The Cape and Natal Study Circle is a group of philatelists and historians who are passionate about the stamps, postal history and historical events of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal and Zululand.
We continue to explore CGH, Natal and Zululand themes with a combination of research, history and related matters and have including De La Rue’s Printing of the 1/- Stamp, The 1/2d Surcharge on the Cape 3d Claret, Cape Post Office Stones, Images of Early Natal on Postcards and Photos, Royal Hotel post-Christmas dinner
Read MoreDe La Rue’s first design and printing of a Natal stamp was that of the 1/- value. Previously, following its taking over of the contract to prepare Natal stamps from Perkins, Bacon, it had sufficed to use that company’s plates and prepare the 1d and 6d in new colours; this occurred between 1862 and 1866.
Read MoreThe beauty of the Natal countryside, its parks, beaches, rivers, mountains, hotels, Zulu people, public buildings in the main towns and scenes made famous by the Boer War, were amongst the many topics which provided a fruitful source for South African post card manufacturers
Read MoreTA unique type of combination cover, consisting of mixed Natal and Madagascar BIM frankings, was first highlighted (to this author’s knowledge) in the ‘Bill Hart’ Cavendish Auction of June 25/26, 1993.
Read MoreOf the rectangular stamps of the Cape, one in particular stands out in terms of its rarity. A typical description when it appears occasionally at auction is that given in the Spinks Shreves Galleries Sale 101 of May 2008: “S.G. #46, 1882 "One Half-penny." surcharge on 3d Deep claret, watermarked Crown and CC, a desirable unused example of truly one of the rarest
Read MorePostal services in Southern Africa go back over 500 years, when engraved stones were left behind by sailors landing at the Cape. These were marked with the date of arrival, the ship’s name and that of its commander and date of departure.
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