Bechuanaland and Botswana Philately

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Collect Stellaland
This Page is dedicated to Stamps, Revenues and Postal History
1884 Stellaland - Arms of the Republic Design SG 1 - 5
A History of Stellaland was Published in 1971 as a fifty page booklet by Charles George Dennison
The Stamps only enjoyed Internal validity, there was no datestamp and the Postal Official used a pen to cancel the stamps
Either with his initials and a date or sometimes just with a stroke of his pen
  Brief History

Before the proclamation of the Republic, the area was under the control of competing Griqua and Tswana groups, while Great Britain laid claim to it as part of the emerging protectorate of British Bechuanaland. Two of the indigenous groups were under the leadership of chiefs Mankoroane and Montsioa, whom the British regarded as friendly, and another two under the leadership of chiefs Moshette and Massouw. When a feud erupted between Mankoroane and another chief, each side resorted to recruiting volunteers, promising them land in return for their assistance. After a settlement was negotiated with mediation from the Transvaal Republic, large portions of Mankoroane's land with 416 farms of 3,000 morgen (2,563 ha) each were given to Boer mercenaries who had fought on his adversary's side, and the new inhabitants decided to declare independence.


Imperforate
between Pairs

are known for all values except the 1s


SG 3a
Mint

In October 1886 the
Remainders were sold to Whitfield King in Ipswich for £250 consisting of

1d (621) 3d (10,514)
4d (11,762) 6d (9566)
1s (4329)
Forgery of the 1884
Postage issue 1d red
printed in close to issued colours and perf 13½
Instead of 12
With indecipherable bogus Cancellation
 
The Republic of Stellaland was formally created on 26 July 1882, under the leadership of its elected president Gerrit Jacobus van Niekerk, a farmer from Transvaal and was given the name Stellaland (Star Land) in reference to a comet that was visible in the skies at the time. The town of Vryburg was founded and declared its capital. At its founding, the new country covered an area of 5,985 square miles and was home to an estimated population of 20,500 individuals, 3,000 of whom were of European ancestry.

The State of Goshen
, named after the biblical Land of Goshen, was founded by Nicolaas Claudius Gey van Pittius in October 1882 in the neighbouring area called Rooigrond with the approval of chief Moshette. Goshen had an estimated population of 17,000, of whom approximately 2,000 were of European origin, and covered an area of 4,015 square miles
On 6 August 1883, Stellaland and Goshen united to form the United States of Stellaland.
 
Hennie Taljaard from Ceres in South Africa collects the stamps of Stellaland and has posted a blog on the Internet. Hennie has collated some useful information starting with a chorological listing of events and afer recent contact he has kindly granted permission to utilize his information and also sent in an article on his favourite subject
  January 1883 (approx.)
7 August 1883
8 August 1883
February 1884
23 September 1884
7 February 1885
23 March 1885
11 June 1885
30 September 1885
2 December 1885

Postmasters

Post office opens at Vryburg & postal service commenced to Christiana (Putzel)
Stellaland proclaimed an independent republic by G J van Niekerk (Theal)
Vryburg listed as the post office of Stellaland Republic (Putzel)
Stamps delivered
Postal contract concluded between Stellaland Government and WM Geeringh, the Vryburg-Christiana postal contractor
Sir Charles Warren’s expedition reaches Vryburg
Vryburg post office listed under British Bechuanaland (Putzel)
Francis Eaton replaces Ferdinand Hartzenberg as postmaster of Vryburg
Stellaland incorporated into the crown colony of the British Bechuanaland
Stellaland stamps replaced

F Dekker - Appointed approx. 1882
Ferdinand Hartzenberg - 1884 - 11 June 1885 - Initials: “FH”
Francis Alexander Eaton - 1 July 1885? - early 1886
Probably did not initial stamps but rather pen-stroke cancelled
C.G. Dennison - date?

 
Hennie has been accumulating data relating to the used stamps of Stellaland. His results are presented be in a tabular form. The list is compiled from items he has in his own collection and from others described in the literature and auctions catalogues. His listing is by no means comprehensive and he would welcome any additional information anyone can provide. His Email is stadsbeplanner@ananzi.co.za or htaljaard@witzenberg.gov.za
Hennie continues - As far as I could establish the following literature exists

 

Books

 

  Jonkers, G.H. 1999
Quik, W.J. 2003
Jurgens, A.A. 1946
Holmes, H.R. 1971
de Raay, L. 1934
Trotter, B & Midwood, N. 2001
Onderzoeken van Stellaland. F.V.Z.A.: Rotterdam
The history and postage and revenue stamps of Stellaland / Griqualand West. F.V.Z.A.: Krimpen A/d IJssel
The Bechuanalands, A brief history of the Countries and their Postal Services to 1895. RPS: London
The Postage Stamps, Postal Stationery, and Postmarks of the Bechuanalands. RPS: London
De Postzegels van Stellaland. Amsterdam
Revenues of Southern Africa, Part 1: The Bechuanalands. Privately Published
  Articles  
  Drysdall, A.R. 1991
Drysdall, A.R. 1991
Drysdall, A.R. 1992
Drysdall, A.R. 1992
Drysdall, A.R. 2008
Groenewald, J. 2002
Drysdall, A.R. 2003
Seligmann. K. 1993
Drysdall, A.R. 1993
Jonkers, G.H. 1993
Jonkers, G.H. 1994
A previously undescribed Stellaland item. The Runner Post, Issue 22, p. 402 - 412, March
Stellaland Revisited. The Runner Post, Issue 23, p. 419 - 433, June
A postal History of Stellaland. London Philatelist, 101:54 - 66, March
A postal History of Stellaland (continued). London Philatelist, 101:95 - 99, April
The “Twee” Overprint and the Remainders of Stellaland’s Postage Stamps. Collectors Club Philatelist, 87(3), p. 141 - 148
Stellaland - skielik ‘n stroom seldsame koeverte. The SA Philatelist, 78:4, p. 110 - 113, August
Postal markings on Stellaland stamps. The Transvaal Philatelist, 38(2), P. 43, May
New information from Dr Karl Seligmann. The Runer Post, Isue 31, p. 624 - 625, June
Stellaland - Addenda from Dr G H Jonkers to Dr Seligmann’s article in RP 31. The Runner Post, Issue 32, p. 651 - 652, September
Royal ceases to issue certificates for Stellaland “Twee” provisional. The Runner Post, Issue 32, p. 653 - 654, September
Postal Contract. The Runner Post, Issue 35, p. 735 - 736, June
The Method of Cancelling Stellaland Stamps
By Hennie Taljaard

 
I have been accumulating data relating to the used stamps of Stellaland from items in my own collection and from others described in the literature and auctions catalogues. Up till now I have been able to list 120 stamps of which the result (sorted in order of date) is shown in tabular form. Whereas one might perhaps draw some conclusions from the data on its own, it becomes more significant when related to the historical facts available. The list is of course not only interesting in terms of cancellations, but also sheds light on dispatch dates and postal rates. At the outset it should be mentioned that the recurrence of the same date is obvious but is by no means duplication of data. I have personally seen at least an image or proper description of every stamp listed.
Also included in the list are the covers recorded and described by Drysdall.

Stellaland never had a device for cancelling their stamps. According to Jurgens there were instructions to the Postmaster to cancel all stamps on letters with pen and ink. Vryburg is found first listed on 8 August 1883 as the post office of the Stellaland Republic (Putzel). Stamps were delivered to Stellaland during February 1884 and during the first few months stamps are found manuscript cancelled with the date only. The earliest date recorded is 29 February 1884.
The postal route during the period of the Stellaland rule was by way of Christiana and hence the ZAR target canceller with numeral 6 seen on stamps - applied in transit.

3d manuscript cancelled with date on 29/2/84. The earliest recorded date (listing ref. 3)
3d manuscript cancelled with date on 7/3/84 and ZAR target type 6
(listing ref. 6)
Signature of
Ferdinand Hartzenberg
Signature of
Frans Coenraad Dekker
 
From August 1884 onwards stamps are seen for most part with both the date and initials (of the postmaster). Initials seen are: “F.H”, “C.G.D” and “F.C.L”. With the aid of old Stellaland documents lodged at the Cape Archives it is possible to positively identify “F.H.” as belonging to Ferdinand Hartzenberg and “F.C.L” as that of Frans Coenraad Dekker. Referring to Dekker’s full signature (see above) it becomes clear that the letter “L” of the initials signifies a “D”. The initials “C.G.D” belonged to a Dennison but only one stamp (listing ref. 88) is attributed to him. There is also a single stamp with as yet unidentified initials (which looks like “KA” - see listing ref. 46)
The bulk of the stamps are found with Hartzenberg’s initials and only three stamps are seen with those of his predecessor, namely that of Dekker, who was the first postmaster (see listing ref. 19 to 24). Dekker was already postmaster during the pre-stamp period and the earliest stamps cancelled with the date only would probably have been his work.

3d cancelled
“FH 29/5/85” latest
date for Hartzenberg
(listing ref. 79)

4d cancelled
“FH 12/2/85”

(listing ref. 64)

6d cancelled
“FH 1/2/85”
(listing ref. 55)

3d cancelled
“FCL 17/8/84”
(listing ref. 21)
3d cancelled
“CGD pm”
(listing ref. 88)
6d cancelled
“KA 14/12/84”
(listing ref. 46)
 
Sir Charles Warren’s expedition reached Vryburg on 7 February 1885 with the aim to place the area under British control. According to Putzel the Vryburg post office was listed under British Bechuanaland from 23 March 1885.

The practice of the postmaster to cancel the stamp with his initials is not seen later than May 1885. During these last months that the Stellaland stamps were in use it was cancelled only with the stroke of a pen or not cancelled at all. This practice coincides more or less with the takeover by the British and was probably employed by Francis Alexander Eaton whom replaced Ferdinand Hartzenberg as postmaster of Vryburg on 11 June 1885. The fact that stamps were not cancelled could suggest that they were not officially recognized by the British occupiers. The only example of Eaton actually cancelling stamps with his name is a cover dated 26 June 1885 (listing ref. 82), from the early part of his officiate.

1d pen cancelled
Cross X
(listing ref. 92)
3d cancelled with
blue pencil stroke
(listing ref. 99)
1d cancelled with
Barkley West SP 7 85
(listing ref. 105)
1d with
BONC 27
(listing ref. 115)
1d with
Circular target 8 canceller (listing ref. 118)
 

A relation is thus found between the means of cancellation and the postmaster of the day. It becomes clear that Hartzenberg, Dekker and Eaton each had a distinctly different way of cancelling their stamps. The first stamps were cancelled with the date only (probably by Dekker), Hartzenberg applied the date and his initials and Eaton either did not cancel the stamp or applied a pen or blue pencil stroke. This coupled with the transit or arrival postmarks of outside offices gives us an interesting array of stamps.

With the British takeover the postal route also changed with all mail now passing through Barkly West and Kimberley. Hence stamps are found cancelled at these two towns in transit with the dates corresponding with the period of British involvement. (see stamps listed under ref. 100 - 109)

Other postmarks found on stamps also cancelled in transit or by receiving offices are Zeerust ZAR (target 8), Rustenberg ZAR (target 3), Hoopstad OFS (numeral 27) and Barkly West CC (BONC 232).

Stellaland was incorporated into the crown colony of the British Bechuanaland on 30 September 1885 with the stamps being replaced on 2 December 1885. The first date stamp to be received by Vryburg arrived on 30 December 1885

Stellaland
Listing of cancelled stamps sorted by date

 

Cancelled at Stellaland - dated

 

Date:

Day:

Initials / canceller:

Value:

Remarks:

Source:

 

29/2/84

Friday

date/ZAR target 6 (Christiana)

3d

Christie's 1986

1

29/2/84

Friday

date/ZAR target 6 (Christiana)

3d

Kas Erne files

2

29/2/84

Friday

date only

3d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

3

7/3/84

Friday

date/ZAR target 6 (Christiana)

3d

David Brandon opinion

Brian Fenemore

4

7/3/84

Friday

date/ZAR target 6 (Christiana)

3d

Fernando Torres

5

7/3/84

Friday

date/ZAR target 6 (Christiana)

3d

Taljaard

6

17/3/84

Monday

date/ZAR target 6 (Christiana)

3d

Neville Midwood

7

17/3/84

Monday

date/ZAR target 3 (Rustenburg)

3d

Jonkers book (1999)

8

4/4/84

Friday

"FH"

1d

Initials of F Hartzenberg. On piece. RPS certificate

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

9

19/4/84

Saturday

date/ZAR target 6 (Christiana)

1/-

Neville Midwood

10

12/5/84

Monday

date only

3d

Neville Midwood

11

21/5/84

Wednesday

date only

3d

Spink 2013

12

3/6/84

Tuesday

date only

6d

black pen stroke

Neville Midwood

13

5/6/84

Thursday

date only

1d x3

Drysdall cover 1

Drysdall 1992 article

14

7/6/84

Saturday

date only

4d

R Lowe, Vol 2, Africa

15

11/6/84

Wednesday

date only

1d

Taljaard

16

23/6/84

Monday

date only

3d

Ebay

17

23/7/84

Wednesday

date only

3d

Ebay

18

30/7/84

Wednesday

"FCL"

3d

R Lowe, Vol 2, Africa

19

5/8/84

Tuesday

"FH"

1d

year digit off stamp. but probaly 84.

Alan MacGregor

20

17/8/84

Sunday

"FCL"

3d

Initials of FC Dekker. Shown in Holmes. RPS certificate

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

21

17/8/84

Sunday

"FCL"

3d

Alan MacGregor

22

25/8/84

Monday

"FCL"

3d

Taljaard (Ebay)

23

25/8/84

Monday

"FCL"

3d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

24

23/9/84

Tuesday

"FH"

4d

Kas Erne files

25

30/9/84

Tuesday

"FH"

4d

Spink 2013

26

30/9/84

Tuesday

"FH"

4d

Drysdall cover 2

Drysdall 1992 article

27

7/10/84

Tuesday

date only

1d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

28

21/10/84

Tuesday

"FH"

4d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

29

28/10/84

Tuesday

"FH"

4d

Neville Midwood

30

30/10/84

Thursday

"FH"

1d

Brian Fenemore

31

18/11/84

Tuesday

"FH"

1d

EBay

32

24/11/84

Monday

"FH"

3d

Ebay

33

25/11/84

Tuesday

"FH"

4d

Groenewald cover 14

Groenewald 2002 article

34

2/12/84

Tuesday

"FH"

4d

Drysdall cover 3

Drysdall 1992 article

35

2/12/84

Tuesday

"FH"

1d

Drysdall cover 12

Drysdall 1992 article

36

2/12/84

Tuesday

"FH"

3d

On piece, 3 ring cancel touching top right

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

37

2/12/84

Tuesday

"FH"

1d

Date (year) not clear but probably 84

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

38

7/12/84

Sunday

"FH"

3d

Initials upside down, 3 ring cancel touching

Kas Erne files

39

8/12/84

Monday

"FH"

4d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

40

9/12/84

Tuesday

"FH"

3d

On piece, part 3 ring cancel tying the stamp

Kas Erne files

41

9/12/84

Tuesday

"FH"

6d

On piece tied by part 3 ring target type cancel

Spink 2013

42

9/12/84

Tuesday

"FH"

6d, 3d, 4d

Mixed franking on piece

Stanley Gibbons auction

43

9/12/(84)

Tuesday

"FH"

1d

year digit off stamp. but probaly 84.

Status Int. auction

44

9/12/(84)

Tuesday

"FH"

1d

year digit off stamp. but probaly 84.

Neville Midwood

45

14/12/84

Sunday

"KA"

6d

Initials not identified. RPS certificate

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

46

?/84

"FH"

6d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

47

28/?/85

"FH"

1d

manuscript upside-down

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

48

11/1/85

Sunday

"FH"

3d

On piece

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

49

11/1/85

Sunday

"FH"

3d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

50

11/1/85

Sunday

"FH"

1/-

Kas Erne files

51

11/1/85

Sunday

"FH"

1/-

On piece

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

52

11/1/85

Sunday

"FH"

1/-

last digit of year off stamp. but probaly 85.

Alan MacGregor

53

1/2/85

Sunday

"FH"

4d

On piece

Kas Erne files

54

1/2/85

Sunday

"FH"

6d

On piece

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

55

1/2/85

Sunday

"FH"

6d

Alan MacGregor

56

5/2/85

Thursday

"FH"

1d

R Lowe, Vol 2, Africa

57

11/2/85

Wednesday

"FH"

1d x3

Strip of 3

Cherrystone auctions

58

11/2/85

Wednesday

"FH"

1d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

59

11/2/85

Wednesday

"FH"

1d

On piece

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

60

11/2/85

Wednesday

"FH"

3d

On piece

Kas Erne files

61

12/2/85

Thursday

"FH"

6d

On piece

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

62

12/2/85

Thursday

"FH"

4d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

63

12/2/85

Thursday

"FH"

4d

On piece

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

64

12/2/85

Thursday

"FH"

4d

On piece

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

65

20/2/85

Friday

"FH"

4d

Ebay

66

20/2/(85)

Friday

"FH"

1d

year digit off stamp. but can only be 85.

Stanley Gibbons 2013

67

3/3/85

Tuesday

"FH"

3d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

68

6/3/85

Friday

"FH"

3d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

69

6/3/85

Friday

"FH"

4d

Jurgens book

70

12/3/85

Thursday

"FH"

3d

Drysdall cover 4

Drysdall 1992 article

71

19/3/85

Thursday

"FH"

3d

RPS certificate

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

72

20/3/85

Friday

"FH"

4d

Alan MacGregor

73

2/4/85

Thursday

"FH"

4d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

74

16/4/85

Thursday

"FH"

3d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

75

1/5/85

Friday

"FH"/ZAR target 6 (Christiana)

3d

Ebay

76

14/5/85

Thursday

"FH"

3d

Ebay

77

15/5/85

Friday

"FH"

3d

RPS certificate

Status Int. auction

78

29/5/85

Friday

"FH"

3d

Ebay

79

12/6/(85)

Friday

date only

1d

year digit off stamp. but possibly 85.

Grosvenor

80

19/6/85

Friday

date only

1d pair

Drysdall cover 5

Drysdall 1992 article

81

26/6/85

Friday

"F A Eaton" in blue pencil

1d x3

Drysdall cover 6

Drysdall 1992 article

82

?/6/85

blue pencil stroke

1d pair

Drysdall cover 7

Drysdall 1992 article

83

?/7/85

black pen stroke

4d

Drysdall cover 8

Drysdall 1992 article

84

?/9/85

not cancelled

1d pair

Drysdall cover 9

Drysdall 1992 article

85

?/10/85

not cancelled

"Twee"

Drysdall cover 10

Drysdall 1992 article

86

?/10/85

not cancelled

"Twee"

Drysdall Cover 11

Drysdall 1992 article

87

 

Undated

 

no date

"CGD pm"

3d

C.G. Dennison. Shown in Holmes. RPS certificate

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

88

no date

black pen stroke

1d

on piece in combination with Cape 2d cancelled BONC 232

Christie's 1986

89

no date

black pen stroke

1d

Neville Midwood

90

no date

black pen stroke

1d

Neville Midwood

91

no date

black pen stroke

1d

Taljaard

92

no date

black pen stroke

1d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

93

no date

black pen stroke

1d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

94

no date

black pen stroke

1d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

95

no date

black pen stroke

4d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

96

no date

black pen stroke

6d

Neville Midwood

97

no date

blue pencil stroke

1d pair

Taljaard

98

no date

blue pencil stroke

3d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

99

 

Outside Stellaland - Transit or receiving offices

 

2/3/85

Monday

cds Kimberley

6d

On piece

John Taylor

100

9/3/85

Monday

cds Kimberley

1d

Jurgens book

101

6/4/85

Monday

cds Barkly G.W.

3d

Cancel struck twice

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

102

12/4/85

Sunday

not cancelled

1d

Drysdall cover 13. Barkly West cds alongside.

Drysdall 1992 article

103

31/8/85

Monday

cds Barkly G.W.

1d pair

Cape 2d tied to pair by cds.

Spink 2014

104

7/9/85

Monday

cds Barkly G.W.

1d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

105

21/9/85

Monday

cds Kimberley

1d pair

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

106

24/10/85

Saturday

not cancelled

"Twee"

On piece in combination with Cape 6d. Barkly West cds

Royal Collection

107

2/7/86

Monday

cds Ladismith C.C.

1d

Late usage, probably by favour.

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

108

not clear

cds Kimberley

1d

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

109

 

Outside Stellaland - undated

 

no date

BONC 232

4d

Barkly West

Brian Fenemore

110

no date

BONC 232

6d

Barkly West

Brian Fenemore

111

no date

BONC 232

1/-

Barkly West

Michael Hamilton

112

no date

BONC 536

4d

Pudimoe

Bram Leeflang

113

no date

BONC 555

"Twee"

Vryburg. RPS cert stating… obliteration after demonetisation

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

114

no date

OFS numeral 27

1d

Hoopstad

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

115

no date

OFS numeral 27

1d

Hoopstad

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

116

no date

OFS numeral 27

3d

Hoopstad

Bram Leeflang

117

no date

ZAR target 8

1d

Zeerust

Taljaard (ex Jonkers)

118

no date

ZAR target 8

1d

Zeerust

Fernando Torres

119

 

Outside Stellaland - abroad

 

18/8/85

Tuesday

cds London

1d

Philangles 2013

120

Last update: 5 January 2015

 

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