Lot 379
Officers mail: 1880 (14 Oct.) envelope from Umtata (Tembuland) to Ripley, Surrey, England bearing 1864-77 6d violet tied by light "55" BONC handstamp, endorsed "Fort Harrison October 13 1880", bears UMTATA OC 14 80 c.d.s., backstamped KING WILLIAMS TOWN OC 16 80 c.d.s. and CAPE TOWN OC 21 80 CAPE COLONY transit c.d.s. with Woking Station receiver of 16 November 1880, scarce, Signed Richard Johnson, ex Dillaway. SG 25b.
Estimate $200 - 300
Frescura records the earliest known usage of the "55" BONC as 15 July 1886. An early military letter from a ranking member of the peace-keeping force stationed at Fort Harrison shortly after the Ninth Frontier War. When the great warrior Ndamse died in 1876 his son ceded the land on the western bank of the Umzimvubu River mouth to the Cape Government in return for being recognized as the independent ruler. In 1878 the British flag was raised at Port St Johns and Fort Harrison was established to protect the newly acquired territory.
|
| |
| Opening Bid $95 |
