Introduction by Otto Peetoom
Errol van Greunen relocated from South Africa to the United Kingdom in 2012 and brought with him a document entitled ‘Philatelic Exhibitions in Southern Africa and Official South African Involvement in Stamp Shows’.
Errol recalls that he started work on the foregoing subject circa 1998 and completed his main document circa 2002.
Since then he has added subsequent exhibitions each year. It had been the intention to have his work published by the Postal History Society in South Africa but after six years nothing further transpired.

In its original form Errol's document includes 354 pages and would be an expensive item to turn into print and almost equally as dear to post.
For obvious reasons Errol would like his work to be seen and appreciated by others, but since relocating to England his document has been gathering dust.

In mid-October 2017 Errol contacted me to seek advice on what his options are and we discussed the matter at length on 25 October...On the same day I constructed this page, it has been linked up with the rest of this website and went live on 26 October 2017. In early December 2017 I split the document up into sections and each link below takes the viewer to the relevant section.

This document includes the following
1) Union Philatelic Exhibitions 1913 - 1960 (31 pages)
2) National - Philatelic Exhibitions in SA (126 pages)
3) Exhibitions in other Southern Africa Countries
4) Exhibitions Organised at a non-National Level
5) Youth Philately
6) South African Philatelic Dealers Association - SAPDA
7) Overseas Exhibitions
(33 Pages)
8) Exhibition Catalogues - Brochures
(22 pages)

Notes on the ‘van Greunen’ document
The listing on page 9 re‘alleged Exhibitions in 1904, 1906 and 1911’ ought to be taken lightly as the information is the result of ‘Historical Errors’ that have been addressed in the text further down.

Also note that the 1913 Durban Exhibition was ‘Not an International’ as alleged by H.O. Reisener (Again, see comments below).

 


South African Philatelic Exhibitions
The above document is on the internet hosted by ‘Google-drive’
and may be accessed in its original form via the link (354 Pages)
 
 
1920 An Alleged Exhibition by the Pretoria Philatelic Society

(van Greunen Page 181) Although the author does not quote a source, it is included in Pauw Steyl’s listing in the December 1991 SAP supplement and he does not quote a source either. I am sceptical of the foregoing as The Union Philatelist by J. Robertson was published from February to December 1920 and there is no mention of any exhibition in that publication. Obermeyer in the February 1942 SAP in a History of the Pretoria Philatelic Society does not mention an exhibition in 1920! Could this be another instance when an unsubstantiated rumour is presented as fact?
 
A Review of Early South African Stamp Exhibitions
By Otto Peetoom

Introduction - My own Research
I have an interest in the Pioneers of South African Philately.
Besides the usual published material, my approach is to source information from old or defunct journals which are not readily available to others.

It allows me to compare and cross check the accuracy of other work and it is not surprising to find errors, omissions and/or contradictions. I have published some of my research in issues of Southern Africa Philately and also added it to the appropriate website www.southafricacollector.com

1903 to 1913 Stamp Exhibitions
I have gained sight of two efforts which attempt to document all the Philatelic events in South Africa and it is disappointing that the era prior to 1913 only takes up half a page.
It suggests that the authors are not aware of or do not have access to the necessary source of information.

Observations on past Articles, Information and Authors
Until 1923 South African Philatelic journals tended to have a short lifespan. Some of the fledgling South African Philatelic Societies submitted reports to overseas Philatelic Journals such as the Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal (SGMJ) that made its debut in July 1890. Such reports are usually factual and an excellent source of information.

The contributors hark back to the early 20th century and include the likes of Emil Tamsen. Some of the subsequent reports appear to rely on recall rather than fact and lead to others repeating said information and presenting it as fact.

Emil Tamsen - South African Letter by Tamsen, was effectively a ‘current philatelic affairs’ letter that appeared in Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal from time to time.

1910 ‘Afrikander’
November 1910 in The Postage Stamp, article entitled Philately in South Africa by ‘Afrikander’ - the author wrote...A philatelic society was formed in Pretoria... This society held a highly successful exhibition on December 2nd and 5th, 1903, but since then it has been dormant. (Wednesday and Saturday)

1916 The South African Stamp Collector - November issue, page 157 ...Pretoria, 2 December 1904 (A year later on a Friday) staged under the auspices of the Pretoria Philatelic Society, held in the (then) local Museum Buildings...

Above is a typical ‘Historical Error’ which intimates that the Pretoria Philatelic Society staged an Exhibition in consecutive years...but that is not possible as the society became defunct in 1904 and did not get going again until May 1905.

Sylvester Crozet - His articles in the SAP always creates an impression that they are factual and well researched.
Crozet presented an article in the August 1963 SAP on the 1913 Durban Exhibition. More of this later...

Hasso Reisener
Published a book The Special Commemorative Postmarks, cachets & covers of South Africa (1975) His information is revered by some as impeccable and I have made reference to his work on numerous occasions. I found untold number of errors in the text and often his SAP reference are incorrect...this makes me wary of anything published in the book.

For instance the 1925 Royal Tour, the author includes an ‘Official Itinerary’ problem is, it proved to be the ‘Proposed’ and not the ‘actual’ itinerary.
This in turn has led to others making ridiculous statements due to accepting Reisener as being ‘correct’(see SAP 2001 February & April).

Wilhelm Grütter - Presented a summary on the 1913 to 1960 exhibitions in the August 1998 SAP.

Pauw Steyl
The author of numerous articles relating to the early history of South African Philately, this has included early Stamp Dealers, personalities, Philatelic Societies and Stamp Exhibitions. Whilst he has presented a host of interesting information, it is invariably written in Afrikaans.
There is nothing wrong in that, but unless one can read the ‘Taal’(language) it requires a translator.

Having lived in the United Kingdom for the past 50 years, my Afrikaans is perhaps somewhat ‘rusty’ but I cope! I have not met Pauw, but his contribution to the subject is commendable and he is a recipient of the Manfred Weinstein Medallion (1998).

Die Ontwikkelingsgeskiedenis van Posseëluitstallings in Suid-Afrika by Pauw Steyl being a supplement to the December 1991 SAP (written in Afrikaans) and translates as the ‘Development of Stamp Exhibitions in South Africa’.

I am surprised and disappointed that there are only a few lines covering 1903 to 1913 stamp exhibitions.


Continued in next column

 

December 1903 in Pretoria - A Factual report submitted by the Pretoria Philatelic society published in SGMJ (30.1.1904) ...An Exhibition of Stamps was held, under the auspices of the Pretoria Society, in the Pretoria Museum, on the 2nd and 5th December 1903...This was the first Exhibition of Stamps held in Pretoria...

Pretoria December 1904 (False report) Society defunct! It is meant to be the 1903 exhibition. - (see previous column)

Durban 6 August 1906 Reported in the The Natal Mercury and SGMJ (29.09.06)...The first ever promoted in the Colony was held yesterday, in the YMCA Buildings, under the auspices of the Durban and District Society...

December 1906 Pretoria - A second Exhibition in Transvaal
Stated as held in Hotel Imperial on 15 and 16 December (SAP October 1970) being Saturday and Sunday. The 16th appears to me as a strange day for a stamp exhibition in Pretoria, in a highly religious city on a Sunday that includes Dingaan’s day?

The source of this report is attributed to The South African Stamp Collector (November 1916) being the same party who stated the 1903 Pretoria exhibition was held in 1904 instead of 1903! If another show did take place, perhaps it was staged in a different year?

It should also be noted that the same publication makes no mention of an alleged exhibition in Pretoria during 1911.

The Pretoria Philatelic Society report for 1906 appeared in Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal 28 February 1907 and there is no mention of any exhibition.

Pretoria October 1911
Noted by Pauw Steyl, I am sceptical of this report as the Pretoria Society had ground to a halt in 1909 until 19 October 1911 (Source SAP February 1942). They would hardly be in a position to stage an exhibition.

At the time a 2nd version of The South African Philatelist was published by the Johannesburg United Philatelic Society...from October to December 1911 there are no reports about any exhibition in Pretoria.

The December 1911 SAP included a report from the newly ‘resurrected’ Pretoria Society... no mention of an exhibition.
I also searched the appropriate issues of the SGMJ and drew another blank there as well.

1913 Durban Stamp Exhibition (30 June to 5 July)
I produced an article on this exhibition in Southern Africa Philately No 4 (October 2016) and drew on contemporary information published in the SGMJ plus a summing up by Emil Tamsen in the August 1913 SGMJ.

In an October 1970 SAP it is hailed as...was undoubtedly the leading one... This show may claim to be the first ‘Union’ exhibition as I discount the alleged 1911 show.

At the time, the first competitive Stamp Exhibition in the Union took place; there were six philatelic societies in the country. Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Bloemfontein, East London, Cape Town plus one in Rhodesia.
This exhibition took place, thanks to the initiative of the Philatelic society of Natal, thus it was not a ‘National’ show let alone ‘the first international philatelic exhibition’ as incorrectly intimated by Reisener.

At least two British dealers made it to Durban, Bright & Son and Whitfield King, but their attendance does not turn it into an international. Subsequent to Reisener’s idea that ‘Durban 1913’ was an international, other authors have followed suit.

Exhibits and Gold Medals (Durban 1913)
The alleged number of exhibits is another bone of contention. In 1913 Tamsen in his SGMJ report wrote... Personally I had not expected that the Natal Philatelic Society would have got so many exhibits together as they did; over sixty were sent in, besides more than twenty of philatelic literature...

The South African Stamp Collector No 4, October 1916 in an article The Philatelic Society of Natal - Its Genesis and Work it notes...the Society should promote an Exhibition during the 1913 Durban Gala season...The entries numbered about 200...

The South African Philatelist (August 1963) by S. Crozet
...A total of 115 entries were received and of these 49 received awards, ten of which were gold medals...

According to Tamsen there were only 19 awards (six Gold) ...my own research later added another Gold medal to the count e.g. Six Gold Medals are said to be awarded for Sweden, CGH, Transvaal x 2, Malta and Transvaal Forgeries.
In the March 1920 edition of The Union Philatelist an obituary for Mr G.C. Herbert appeared and includes...his collection of Mauritius was awarded a gold medal at the Durban Exhibition of 1913... Thus the number of exhibits ranges from 60 to 200 and the awards from 19 to 49...

Researching and Philatelic Writing
The above demonstrates that writing about the early South African Stamp Exhibitions is far from easy. Piecing the past together from contemporary information has its pitfalls as what was published at the time is not guaranteed to be accurate.
The other problem has always been around...there are plenty of ‘readers’ but researchers and writers are thin on the be ground!

For More Detail on the above Exhibitions - See next Section

 
The First Pre-Union Stamp Exhibitions held in South Africa
2 & 5 December 1903 Pretoria - First Stamp Exhibition in Transvaal
6 August 1906 Durban - First Stamp Exhibition in Natal
15 & 16 December 1906 Pretoria - A Second Exhibition in Transvaal ?
  Introduction
My initial intention was to document, as best I can, the early South African philatelic journals. By necessity it includes the personalities involved and that in turn draws attention to the attempts to establish Philatelic societies.
All the foregoing in a vast country that included four provinces that were, at the time, far from ‘United’.

Prior to the infancy of organized philately an ancillary activity to the above were fledgling stamp exhibitions which were non-competitive. They were more than likely low key events arranged by a small number of enthusiasts who sought public support for their venture.

Locating accurate information on such events can be difficult as there were no current philatelic journals in South Africa at that time. Thus any contemporary report is either in the local press or may be found in a British philatelic journal.

Certain reports conflict and were noted by individuals who relied on recall rather than fact. For instance in 1916 a writer initmates that the 1903 Pretoria was held a year later in 1904...there is proof that in 1904 the Pretoria Philatelic Society was in fact defunct.

2 & 5 December 1903 Pretoria - First Stamp Exhibition in Transvaal


Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal 30 January 1904

A Factual report submitted by the Pretoria Philatelic society

An Exhibition of Stamps was held, under the auspices of the Pretoria Society, in the Pretoria Museum, on the 2nd and 5th December 1903.

This was the first Exhibition of Stamps held in Pretoria and it was well supported by collectors both of Pretoria and outside towns.
The exhibition was a success in every way and the interest shown was very gratifying to the promoters.

The exhibits were too numerous to be described in detail, but the following may be mentioned: - Mr H.P. de Boom - A complete set of Vryburg in blocks of four (used) and several nice varieties in Pietersburg and Transvaal.

Mr J. Clark - A specialised collection of surcharged stamps of the later issues of Transvaal, including a complete set with VRI inverted (used). Also a complete set of Rustenburg, Mafeking and Schweizer Renecke (used).

As may be anticipated many of the collections included stamps of the four colonies plus the Boer War Provisionals.

Mr A. Faure - A very nice lot of Ceylon and Persia.

E.H.L. Gorges - A really superb show of triangular Capes. Very strong in Wood blocks, including a block of four 1d red on entire and several pairs of the 4d blue.

Mr J.J. Haupt
- A very fine collection of the First Transvaal Republic, used, unused and on entire; also a very fine show, almost complete, of all the varieties of the later surcharges.

Mr Otto Koch – A complete set of unused Pietersburg, showing all varieties; also some very fine specimens of Transvaal, including some rare errors.
The feature of this exhibit was undoubtedly the show of the stamps of the New Republic, which included blocks of several values Tête-Bêche and a couple of pairs in the same condition.

Mr M.L. Levitt - A specialized collection of British South Africa Company, showing many minor varieties and shades; also a very nice lot of Egyptian stamps, including the early issues.

Mr C.C. Maynard -
Full sheets of Transvaal of the later issues.

Mr W.E. Oldfield - Showed complete panes of ‘V.R.I.’, Orange River Colony, all values; also a block of nine of the 6d pink, the centre stamp showing the error ‘figure omitted’. The 1s brown and 6d blue also appeared in the same condition.

Mr K.H. Rentes - The feature of this exhibit was that the specimens shown were all in mint blocks of four and included the earlier issues of Transvaal and Orange Free State; amongst the best of the former being a block of four ‘Halve penny’ on 1s green, Tête-Bêche mint and a pair of the 2½ pence on 1s green, inverted surcharge showing the error ‘2½d’ for ‘2½’.
This exhibit also included a very nice lot of triangular Capes, used, unused and in pairs. Also very interesting were the reconstructed sheets of the Pietersburg issue, only a few of the values being incomplete.

Mr V. Yorke-Hart - A really fine lot of picked specimens of Swazieland, showing the double surcharge on ½d grey (pair), errors ‘Swazielan’ on ½d and 2d and a unique pair ½d grey overprinted in red, one stamp showing surcharge omitted (used).

Dr J.W.B. Gunning -
A really interesting and remarkably complete collection of British Colonials, dating from 1900 up to the present date. All were in mint condition and made a very nice show.

The report singled out Emil Tamsen, who had travelled down from Nylstroom...and brought with him what was, no doubt, one of the finest lots shown, representing as they did too many rarities to give in detail. The following may be specially picked out:-
Transvaal - 1s green ‘V.R. TRANSVAAL’ in red, no dot (mint)
A complete set of QV 1 penny on 6d with both black and red surcharges
A nice block of four Queen’s Head ‘Halve penny’ in red on 6d (mint)

Zululand - 5s (mint) and £1 and £5 (used) in splendid condition.

Swazieland -
10s (mint) and several of the rare inverted surcharges, including the error ‘Swazielan’ on 2d inverted (unused)

The foregoing has been published in Southern Africa Philately No's 2 on
page 82, the Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal report
on the 1903 Pretoria Exhibition has been expanded and quoted in full.
Continued in next column

  Subsequent Reports on the 1903 Pretoria Exhibition
The Postage Stamp - 5 November 1910 (A British Stamp Journal)
In an article entitled Philately in South Africa by ‘Afrikander’ - the author wrote...A philatelic society was formed in Pretoria...This society held a highly successful exhibition on December 2nd and 5th, 1903, but since then it has been dormant. (Wednesday and Saturday)

The South African Stamp Collector November 1916 page 157
Pretoria, 2 December 1904 (A year later on a Friday) staged under the auspices of the Pretoria Philatelic Society, held in the (then) local Museum Buildings.

The foregoing report re-appeared in The South African Philatelist in its October 1970 edition on page 236


RSA 1971 First Day Cover - A repetition of the ‘Historical Year Error’


FDC Bi-lingual Inset ...Pretoria in 1904...

6 August 1906 Durban - First Stamp Exhibition in Natal

Published in the Stanley Gibbons Monthly 29 September 1906 and is a report from The Natal Mercury (7 August 1906)
The first ever promoted in the Colony was held yesterday, in the YMCA Buildings, under the auspices of the Durban and District Society and was attended by a very considerable measure of success, and, considering that it was the first attempt that has been made in this direction, the Committee and the members of the Society are to be congratulated on the fact that such a fine lot of stamps were got together, although they came from collections of comparatively few collectors...

...The Exhibition was opened yesterday by His Excellency Sir Henry McCallum, who it may be mentioned, is a collector himself... Much of the report is the speech by Sir Henry. What surprises me is that this exhibition was held on a Monday.

December 1906 Pretoria - A second Exhibition in Transvaal
Stated as held in Hotel Imperial on 15 and 16 December 1 being Saturday and Sunday. The 16th appears to me as a strange day for a stamp exhibition in Pretoria, in a highly religious city on a Sunday that includes Dingaan’s day?

The Pretoria Philatelic Society report for 1906 appeared in Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal 28 February 1907 and there is no mention of the above exhibition.

Comment on the Pre-Union Stamp Exhibitions
These isolated ‘Stamp shows’ appear to have lacked ‘National’ publicity. Given that there were no South African journals in circulation, unless these exhibitions received a ‘plug’ in the British journals, the remembrance that they actually took place soon faded. I make these remarks on the strength of a comment made by Tamsen in 1913.

South African Letter by Emil Tamsen, was effectively a ‘current philatelic affairs’ letter that appeared in Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal from time to time. In 1913 letters appeared in the January and August and for obvious reasons much was said about the June/July 1913 Durban Exhibition.
In his August missive Tamsen wrote...This South African Philatelic Exhibition is the second of its kind held in South Africa; the first was held in Pretoria in 1903, and was but a small affair compared with the one now held in Durban.

Thus Tamsen remembered 1903, because he attended, but omits the 1906 Durban and Pretoria affairs...the later requires further research, as current detail remains sketchy.

 
The First Union Stamp Exhibition - Durban 1913
By Otto Peetoom

This Article was Published in South African Philately No 4 (October 2016)
Introduction
Prior to the turn of the twentieth century and from the history of South African philatelic societies. It may be appreciated that most of the societies tended to falter and then spark back to life at a later date.

The pre-Union Stamp Exhibitions are very important from a historical point of view, however, as there were no collectable ‘souvenirs’ or a special datestamp. It would come as no surprise if the majority of Southern Africa collectors are not familiar with these events.(1)

Durban 1913
At the time, when the first competitive Stamp Exhibition in the Union took place, there were six philatelic societies in the country. Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Bloemfontein, East London, Cape Town plus one in Rhodesia.
This stamp show took place, thanks to the initiative of the Philatelic society of Natal, thus it was not a ‘National’ show let alone ‘the first international philatelic exhibition’ as incorrectly intimated by Reisener.(2)

Contemporary Information
Once again this is in short supply, at the time there was no South African philatelic journal and the last issue of South African Philatelic Advertiser and Natal Philatelist No 13 appeared in May 1912. The only source is either the local Natal press or British philatelic journals.

Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal 1912
31 July 1912 - Philatelic society of Natal 20 June 1912 meeting
...A discussion as to the feasibility of a Philatelic Exhibition during next winter season was the next item on the bill of fare...

Finally it was resolved that ‘The Secretary be asked to take steps to obtain an expression of opinion on the subject from all existing South African Societies’.

31 Oct 1912 - 5 September 1912 meeting
Some discussions took place as to the classes in the competitive section of the Exhibition which the Society is organizing.
It was finally decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Committee. The Secretary announced that all arrangements in connection with the Exhibition were progressing favourably.

Labels (3) advertising the affair have been printed and supplies sent to most of the philatelists in South Africa. Those who have not yet received a supply should write to the Hon. Secretary.

Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal 1913
31 January 1913 South Africa Letter by Emil Tamsen...
In July 1913, we are going to have a Philatelic Exhibition in Durban, under the auspices of the Natal Philatelic Society and I hope it will be a success.

Durban, the Brighton of South Africa, is simply lovely in July and everybody who can possibly get away from the Transvaal runs down to the sea. Consequently many collectors will be there and thus there ought to be a good competition.

I look forward to seeing a really good collection of Natal stamps. The 1869 - 70 issues, Gibbons’ No’s 26 to 58, have always been scarce here and I would like to see these well represented. The first issue of 1857, No’s 1 to 7, are only a matter of £ s. d., but the later issues afford more philatelic study, especially as there are more copies with forged than with genuine surcharges about out there...

28 February 1913 - 23 January 1913 meeting
A donation of £5 to the Exhibition funds from Mr C.A. MacDonald was acknowledged with thanks.

31 March 1913 - An undated Natal Society report
The Guarantee Fund of the Exhibition now totals £40, whilst donations to the amount of £8 7s have been received.

Messrs. Whitfield King and Co. of Ipswich, have informed the Committee that they intend exhibiting a large range of their popular albums.

The Committee of the Exhibition have arranged with a large insurance company to effect insurance on exhibits at the following rates: -

Fire..................1s 9d per cent
Burglary...........5s per cent

As the Committee intend to employ police officers to watch the exhibits day and night and only locked glass cases are being used, intending exhibitors will have no cause to be anxious regarding the exhibits during the time they are in the custody of the Committee.

Officers of the Staffordshire Regiment, now stationed in Natal, interested in Philately, have been made honorary members of the Society.

Anyone interested in the Exhibition can obtain all information regarding the same from the Honorary Secretary, Mr Norman Welsford, Box 588, Durban, Natal.

30 April 1913 - Another undated report
The Hon. Secretary stated the Administrator of Natal, Hon. C.J. Smythe, J.P. had accepted the nomination of Patron of the Exhibition. Other nominations accepted include: Hon. Vice-President, Mr W. Coleman, Postmaster, Durban; Vice-President MR H.G. Mackeurtan.

Notes
1 Exhibitions held in Pretoria 1903 & 1906 plus Durban 1906. See Above
2 The Special Commemorative Postmarks, cachets & covers of South Africa (1975) by H.O. Reisener.
3 Advertising Labels - Reisener illustrated one on page 191.
4 Information sourced from ABPS website ‘Who was who’
5 Tamsen states that three Gold Medals were awarded, but lists six Gold medals for Sweden, CGH, Transvaal x 2, Malta and Transvaal Forgeries.

Continued in next column

 
The Durban Stamp Exhibition
30 June to 5 July 1913

An exhibition poster was illustrated in the October 1970 edition of The South African Philatelist.
It informs us that it was held at the Old Library Buildings (Next to the Post office)

The Opening Ceremony by H.E. The Governor General Lord Gladstone, P.C.

Admission on the opening day was 2/-, other days 1/- or a season ticket for 3/6.
Children half-price.

On the fiftieth Anniversary of this show an article appeared in the August 1963 SAP by Sylvester L. Crozet.

I have identified one of the exhibition judges as George Blockey (1874 - 1939). (4)
He was made a RDPSA in 1932.


Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal 1913 - 30 August 1913
South Africa Letter by Emil Tamsen

A full and detailed report on the Exhibition was included by Tamsen and he wrote...The South African Philatelic Exhibition was held in Durban, Natal, from the 30th of June till the 5th of July (Open from Monday to Saturday) and was a great success. Lord Gladstone, the Governor-General of the South African Union, opened the Exhibition.

In his speech he stated that he had never been a stamp collector, except in so far that he once, some fifty years ago, tried to accumulate a million of penny British stamps, under the impression that he was to get £100 on the completion of his task, but he soon came to an end (evidently without achieving his object).

He said that he was pleased to see the beautiful and comprehensive collection exhibited, showing great industry, perseverance and skill and that collecting was an interesting pursuit and a valuable one, as it led to the acquisition of useful knowledge, geographical, historical, artistic and otherwise and that it deserved to be encouraged.

He added that perhaps it was proper he should perform the ceremony, as the representative of His Majesty the King, who had one of the finest collections in the world and who had given his patronage to the Society and he declared the Exhibition officially open.

Personally I had not expected that the Natal Philatelic Society would have got so many exhibits together as they did; over sixty were sent in, besides more than twenty of philatelic literature. Some of the British Colonies were well represented, Canada in two exhibits, Newfoundland in two, New Zealand in three, but many were not represented at all. The prizes were three Gold (5) three Silver and three Bronze Medals for nineteen exhibits.

Of European stamps there were only three exhibits, Mr N. Welsford getting a Gold Medal for Sweden...
The most important portion of the Exhibition was Class III
‘Created specially to interest South African Collectors’.


There were eighteen exhibits... seven Cape of Good Hope, four Natal, one Orange River Colony, two Rhodesia, three Transvaal and one of Zululand and Swazieland...
G.L. Allis, CGH - Gold and two Gold Medals for Transvaal to J.W. Kayton Schofield and W. Raffalovich.

Tamsen detailed all the other awards and also described the various categories being: - Class IV Junior collectors,
Class V collections of rare stamps, not less than fifty and not more than one hundred. Class VI British Colonials - a Gold for Malta.
Class VII ‘Philatelic Literature and Works’
Class VIII ‘The most suitable album, book or device for a special collection’. Class X ‘Special Arrangements of Stamps’ Gold to Leon de Raay for ‘Collection of Transvaal Forgeries’.
Class XI ‘Single Issues Specialized’

...There was a special post office on the premises with a special postmark reading ‘S.A. Stamp Exhibition, Durban’ and date (without this no Philatelic Exhibition is complete nowadays); the official in charge was kept pretty busy creating souvenirs...

The interesting point about the cancel is the reversed ‘N’ of the word EXHIBITION

...About the financial side of the Durban Exhibition I have not heard as yet, but I fear there will be, as usual, a deficit, which the guarantors will have to make good. The Exhibition as such was a success and all credit is due to the Natal Philatelic Society... End of Tamsen’s Report

Comment on Gold Medals
in South African Philately No 5 (Feb 2017)
March 1920 edition of The Union Philatelist an obituary for Mr G.C. Herbert appeared and includes...his collection of Mauritius was awarded a gold medal at the Durban Exhibition of 1913...

Comment on Number of Entries
The South African Stamp Collector No 4, October 1916 in an article The Philatelic Society of Natal - Its Genesis and Work it notes...the Society should promote an Exhibition during the 1913 Durban Gala season...The entries numbered about 200
...

 

The Natal Philatelic Society used this envelope to publicise the Exhibition
Special cards with various designs were produced by a talented lady helper, who spent days to preparing these postcards made out of pieces of postage stamps.
The majority show floral designs, they were numbered and sold for 1/6 at the Exhibition. According to Reisener the highest number seen is 1305
Otto Peetoom has seen an illustration of Postcard No 1303 - Above Illustrations by Errol van Greunen and Marge Viljoen

Web design by Otto Peetoom