Preview of Stamps Catalogue CD : VOLUME 1

TRANSVAAL 1885-1893

Return To Catalogue - Transvaal 1869-1884 - Transvaal 1894-1910 - Transvaal miscellaneous - South Africa

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The South African Republic (Z. Afr. Republiek), founded by the Boers in 1860, was occupied by the British in 1877 and the name of the country changed to Transvaal. The republic was restored in 1884 and re-occupied in 1900 to become the British crown colony of Transvaal. It joined the Union of South Africa in 1910. The capital is Pretoria

1885 Arms of Transvaal in a circle

4 p olive 1 Sh green 5 Sh black

  1/2 p grey
  1 p red
  2 p brown
  2 p yellow (1887)
  2 1/2 p lilac (1893)
  3 p lilac
  4 p olive
  6 p blue
  1 Sh green
  2 Sh 6 p yellow
  5 Sh black
  10 Sh brown
  5 Pounds green (1892)

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/2 p	c	c
1 p	*	c
2 p brown	*	*
2 p yellow	**	c
2 1/2 p	*	*
3 p	*	**
4 p	**	**
6 p	*	*
1 Sh	**	*
2 Sh 6 p	***	***
5 Sh	R	***
10 Sh	***	***
5 Pounds	R	R

Surcharged

  'Halve Penny' (=1/2 p) (red) on 2 p yellow
  'Halve Penny' on 2 p yellow
  'HALVE PENNY' on 3 p lilac (1885)
  '1d.' (green) on 2 1/2 p lilac (1895)
  '1 Penny' on 6 p blue (1893)
  '2d' on 3 p lilac (1887)
  '2 1/2 Pence' on 1 Sh (1893, inscription in one line)
  '2 1/2 Pence' on 1 Sh (1893, inscription in two lines)

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/2 p (black) on 2 p	**	**
1/2 p (red) on 2 p	**	**
1/2 p on 3 p	***	***	Exists with 'PRNNY' instead of 'PENNY'
1 p on 2 1/2 p	*	*
1 p on 6 p	*	*
2 p on 3 p	***	***	Two types of surcharge '2' different
2 1/2 p on 1 Sh	*	**	Surcharge in one line
2 1/2 p on 1 Sh	***	***	Surcharge in two lines

Overprinted 'V.R.I.'

  5 Pounds green (1900)

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 Pounds	RR	RR	See warning below

WARNING MOST OF THE STAMPS OF 5 POUNDS SURCHARGED 'V.R.I' ARE FORGERIES/ REPRINTS: Because of the Boer war, a large number of undelivered stamps (or reprints?) was present at the printer (Enschede, Netherlands) and ended up in collectors hands (through a dealer in Paris: Mirza Hadi? according to 'Philatelic Forgers Their Lives and Works' by Varro E. Tyler). All the unoverprinted stamps (1/2 p through 5 Pounds, except 2 1/2 p lilac?) can be found. Among them unperforated and umgummed specimens. They also exist with forged cancels. Furthermore forged overprints exist of the 'HALVE PENNY' on 3 p lilac, '2d' on 3 p lilac, '2 1/2 Pence' on 1 Sh (1893, inscription in one line) and '2 1/2 Pence' on 1 Sh (1893, inscription in two lines) on these remainders. Furthermore the overprint 'V.R.I' on 5 Pounds is forged on these remainders. It seems that the only way to recognize these 'reprints' is in their perforation characteristics (see http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/ymw18/transvl/study%20circle/challnge.html for more information).

(Imperforate forgery of the 5 Pounds stamp)

Postal stationery: I have seen a postcard (briefkaart) with inscription 'ZUID-AFRIK. REPUBLIEK' with a value of 1 p (similar design as the postage stamps without overprint).

1894 Arms of Transvaal, new type in an octagonal

  1/2 p grey
  1/2 p green (1896)
  1 p red
  1 p red and green (1896)
  2 p yellow
  2 p brown and green (1896)
  2 1/2 p blue and green (1896)
  3 p lilac
  3 p lilac and green (1896)
  4 p olive
  4 p olive and green (1896)
  6 p blue
  6 p lilac and green (1896)
  1 Sh green
  1 Sh yellow and green (1896)
  2 Sh 6 p violet and green (1896)
  5 Sh black
  10 Sh brown

Of some of these stamps two types exist, differing in the front part of the wagon in the central design (one or two poles in front of it, also reffered to as wagon with shaft and wagon with pole).

(The two types differing in the design of the wagon)
Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 p grey * * Two types
1/2 p green c c
1 p red c c Two types
1 p red and green c c
2 p yellow * c Two types
2 p brown and green c c
2 1/2 p * *
3 p lilac * *
3 p lilac and green * *
4 p olive ** **
4 p olive and green * *
6 p blue * * Two types
6 p lilac and green * *
1 Sh green ** ** Two types
1 Sh yellow and green * *
2 Sh 6 p * **
5 Sh *** ***
10 Sh *** ***

Surcharged

  'Halve Penny' (red) on 1 Sh green (1895)

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/2 p on 1 Sh	*	*	Inverted, double surcharges and other errors exist

Overprinted 'V.R.I.'

  1/2 p green
  1 p red and green
  2 p brown and green
  2 1/2 p blue and green
  3 p lilac and green
  4 p olive and green
  6 p lilac and green
  1 Sh yellow and green
  2 Sh 6 p lilac and green
  5 Sh black
  10 Sh brown

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/2 p	*	*
1 p	*	*
2 p	*	*
2 1/2 p	*	*
3 p	*	*
4 p	**	**
6 p	*	*
1 Sh	**	**
2 Sh 6 p	***	***
5 Sh	***	***
10 Sh	R	R

Forgeries, example

(Forgery)

Note that the perforation is different from a genuine stamp.

Overprinted 'E.R.I.'

  1/2 p green
  1 p red and green
  3 p lilac and green
  4 p olive and green
  2 Sh 6 p lilac and green

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/2 p	*	*
1 p	*	*
3 p	**	**
4 p	***	***
2 Sh 6 p	***	***

Overprinted 'E.R.I Half Penny'

  1/2 p on 2 p brown and green

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/2 p on 2 p	*	*

Issue for Vrijburg, overprint 'V.R. SPECIAL POST.'

2 p, nonissued?

  1/2 p green
  1 p red

Local issue?, 'V.R.I' overprint in a different type:

4 p, nonissued?
(Reduced size)

(I've been told that these three overprints are genuine)

Some other 'local' overprints (could be forgeries):

Issue for Schweizer Reneke, overprinted 'BESIEGED'

I have seen a stamp of Cape of Good Hope with the same overprint.

As was the case with the 1885 issue, a large number of undelivered stamps was present at the printer (Enschede, Netherlands) and ended up in collectors hands (the stamp dealer Mirza Hadi according to 'Philatelic Forgers Their Lives and Works' by Varro E. Tyler). All the unoverprinted stamps can be found among these remainders as well as imperforate and umgummed specimens. Furthermore the overprints 'V.R.I' and 'E.R.I' are known to be forged on these remainders.

(Imperforate Enschede remainders)

Forgeries

Besides the above described 'reprints', real forgeries also exist. In one such forgery, the belt of the soldier is missing (in my opinion these must be the forgeries offered by Fournier). Fournier offers 5 values for 5 Swiss Francs as first choice forgeries in his 1914 pricelist. However in 'The Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries' the following values can be found: 1/2 p green, 1 p red and green, 2 1/2 p blue and green, 3 p lilac and green, 4 p olive and green, 6 p lilac and green, 1 Sh yellow and green, 2 Sh 6 p violet and green and 5 Sh black. Furthermore the 'V.R.I' overprint were also applied to these forgeries by Fournier. One of the cancels used by Fournier is 'PRETORIA 6-AUG 97 Z.A.R.'.

For stamps of Transvaal issued from 1894 to 1910, click here.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer

Preview of Stamps Catalogue CD : VOLUME 1