Aspects Of Rhodesia And Southern Rhodesia
A Display to The Royal Philatelic Society London by
Michael Moubray
Thursday 12th January 2006
Introduction
The territory that we now know as Zimbabwe has seen many changes in little over one hundred years, and sadly, they have not all been confined to those of name.
The postage stamps issued under the several forms of government may be divided into the following categories:-
The British South Africa Company stamps, 1892 -1923
Southern Rhodesia (responsible government), 1923 - 1953
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, 1953 -1963
Southern Rhodesia (post break-up), 1964
Independence, 1965-1980
Republic of Zimbabwe. 1980
These can be further subdivided and consequently the study offers plenty of variety. The history of the mail routes, the pioneer airmails, carriage during wartime conditions and, last but not least, the Revenue and Postal Stationery element adds to the very considerable interest.
The collection in the frames this afternoon has been formed over about thirty-five years and comprises material that has particularly appealed to me. Those who are looking for large blocks of Double Heads may be disappointed and, if so, I apologize but hope they may find something else to capture their imagination.
Records of many of the original stamps are, unfortunately, no longer available but much research has been achieved by philatelists both past and present and this has greatly enhanced my knowledge and enjoyment. I am especially grateful to those who have supplied information for this display.
Frames
1 The display begins with a hand-painted essay depicting Cecil John Rhodes, 1853-1902, who, having made a fortune in the Kimberley diamond fields of South Africa, entered parliament in Cape Colony and rose to become Prime Minister and virtual dictator. He was forced to resign in 1896 due to implication in the Jameson raid after which he devoted himself to the development of the territory that bears his name. The frame continues with the controversial Bechuanaland used in Rhodesia with a Gubulawayo/Bechuanaland 21 AU 88 obliteration after which day Bechuanaland was excised. There is a SPECIMEN card of the first definitive issue, reputedly the finest in existence. The stamps of the issue follow it.
2 The usages of the issue, specimen stamps and forgeries occupy this frame. The surcharged Salisbury Provisionals have always been considered a speculative issue and any used copies bear forged or "by favour" obliterations.
3 The bi-coloured stamps were issued in 1892-1894 and supplemented the missing values of the first definitive issue.
4 Covers showing usages of the stamps and the London printings of the
2d and 3d values by Perkins Bacon on thicker, softer paper.
5-6 The Large Arms Issue 1896-1897, with essays, proofs,
and the interesting Trials to measure paper shrinkage carried out on the
Sarawak plate proofs. Two dies were used. Notable in Frame 6 is the strip
of three of the 2s value overprinted Specimen which is omitted on the centre
stamp. This frame is completed by a page of rogues of which every collector
should be wary.
7-8 The Matabele Rebellion First Provisionals - April
1896.
These stamps include an essay for the THREE PENCE on ½d stamp with
the "T" inverted. The second provisionals follow with positional strips,
blocks, forgeries and a selection of covers. The frame finishes with examples
of the 1897 "Large Arms", the redrawn die with the ends of the scrolls
between the legs of the springboks and printed by Waterlow.
9-10 The Small Arms - 1898-1908
A Die proof and plate proofs, specimens, stamps, covers and obliterations.
The key stamp is the 1s Deep olive bistre. There are several interesting
obliterations.
The first frame ends with the £2 Rosy red perforation 15 which must
not be confused with the £2 of the first definitive issue.
During the Boer War a shortage of silver necessitated the use of stamps
as currency. An example of the 6d affixed to the back of a card bearing
a printed authority for issue signed by Marshall Hole illustrates this
use.
The second frame consists of covers including an item with a Victoria Falls
South Africa transit mark believed to be the only one known on cover.
11 Visit of British Association and Opening of the Victoria Falls
Bridge 1905, Specimens and usages.
12 "RHODESIA" 1909-1912 overprints on the Small Arms.
Various stamps were also surcharged but there was very little use for them
and they were probably issued to boost collector sales. Examples of cancelled
remainders are also shown.
13 The Double Heads 1910-1913
After the death of King Edward VII in May 1910, King George V consented
to a special new issue of Rhodesian stamps bearing the head of the King
and Queen Mary in commemoration of the visit of H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught.
They proved so popular that they were continued for three years and filled
a gap until the appearance of the Admirals.
14-16 The Admiral Issue 1913-22
Proofs and specimens, both overprinted and perforated, are shown. The ½d,
1d, 1½d and 2½d were printed from single working plates and
the remainder were bi-coloured from double plates. Three head dies were
employed which can be identified from the shading of the King's ear and
the shank of the anchor on his cap badge. Shades are numerous and the block
of the 1d Rose-red perforation 15 is believed to be unique. Most of the
stamps were perforated both 14 and 15. The 2d Die III perforation 15 in
mint condition is regarded as one of the rarest Rhodesians.
17-18 Livingstone Provisionals - 1917
Due to the imposition of War Tax the postage, both domestic and to the
African Postal Union, was increased from 1d to 1½d. Northern Rhodesian
had not ordered the new 1½d stamps from England and requested
a loan from Southern Rhodesia which was refused. As there was a considerable
stock of 1d stamps at Livingstone, the Post Office decided to surcharge
them with "Half Penny". A small press was used and the setting had to
be repeated three times on each sheet of 60 stamps. Printing varieties
included "ny" spaced wider, (nine times on each sheet) and "nn"spaced
wider (three times). Two sheets of slightly different shades bore inverted
surcharges and a block of four and both printing varieties are present.
There are also examples of forgeries.
Because of collector demand had consumed the stock a further printing had
to be made the following month. The type was reset with both a hyphen and
stop.
There were no varieties.
19 The Admirals of 1922-1924
New printings on white paper with clear gum, they show the mesh of the
paper clearly.
The 1923 printing does not show the mesh so clearly and the gum is very
smooth.
Stamps perforated 15 were not sent out to Rhodesia so those used could
only have been cancelled By Favour. It is useful to remember that the ½d
value can be distinguished from the 1913 issue by a minute white dot in
the King's left shoulder.
20-22 Rhodesian Postal Stationery - Examples of printing and some Destinations. Notable are those to Algiers, Hanoi, Manila, Moscow and South and Central America.
23 A Frame of Diversions including the Railway Newspaper, Matabele Telegraph and Tati Concessions stamps.
24 Historical pictures.
25-27 Southern Rhodesian Admirals 1924
The emphasis is on proofs, specimens, "imperforate betweens" and other
varieties.
28-29 The Field Marshals - 1930-1937
All the stamps, with the exception of the 2d and 3d "Small Falls" which
were typographed by Waterlow, were line-engraved by Bradbury Wilkinson.
The King was depicted wearing Black Watch uniform and R.C. Smith, in his
book, Rhodesia, A Postal History said they were considered to be lacking
in imagination and poor in quality, but one feels this was a personal opinion.
Most stamps were perforated 12, later 11½ and towards the end of
the period, some values were perforated 14. Notable is the booklet pane
of 1½d perforation 12 and a 5s block of four printed on the gummed
side.
30 2d and 3d Small Falls 1931
The late Gerald Simpson always felt that the 2d and 3d were not printed
by Waterlow but that they sub-contracted to another firm on the continent.
Extremely ugly and frequently attached upside down on envelopes, they
became known as the "Iceberg" issue. In 1932 they were replaced by the
larger and popular version resembling the 1905 commemoratives.
Proofs, specimens and "imperforate-betweens" varieties are in this frame.
31 Southern Rhodesia Experimental and Early Airmails
These include a parcel label from a chemist in Bulawayo to a store in Salisbury
carried on the first official airmail and early communication with Beira.
32 The Silver Jubilee 1935 is preceded by Bradbury Wilkinson
and Waterlow essays and progressive proofs.
These are followed by some very attractive essay material for a proposed
King Edward VIII issue, hand-painted by Edmund Dulac.
33-34 King George VI Coronation Issue and the 1937 Definitives.
35 Golden Jubilee of the British South Africa Company and 50th Anniversary of the Occupation of Matabeleland.
36 Royal Visit 1947, Victory and Diamond Jubilee
of the Colony in 1950.
The U.P.U. stamps are also included in the frame.
This is the only occasion that Southern Rhodesia participated in an omnibus
issue.
37 Accession of Queen Elizabeth II: 1 June 1953
The coronation issue consisted of a single stamp of 2s 6d value and was
quite different from any other produced by a member of the Commonwealth.
Printed by De La Rue in sheets of 60, its original duration was extended
because of pressure by the public. The Rhodes centenary exhibition at
Bulawayo is well covered by a rejected essay, the accepted design, progressive
proofs and usage.
38 Queen Elizabeth II Definitives August 1953
Considered by most philatelists to be the most attractive issue of Southern
Rhodesia, this set was also short-lived and abandoned on the formation
of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
39 First Federation Issue July 1954
Proofs are followed by coils, booklet stamps and examples of the Salisbury
Provisional Postage Due, both on and off cover.
40 Centenary of the Discovery of Victoria Falls 1955.
Proofs and stamps
Second Definitive Issue 1959-1962
The hunger to promote tourism resulted in the destruction of the beautiful
and simple first issue and a coarse and ugly pictorial creation was substituted.
Because of amalgamation and take-overs in the printing industry the three
printers, Waterlow, De La Rue and Bradbury Wilkinson were all used. these
were the last stamps to be line-engraved. Subsequent issues were all printed
by Harrison in photogravure.
41 Rhodesia Southern - Post Federation 1964
(inscribed "SOUTHERN RHODESIA") by Harrison.
On 11 November 1965 the country proclaimed its Universal Declaration of
Independence and issued a commemorative stamp designed by Colonel Dickenson,
the Postmaster General, and printed by lithography by Mardon Printers of
Salisbury. In January 1966 the Harrison definitives received an "Independence" overprint
by Mardons.
42 The Churchill commemorative stamp from withdrawn stock was surcharged
with "5s" to alleviate a shortage of that value. All these stamps were
considered illegal by the British Government who attempted to persuade
the U.P.U. to also proclaim their illegality.
Very few countries other than Great Britain took any notice and this is
not surprising in view of Article 53 of the Ottawa Convention.
Prepayment of Postage is effected by means of postage stamps printed
or affixed to the items and valid in the country of origin ... when such
a system is authorised by the internal regulations of the Administration
of origin. R.C. Smith continues: The British contention could
only be based on the fact that they regarded the Rhodesian stamps issued
after independence as being invalid within Rhodesia. Nothing could be further
from the truth... In the meantime a new issue arrived from Harrison
inscribed "RHODESIA". These are compared with the almost identical stamps
printed by Mardons.
43 Dual currency. There were four values printed in anticipation
of decimalisation and they were issued March 1967 and December 1968 although
decimalisation did not take place until 1970. Other commemoratives appeared
including a series on the great pioneers of the country.
Jameson, Beit and Milton were featured and others followed after decimalisation
so are beyond the scope of this exhibit.
Air Mails are treated chronologically in the three frames allotted to them.
Sub-headings are:- Pre War Period, Wartime, Peacetime Pre Federation, Federation
and Post Federation.
44 Air Mails to the United Kingdom.
45 Air Mails to Transatlantic Destinations.
46 Air Mails to other Destinations .
47-48 Rhodesian Southern Postal Stationery.
Post Cards, Envelopes, Registered envelopes and a section on Air Letters.
49 Revenues begin with an original photograph by Russell
taken from the Daily Mail War Album from which the design of the Admiral
Revenues was taken. Also in the frame are:-
A die proof printed by Waterlow on 12th October 1923,
Proof copies from the Waterlow Archives follow and used examples,
Imperforate proofs of the 1931 Field Marshal issue mounted on card produced
by Bradbury Wilkinson,
A violet proof of the frame lacking portrait and duty, and examples of
proofs both approved and not approved from 3s to £50,
Two Waterlow sample stamps of King George VI .
The entire set perforated specimen is believed to be the only set perforated
thus.
50 Used examples of King George VI with a used strip
of three of the £50 value
1952 Arms issue. There are vignette proofs of the Southern
Rhodesian Arms printed by Bradbury Wilkinson. It should be pointed out
that Southern Rhodesian revenue stamps continued unaltered during the Federation
period. The frame ends with a selection of Personal Tax stamps which are
the equivalent of our National Insurance stamps.
51 Postage Due, Prisoner of War and Internment Camp Letters.
Postage Dues include a block of four of the 4d sage green
There were five principal internment camps in Southern Rhodesia and examples
are shown from all five. Most of the internees came from Tanganyika and
Italian Somaliland. Strangely the majority of the Italian internees had
families in Sicily.
52 This frame contains a miscellany of items which have been difficult to place. There is an airgraph sent from Southern Rhodesia to the United Kingdom with the envelope in which it was delivered, a 1957 Royal Visit commemorative envelope, misdirected letters and a cover to the island of Saint Helena in 1935 which did not seem to fit in earlier.
Biography
Sir Leander Starr Jameson, 1853 -1917 Rhodesia's First Administrator
Leander Starr Jameson was born in Scotland on 9th February 1853, the twelfth and last child of a Writer to the Signet. His father had been saved from drowning while on a walk waiting for his child to be born. The name of the rescuer was Leander Starr and the infant was named after him and became his godchild.
The young Jameson trained as a doctor in London and went out to Kimberley where he practised and met Cecil Rhodes. He became administrator of Mashonaland in 1891 and, in 1895, led the abortive raid into the Transvaal for which he is well known. After serving a sentence in England (originally fifteen months) he returned to Capetown where he became the last Prime Minister of that colony.
He was made a baronet in 1911, returned to England in 1912 and died in London on 26th November 1917. He is buried at Worlds View in the Matopos near to his friend Cecil Rhodes.
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