and ‘O.V.S.’ excised. Cape Town (27 Aug) arrival backstamp. Though philatelically inspired, this duty is rarely found on cover, especially as a single stamp. Ex Hart. £175
O595 POSTAL HISTORY 1900 (26th October), Anglo-Boer War period. Envelope sent registered to England, bearing nine different adhesives with a face value of 7s.3½d. Comprising subsequent printings with raised stops: ½d (with Small ‘½’), 1d, 2d, 3d, 6d, 1s and 5s with ORC overprints on Cape: ½d and 2½d (SG 112f, 113, 114, 117, 120, 121, 122, 133, 135), all tied by BLOEMFONTEIN (26 Oct) single circle datestamps with ‘19’ for year and ‘OVS’ excised. London (16 and 17 Nov) arrival datestamps struck on the front and back. A tad philatelic and an expensive outlay at the time. £75
O660 POSTAL HISTORY 1901 (12th April), Anglo-Boer War period. Wrapper addressed to England bearing a single Great Britain 1d lilac (SG 172) tied by KAFFIR RIVER / O.R.C. (12 Apr) single circle datestamp with a further strike at lower left. Apparently intended to be sent at a soldiers concessionary rate with a space left at lower left for endorsement, however, no rank or regimental details were countersigned and a further datestamp (13? Apr) was struck and a ‘T’ tax marking applied. The reverse with some thinning from mounting, otherwise a fine and unusual franking and a very scarce datestamp. £150
O653 POSTAL HISTORY 1901 (15th June), Anglo-Boer War period. Censored envelope addressed to a prisoner of war at Green Point Camp, Cape Town then apparently readdressed to Winburg. Bearing a single ‘V.R.I. 1d on 1d purple (SG 113) tied by a ‘17’ in 16 bar oval with proving LADYBRAND / O.R.C (15 Jun) single circle datestamp alongside. Endorsed in manuscript ‘Prisoner of War’ in red and ‘Winburg' + initials in black. With an unusual ‘PRISONER OF WAR’ straight-line handstamp struck in black at top, a large oval ‘PASSED CENSOR, / LADYBRAND.’ struck in violet with initials in blue and a circular ‘CENSOR, / PRISONER OF WAR.’ cachet in blue. Bloemfontein (20 Jun) transit backstamp. £75
O627 POSTAL HISTORY 1901 (7th August), Anglo-Boer War period. Censored envelope addressed to England, bearing two Cape ½d green overprinted 'ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.' (SG 133) tied by HEILBRON / O.R.C. (7 Aug) single circle datestamps. With straight-line ‘Passed Censor’ struck in violet at upper left with initials below. Also showing ‘NPR’ struck in blue. Bloemfontein (9 Aug) transit backstamp. £45
O647 POSTAL HISTORY 1901 (31st August), Anglo-Boer War period. Censored registered envelope addressed to England. Bearing a pair of Cape 2½d ultramarine overprinted ‘ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.’ (SG 133) tied by BLOEMFONTEIN / O.R.C. (31 Aug) single circle datestamps. One stamp additionally tied by a straight-line ‘NPR’ cachet struck in blue with a second strike below. With large ‘R’ in oval registration mark in black and London (20 Sep) arrival backstamp. Central vertical fold, otherwise fine. £45
OM94 POSTAL HISTORY 1901 (20th September), Anglo-Boer War period. Envelope bearing 'ORANGE RIVER COLONY.' ½d pair, left stamp showing No stop variety (SG 133, 133a), cancelled 'KROONSTAD / O. R. C.', addressed to Birmingham. Struck with violet 'PASSED CENSOR / C W SEP 20' cachet and further 'NPR' in blue. Arrival backstamps. Most unusual. £95
O628 POSTAL HISTORY 1901 (30th December), Anglo-Boer War period. Censored, registered envelope addressed to Germany, bearing 1d and 3d ‘V.R.I.’ surcharges and a Cape 2½d ultramarine overprinted 'ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.' (SG 113, 117, 133) all tied by WINBURG / O.R.C. (30 Dec) single circle datestamps. With triangular PASSED / PRESS / CENSOR cachet struck in purple and straight-line ‘P.B.C.’ Hamburg (25 Jan) arrival backstamp. Part of flap missing and the adhesives with some staining, otherwise fine. £30
O645 POSTAL HISTORY 1902 (27th January), Anglo-Boer War period. Censored envelope addressed to England. Bearing a left marginal horizontal pair of the Cape ½d green overprinted 'ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.' (SG 133) tied by WINBURG / O.R.C. (27 Jan) single circle datestamps. With a triangular PASSED / PRESS / CENSOR cachet struck in violet and a straight-line ‘P.B.C.’ struck in blue. Backstamped with Bloemfontein (30 Jan) and Southampton (21 Feb) transit and Camberley ? (22 Feb) arrival datestamps. The flap with crest of the Royal Army Medical Corps embossed in blue. Odd small stain, otherwise fine. £45
OM128 POSTAL HISTORY 1902 (27th July), Anglo-Boer War period. Envelope bearing ½d and 2d overprints (SG 133, 103), crisply cancelled 'LADYBRAND' sc datestamp, another below, addressed to the United States. A most attractive foreign 2½d rate. £35
O557 POSTAL HISTORY 1902 (3rd October), envelope addressed locally, bearing a combination of issues, comprising V.R.I. subsequent printing (raised stops) 5s; ‘Thick ‘V’ 6d and 1s.; ‘E.R.I.’ 6d (block of four) and ‘One Shilling’ on 5s (pair). All cancelled with neat WINBURG / O.R.C. (OC 3) single circle datestamps. Philatelically inspired, though a scarce high face value (10s.6d.) group on cover. (SG 122, 130-1, 137-8). £125
O629 POSTAL HISTORY 1902? (17th December), picture postcard, part of the view side (a bit grubby) with black and white photo of ‘Government Buildings.’ Published by ‘W. Lawrence, Bloemfontein O.R.C.’ Addressed to Scotland and bearing a single Cape 1d carmine overprinted 'ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY.' (SG 134) tied by a SMALDEEL / O.R.C. (17 Dec, no year) single circle datestamp. £35
O394 POSTAL HISTORY 1904 (7th February), KEVII 4d registered postal stationery envelope addressed to Germany, bearing KEVII ½d strip of three and 1d (SG 139, 140) all tied by DAGGAFONTEIN / O.R.C (7 Feb) large double ring circular datestamps struck in violet. Oval Registered London (20 Feb) transit datestamp struck in red over the 4d embossed stamp and Waltermenburg (22 Feb) arrival backstamp. Rare. £325
O407 POSTAL HISTORY 1904 (11th August), KEVII 1d embossed postal stationery envelope addressed to Germany and endorsed ‘BOOKPOST’ at top. The impressed stamp cancelled with a very fine example of the P.O.A. / DON DON, O.R.C. (11 Aug) large double ring datestamp struck in violet. Ladybrand (12 Aug), Bloemfontein (13 Aug) and Neumarkt (5 Sep) transit / arrival backstamps. £175
O397 POSTAL HISTORY / RAILWAYS 1904 (3rd October), black and white picture postcard (‘The Raadzaal – Bloemfontein’). Addressed to England, bearing a single KEVII 1d (SG 140) tied by a ‘29’ Barred Oval Numeral Canceller struck in violet, additionally tied by a superb P.O.A. TWEESPRUIT / STATION / DIST. THABA ’NCHU O.R.C. (3 Oct) large double ring circular datestamp struck in violet. Very scarce and most attractive, especially this fine. SOLD
O405 POSTAL HISTORY 1904 (20th October), KEVII 1d embossed postal stationery envelope addressed to Germany with a large black on rose pre-printed address label. Uprated with additional KEVII ½d and 1d (SG 139, 140) tied by a superb P.O.A. / DON DON, O.R.C. (20 Oct) large double ring datestamp struck in violet. Ladybrand (21 Oct) transit and Hamburg (14 Nov) arrival backstamps. Very fine and attractive. £225
O666 POSTAL HISTORY 1904 (8th November), large ‘K’ size KEVII postal stationery envelope addressed to Holland. Bearing nine examples of the Cape Hope standing 2½d ultramarine overprinted ‘ORANGE / RIVER / COLONY’ (SG 135), all tied by REGISTERED-BLOEMFONTEIN-O.R.C-1 (8 Nov) double circle datestamps. London (27 Nov) transit struck on the front and Amsterdam arrival datestamp (28 Nov) on the reverse. The addressee, ‘N. Yaar & Co.’ was the publishing name for ‘The History of the Postcards, Envelopes and wrappers of the Orange Free State and Orange River Colony’ (1923) by Leon de Raay. A few light stains, otherwise very fine and a very scarce envelope used. £110
O401 POSTAL HISTORY / RAILWAYS 1904 (13th December), envelope addressed to Cape Town bearing a pair of KEVII ½d (SG 139) tied by a P.O.A. TWEESPRUIT / STATION / DIST. THABA ’NCHU O.R.C. (13 Dec) large double ring circular datestamp struck in violet. Flap rather roughly opened, otherwise fine. £125
OM39 POSTAL HISTORY 1905 (21st January), KEVII ½d postal stationery envelope with embossed ½d stamp in yellow-green. Bearing KEVII ½d, 1d, 2d and 1/- (SG 139-141, 146) each cancelled 'THABA'NCHU / O.R.C.' datestamps locally addressed. Most attractive. SOLD
O395 POSTAL HISTORY 1905 (6th March), black and white picture postcard (Rickshaw runner ‘Plying for hire’). Addressed to England and bearing a single KEVII 1d (SG 140) tied by a TEMPE / O R C (6 Mar) single circle relief type datestamp, with a second strike at left. £85
O392 POSTAL HISTORY 1905 (29th May), printed advertising envelope headed ‘The Farmers Advocate / And Home Journal / Bloemfontein’. Addressed to England, bearing KEVII ½d single, pair (one faulty) and 1d (SG 139, 140) all tied by BLOEMFONTEIN (29 May) double circle datestamps. Higganum Conn (24 Jun) arrival backstamp. The flap with large printed oval cachet with same wording as on front. £55
O235 POSTAL HISTORY 1905 (4th September), KEVII ½d postal stationery envelope with embossed ½d stamp in yellow-green. Unaddressed and cancelled with neat BRITISH ASSN / SE 4 / 1905 / ORC single circle ‘skeleton’ datestamp. Paperclip stain, otherwise fine. Very scarce postmark. £65
O102 POSTAL HISTORY 1906 (April), Irish Picture postcard used in Natal with KEVII ½d tied by Mossdale (?) (16 Sep) addressed to ‘P.O. Groothoek’. Dannhauser (SP 19) and Post Office Harrismith (20 Sep) transit cds’s and large P.O.A./ GROOTHOEK O.R.C. arrival cancel (part strike) in purple. £40
O630 POSTAL HISTORY 1906 (30th April), colour picture postcard (image of a buck titled ‘123 Puku’, published by E. Peters, Cape Town) with undivided back. Locally addressed and bearing a single 4d on 6d provisional surcharge (SG 136) tied by a POST OFFICE EDENBURG / O.R.C double circle datestamp. Philatelic, though scarce. £45
O631 POSTAL HISTORY 1906 (20th August), registered envelope addressed to Pretoria. Bearing a block of four E.R.I. 6d on 6d surcharge (SG 137) tied by two fine strikes of GOVERNMENT OFFICES / O.R.C. (20 Aug) single circle datestamps. Registered Bloemfontein (20 Aug) transit and Pretoria (22 Aug) arrival backstamps. A few small faults including a short tear at top, clear of the adhesives. A fine example of this very scarce datestamp on scarce stamps. £150
OM97 POSTAL HISTORY 1907 15th February, cover bearing KEVII 1d (SG 146), the reverse flap with crest and 'THE BUFFS' imprint in vermilion, cancelled 'KINGS HILL / O R C' large single circle, addressed to the Cape. Reverse with 'POST OFFICE HARRISMITH 15 FEB' despatch and Cradock arrival strike. RARE. £245
O648 POSTAL HISTORY 1907 (4th November), British picture postcard (black and white image of Hampton Court) addressed to ‘Victor / Damplaats /Boshof’. Bearing a single KEVII ½d yellow-green (SG 148) tied by a BRANDFORT / O.R.C. (4 Nov) double circle datestamp. With a very fine P.O. VICTOR / O.R.C. double circle arrival datestamp also struck on the reverse. £35
OM96 POSTAL HISTORY 1908 (3rd February), coloured British Post Card bearing KEVII ½d (SG 148), crisply cancelled 'BOSHOF / O. R. C.' in VIOLET, addressed to Colesberg. Most attractive and scarce. £90
O649 POSTAL HISTORY 1908 (1st August), picture postcard (colour tinted sepia photograph of a lady) addressed to ‘Schuttes Draai Rail / Dist Ficksburg’. Bearing a single KEVII ½d yellow-green (SG 148) tied by a PHILIPPOLIS / O.R.C. (1 Aug) double circle datestamp. With a Bethlehem (4 Aug) transit and a fine S.O. GUMTREE / ORC (5 Aug) single circle skeleton / relief type datestamp. Very rare.
 
Note: this S.O. Gumtree datestamp is believed to be the item of record as it shares the same date as that recorded by Alex Visser in the electronic appendix to the Putzel / Visser listing.
£150
OM48 POSTAL HISTORY 1910 (22nd December), black and white Post Card (Victoria Falls) bearing KEVII ½d (SG 148) lightly cancelled and addressed to Paarl. Struck alongside with crisp oval 'POSTED / LATE' cachet. Very fine and clean. £55
O391 POSTAL HISTORY 1911 (17th July), Union of South Africa Interprovincial Period (ORC used in Cape). Envelope addressed to England bearing a single KEVII 1d (SG 149) tied by a TAUNGS (17 July) double circle datestamp. London (5 Aug) arrival backstamp. A few minor edge faults, otherwise fine. £45
O399 POSTAL HISTORY 1913 (17th November), Union of South Africa Interprovincial Period (ORC used in Natal). Printed Marconi ‘OCEAN LETTER’ envelope sent registered to Johannesburg and readdressed to Pretoria. Bearing a pair of KEVII 2½d (SG 142) tied by a REGISTERED / DURBAN S. AFRICA (17 Nov) double circle datestamp with a further strike on the reverse. Also with a Durban registration cachet at upper left. Vertical crease clear of the adhesives and flap rather roughly opened, otherwise very fine and most unusual. £110
POSTAL STATIONERY
O106 1889 Provisional / formula postal stationery card with printed border (2nd printing with inverted W’s). 1d brown on grey-blue card with a granite structure, fine unused. Quik & Jonkers type P4. £45
O111 1889 Provisional / formula postal stationery card with printed border (4th printing). 1d brown on rosy-white card with a granite structure. Some discolouration, mainly on the reverse, otherwise fine unused. Quik & Jonkers type P6. £45
O113 1895-97 Provisional postal stationery card bearing ½d light red-brown (9th printing). Used from Bloemfontein (5 July) to Kroonstad, with same day arrival cds. Quik & Jonkers type P7-9. £15
O551 c1898, ½d carmine illustrated postal stationery card. The reverse printed in red (i.e not same colour as front) with vignettes of ‘Dutch Reformed Church’, Market Square’ and ‘Raadzaal (Parliament House)’. Issued by W.A. Wright, Booksellers, Bloemfontein. A few light stains, otherwise in remarkably fine unused condition and one of the rarest of all southern African illustrated postal stationery cards. Q&J P10A. SOLD
O695 1903 De La Rue DIE PROOF of the KEVII ½d duty as used for the ½d postal stationery envelope. Struck in orange on thin laid card (58x58mm) with uncleared surround. The issued colour was green. Most attractive. Q&J EC SOLD
REVENUES
O693 REVENUE 1888 (7th November), printed four-page ‘Acte van Transport’ (Deed of Transfer) document (204x328mm) concerning a property in the Moroka district and the sum of £1200. Bearing OFS 1/- grey, 5/- bright rose-red, £1 purple and £5 green revenue stamps (Barefoot 63, 69, 75, 79) each initialled or dated ‘7 November 1888’ in manuscript. The 5/- faulty, otherwise fine and scarce.
 
Note: scan shows part of document
£110
O692 REVENUE 1903 (4th May), ORC printed four-page ‘Deed of Transfer’ document (210x330mm) concerning a property in Wepener and the sum of £200. Bearing OFS 10/- orange and £2 orange-brown revenue stamps overprinted and surcharged ‘V.R.I. / 10s’ or ‘V.R.I. / £2’ respectively (Barefoot 93, 95) each tied by ‘2 MEI 1903’ perfins and each with two sets of initials and dated ‘4.5.03’ and ‘20.5.3’. Some discolouration, otherwise fine. Scarce.
 
Note: scan shows part of document
£65
O303 REVENUE 1903 KEVII £5 dull reddish purple and deep dull green block of four fine used, each cancelled with a handstamped date ‘25 FEB 1904’ and manuscript signature. A very scarce multiple. Barefoot 111 £100
O539 REVENUE 1905 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII £10 sepia and brown-purple on orange-red. Fine used with manuscript and boxed cachet cancellations. Barefoot 119 £25
O540 REVENUE 1905 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII £10 sepia and brown-purple on orange-red. Fine used with manuscript and oval cachet cancellations. Barefoot 119 £25
O478 REVENUE 1905 Watermark multiple Crown CA, KEVII £10 sepia and brown-purple on orange-red. BLOCK OF 12 (3x4). Crease in left column, otherwise superb used with manuscript and oval datestamp (25 Jan 07) cancellations. A spectacular and very rare multiple. Barefoot 119 £650
O247 REVENUE 1904 (April), diagram for a property in Bloemfontein, bearing 6d and 1/- tied by large oval SURVEYOR GENERAL’S OFFICE (1 Apr 1904) datestamps struck in greenish blue. The document later amended in 1945 with Bantam 1/- affixed and tied by Revenue (3 May 45) datestamp. Some splitting, otherwise fine. £65
O393 REVENUE 1905 (February), receipt for £57.10s issued at Luckhoff, bearing a single KEVII 1d (SG 140) cancelled ‘£57.10/-‘ in manuscript. Despite the 1d being inscribed ‘Postage’ only, it was accepted for revenue usage as there were no specific 1d revenue stamps, the ORC Government had inadvertently cancelled the order for 1d’s inscribed ‘Postage & Revenue’. The document with some small thins and creasing, otherwise fine. £20
O479 REVENUE 1906 (March), ‘Government of the Orange River Colony / Licence for the Possession of a Fire=Arm’ issued at Winburg for a ‘Rook Rifle’. Bearing a KEVII 5/- green and red revenue stamp (Barefoot 105) tied by an oval cachet (3 Mar) struck in violet and a manuscript signature. Some creasing affecting the adhesive and the document with some pinholes. £45
O480 REVENUE 1906 (July), ‘Government of the Orange River Colony / License for the Possession of a Fire=arm.’ issued at Fauresmith for a ‘Musket No 2 Rifle’. Bearing a single KEVII 10/- grey-green and orange revenue stamp (Barefoot 107) tied by a small oval RESIDENT MAGISTRATE FAURESMITH, O.R.C. cachet struck in violet (2 July), and manuscript initials. Some creasing, otherwise very fine and attractive. £85
O482 REVENUE 1906 (December), ‘Government of the Orange River Colony / Licence for the Possession of a Fire=Arm.’ issued at Fauresmith for ‘One Shot Gun’. Bearing a single KEVII 5/- green and red revenue stamp (Barefoot 105) tied by small oval RESIDENT MAGISTRATE / FAURESMITH oval cachet (3 Dec). Some creasing and corner faults, otherwise very fine. £45
O123 REVENUE 1908 pre-printed document acknowledging a loan of £118.9s.10d taken out at National Bank in Heilbron bearing on the reverse a KEVII ORC 1/6 revenue stamp with amount of loan, date and initials in manuscript. Scarce. £35
O488 REVENUE / Interprovincial period 1912 (October), KEVII £1 dull purple and black used interprovincially with Cape KEVII 3d (x2) and 1/- (x3), all tied to small piece by Cape Town (4 Oct 12) oval datestamps. Barefoot 108 £25
O484 REVENUE / Interprovincial period 1913 (July), KEVII £2 reddish purple and orange-brown used interprovincially with Cape KEVII 5/- and Transvaal KEVII 10/-, all tied to small piece by OFS (19 July 13) oval datestamps. Barefoot 109 £25
O487 REVENUE / Interprovincial period 1914 (January), KEVII 10/- grey-green and orange used interprovincially with Transvaal KEVII 2/- and Union of SA KGV £1, all tied to small piece by Cape Town (21 Jan 14) oval datestamps. Barefoot 107 £25
TELEGRAPHS
O191 TELEGRAPHS 1899 1d purple overprinted ‘TF’. Complete upper half of a sheet comprising two panes of 60 stamps with interpanneau gutter between (120 stamps – the full setting). The upper right pane showing Plate Number ‘1’. Corner crease affects one and splitting affects six others (between top three stamps of columns 2 and 3, right pane), otherwise very fine or superb fresh mint. Four showing Raised ‘F’. A scarce multiple. Hiscocks 37, 37a £275
O552 TELEGRAPHS 1893 3d ultramarine overprinted ‘TF’. A lower left corner block of six showing plate number ‘1’ at base. Odd minor gum wrinkle or bend, otherwise very fine fresh mint with four stamps unmounted. SG T30 £55
O498 TELEGRAPHS 1900 3d ultramarine overprinted ‘TF’, showing the variety ‘V.R.I.’ DOUBLE. Very fine mint. Very scarce. SG T37b £275
OM63 TELEGRAPHS 1900 5/- green overprinted 'V.R.I. / A T'. Large hinge, fine mint. SG 46 £15
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