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Southern Africa Philately
TBVC Philately - South African Homelands
A Review of TBVC Philately 1976 - 1994
Definitive Issues 1976 - 1991
By Otto Peetoom
Transkei

K.D. Matanzima
(1915 - 2003)
Bophuthatswana

Lucas Mangope
(Born 1923)

Venda

P.R. Mphephu
(1924 - 1988)

Ciskei

L.L.W. Sebe
(1926 -1994)
TBVC South African Homelands Philately 1976 - 1994

Introduction
The above Territories, Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei are often collectively referred to as ‘TBVC’.
These Bantustans were an attempt by the Ruling Republican Party to isolate the African Tribes into their ‘own’ Homeland.
Despite the efforts of the South African Government to promote the Bantustans as Independent States, no foreign Government ever accorded diplomatic recognition to any of the Bantustans. After the release of Nelson Mandela a general election took place on 27 April 1994 and the African National Congress (ANC) took 62% of the vote.

With the end of the Apartheid Regime in 1994, the Bantustans were dismantled and reincorporated into the Republic of South Africa. The drive to achieve this was spearheaded by the African National Congress as a central element of its programme of reform. Reincorporation was mostly achieved peacefully, although there was some resistance from the local elites, who stood to lose out on the opportunities for wealth and political power provided by the Homelands. The dismantling of Bophuthatswana and Ciskei was particularly difficult. In Ciskei, South African security forces had to intervene in March 1994 to defuse a political crisis.

Continued in next column

 

TBVC Philately
Setting politics and other factors aside, the TBVC issues created a bonanza for the Post Office and Government Printer. Many of the issues reflect the fauna and flora and/or the traditional way of life in the respective territories.
Each authority issued two definitives sets during their ‘Independence reign’ supplemented by reprints of certain denominations plus new values required for the increase in postage rates.

The Philatelic Bureau certainly ‘cashed in’ on the collector, besides mint and/or ‘cancelled to order’ (CTO) stamps, there was the ‘then popular’ cylinder strips of five and later in blocks of four. First day covers were supplemented by additional ‘Collectors sheets’, at first they were small folded cards which became single sheets with sets of commemoratives.
The foregoing was phased out and replaced by Maximum cards, one for each value. They were not issued for every commemorative.

Postal Stationery
The TBVC territories also issued postcards and aerogrammes with an Imprinted stamp plus plain registration envelopes, without an imprinted value. As the postal rate increased, new sets of stationery were issued.

Date Stamp Cards and Special Commemorative Covers
The above, often with pictorial cancels, usually for Philatelic events and/or other specific occasions.

 
Transkei - First Definitive Reprints
All Reprints Perforation 12 x 12½


1c - Cylinders 145 - 149


1c - Not Perf thru top margin

Perforation
12 x 12½
Reprints

Reported in
The South African Philatelist
December 1977 (2c/3c/4c)

Second 4c dated
1978-03-01

Note extra perforation
hole in side margin

5c dated 1978-08-21


2c - Cylinders 150 - 155


3c - Cylinders 156 - 161

Perforation 12 x 12½

4c - Cylinders 167 - 172

Perforation 12 x 12½

4c - Cylinders 188 - 193

Perforation 12 x 12½

5c - Cylinders 162 - 166

Perforation 14
Reprints

15-11-1979

First value 4c
Cylinders 324 - 329

Value
Date
1c
28-3-83
2c
5-7-82
3c
6-7-82
4c
15-11-79
5c
8-4-80
6c
08-7-82
8c
20-1-82
9c
13-7-82
10c
11-8-80
15c
16-10-81
20c
26-10-81
30c
13-8-80
50c
13-11-81

Perforation 14

2c - Cylinders 544 - 549

01-03-1978

21-08-1978

05-07-1982

All Reprints Perforation 14


3c - Cylinders 550 - 555


4c - Cylinders 324 - 329


4c - Cylinders 556 - 561


5c - Cylinders 353 - 357


5c - Cylinders 401 - 405

06-07-1982

15-11-1979

07-07-1982

08-04-1980

13-10-1980

All Reprints Perforation 14


6c - Cylinders 562 - 567


8c - Cylinders 490 - 495


8c - Cylinders 574 - 579


9c - Cylinders 580 - 584


10c - Cylinders 374 - 379

08-07-1982

20-01-1982

12-07-1982

13-07-1982

11-08-1980

All Reprints Perforation 14


10c - Cylinders 585 - 590


15c - Cylinders 467 - 471


15c - Cylinders 591 - 596


20c - Cylinders 406 - 411


20c - Cylinders 597 - 602

14-07-1982

16-10-1981

15-07-1982

15-10-1980

16-07-1982

All Reprints Perforation 14


25c - Cylinders 472 - 476


25c - Cylinders 603 - 607


30c - Cylinders 380 - 384


30c - Cylinders 608 - 612

26-10-1981

19-07-1982

13-08-1980

20-07-1982


50c - Cylinders 477 - 483
13-11-1981
All Reprints Perforation 14

28-03-1983 1c - Cylinders 633 - 637

16-11-1983 2c - Cylinders 690 - 695

23-11-1983 5c - Cylinders 696 - 700

31-03-1983 9c - Cylinders 638 - 642

During 1983 the sheet layout was altered and instead of panes of 25 producing cylinder strips of five, the new system produced cylinder blocks of four

All Reprints Perforation 14

10c - Cylinders 643 - 648

30c - Cylinders 649 - 653

50c - Cylinders 701 - 707
07-04-1983
11-04-1983
30-11-1983
TBVC South African Homelands Philately 1976 - 1994

Informative Brochures (Booklets)
INTERSAPA produced an interesting and informative brochure for each territory, although, reading between the lines, it does emphasise what a ‘wonderful job’ the apartheid Government was doing for TBVC!

Non - related TBVC Stamp Issues
INTERSAPA marketing and exploitation of the collector introduced several series of commemoratives. The subject might be interesting, but has nothing whatsoever to do with the TBVC territories.
Transkei produced ‘Heroes of Medicine’ eight issues (32 stamps).

Bophuthatswana took on ‘History of the Telephone’ (four sets) ‘Easter Stamps’ (12 issues) plus ‘Old African Maps’ (three issues) totalling 76 unnecessary stamps.

Venda ventured into ‘History of Writing’ (7 sets) and when that ran dry followed on with three sets of ‘Inventions’, another 40 stamps to add to the tally.

Ciskei appears to have had a fascination for outer space and includes ‘Halley’s Comet’ in a sheetlet of ten; the 1991 second definitive features ‘The solar System’ 15 values plus a miniature sheet. The foregoing being rounded off with a set of four ‘Satellites over Southern Africa’. Another series featured ‘British Military Uniforms’ three issues = 15 stamps and includes a set of four ‘Sail Troopships’.

The Joy for Thematic Collectors
The TBVC issues certainly catered for this group of collectors and themes include plants, flowers, trees, aloes, cycads, wild fruits. Then there are animals (wild and domestic), birds, bees, butterflies, fish, sharks, dolphins and crocodiles, followed by spiders, chickens, cats and dogs.
There are aeroplanes, ships, cars and locomotives. There are people at work or at play includes sport, boy scouts and girl guides. Dams, waterfalls and scenic views...so the list goes on...

Continued in next column

 

Promoting TBVC Philately on the Internet
I acquired the TBVC INTERSAPA albums with the view to making web pages for each of the four Territories plus a TBVC Philately page, the aim being to raise an interest in Homelands Philately. It might be ‘modern’ but there is certainly more to it than at first meets the eye. Already the Internet search engines has elevated my TBVC offering to No 1 on page one, which was the intention. The foregoing is an ongoing project of promoting all Southern Africa Philately on the internet and that in turn is supported by a journal entitled Southern Africa Philately. There is also an annual Southern Africa Philatelic Conference weekend which takes place in November each year. It enjoys support from all the Southern Africa Philatelic Societies and of over 40 people attended in 2017.

TBVC Study Group
Instigated in 2009 by the late Rev Cassie Carstens, a small group of enthusiasts meet in Pretoria once a month; I have made contact with a few of its members in order to appreciate what they are currently doing. Heinz Wirz informed me that he is writing a book on each of the TBVC territories.

Bophuthatswana
Heinz wrote...The first edition of Bophuthatswana has already been published, but before I was able to gain access to the pencil drawings and subsequent research in the post office museum and afforded the opportunity to scan the original art work created for the Bop stamps as well as the other homelands. The Bop book is sold out and in need of a second edition to include these artworks and an expanded postmark section with a new map that includes the railway network...

...The Transkei book is progressing very well and approaching 500 pages and is along the same line as the Ciskei book and will hopefully be published early in the New Year with Venda book following later in 2018 and the Bop book probably in 2019...

Note - The Bophuthatswana and Ciskei books were reviewed in The South African Philatelist (June 2016 and August 2017).
Bophuthatswana 226 pages, fifty copies printed, cost ZAR 400 and Ciskei 299 pages, sixty printed, price ZAR 850. I hope to gain sight of these publications and can then comment further.

 

07-01-91 1c - Cylinders 1291 - 1294
1984 Second definitive Reprints

The first Reprint was for the 14c (New Value)
on 11.7.86 and the final Reprint on
8.12.93 being the 10c value

The 1c Cylinders 1291 - 1294
is on Chalky paper

The 14c and 16c values are also on Chalky paper

25-02-1992 1c - Cylinders 1363 - 1366

12-06-1987 2c - Cylinders 1036 - 1039

14-10-1988 2c - Cylinders 1126 - 1129

25-02-1992 2c - Cylinders 1367 - 1370

29-05-1992 5c - Cylinders 1371 - 1374

09-12-1992 5c - Cylinders 1452 - 1455

15-11-1991 7c - Cylinders 1343 - 1346

17-06-1992 7c - Cylinders 1395 - 1398

08-12-1993 10c - Cylinders 1500 - 1503

11-07-1986 14c - Cylinders 952 - 955

20-07-1993 15c - Cylinders 1488 - 1491

22-04-1988 16c - Cylinders 1090 - 1093

14-10-1988 16c - Cylinders 1130 - 1133

20-07-1993 20c - Cylinders 1492 - 1495

17-06-1992 25c - Cylinders 1399 - 1402

20-07-1993 25c - Cylinders 1496 - 1499
TBVC Homelands Philately 1976 - 1994
A Review of the stamp issues
Transkei issued the first Homelands stamps on 26 October 1976 and Venda produced the very last Commemorative stamps on 29 April 1994.
Prior to the termination of the Bantustan Republics a stamp programme for 1994 was published in the April 1994 edition of The South African Philatelist. The designs are all illustrated in the SAP indicating sets of four, three each for Transkei (Coastal birds, Bats and Heroes of Medicine - 9th issue) and Bophuthatswana (Chicken breeds 2nd series, Maps of Africa 4th series and Medals).
Venda
- Inventions 4th series and Ciskei - Birds of Prey and Rock Art.


Transkei Stamp Issues
1976 First Definitive 17 values, perforation 12 x 12½ plus 14 reprints, perforation 14 making a total of 17 designs - 31 collectable stamps.

1984 Second Definitive 17 values plus five additional new values 11c, 12c, 14c, 16c and 21c (No 18c value) Total 22 designs - 1c reprint on chalky paper 23 collectable stamps.

Commemoratives
71 sets plus three miniature sheets. Stamps per issue 1 x 1, 2 x 4, 3 x 3, 4 x 57, 5 x 5 and 8 x 1 totalling 279 different designs.

In addition three MS with four stamps each (12 stamps) plus nine Foundation MS from 1986 to 1994 (9 stamps) adding 21 stamps to the count.

Grand Total
Transkei boasts 318 designs that amount to 354 collectable stamps.


Bophuthatswana Stamp Issues
1977 First Definitives
17 values
perforation 12½ plus eight reprints, perforation 14 making a total of 17 designs - 25 collectable stamps.


1985 Second Definitive
17 values plus six additional new values 11c, 12c, 14c, 16c, 18c and 21c (5 designs). The reprints include 11 values on Ordinary Paper plus a 12c on Chalky paper (They are the ‘a’ No’s in the SG catalogue)

Thus the 1985 set offers 27 different designs and 39 collectable stamps.

Commemoratives

69 sets plus one miniature sheet (1993 Locomotives). Stamps per issue 1 x 1,
2 x 4, 3 x 2, 4 x 60 and 5 x 2 = 265 different designs
. Add to that a MS with four stamps and eight Foundation sheets with 8 stamps, making a total of 277 collectable stamps.

Grand Total
Bophuthatswana offers 309 designs totalling 341 collectable stamps.


Continued in next column
 

Venda Stamp Issues
1979 First Definitives 17 values perforation 12½ plus two added values, 11c & 12c eight reprints, perforation 14 making a total of 19 designs and 27 collectable stamps.


1986 Second Definitive 17 values plus four additional new values 14c, 16c, 18c and 21c making 21 designs. The reprints include 10 values on Ordinary Paper (They are the ‘a’ No’s in the SG catalogue)
Thus there are 31 collectable stamps.

Commemoratives
59 sets plus three miniature sheets, 1981 Orchids, 1993 Herons and 1994 Monkeys. Stamps per issue
4 x 59 = 236 designs. MS x 3 (12 stamps) plus nine Foundation MS (9 stamps) = 257 collectable stamps.

Grand Total
Venda has 236 designs totalling 315 collectable stamps.

Ciskei Stamp Issues
1981 First Definitives 17 values plus six new values = 23 designs.

1991 Second Definitives
15 values plus a MS (15 stamps)
Defintive total 38 designs and 53 collectable stamps.

Commemoratives
49 sets plus two miniature sheets
, 1993 Plants and 1994 Roses
Stamps per issue 4 x 41, 5 x 6, 10 x 2 = 214 designs. MS x 3 (8 stamps) plus eight Foundation MS (8 stamps) = 230 collectable stamps.

Grand Total
Ciskei offers 252 designs making 283 collectable stamps.

Defs Designs

Defs Stamps

Com Designs

Com Stamps

Transkei
39
54
279
300
Bophuthatswana
44
64
265
277
Venda
40
58
236
257
Ciskei
38
53
214
230
Totals
161
229
994
1064
Designs
Stamps
Definitives
161
229
Commemoratives
994
1064
Totals
1155
1293

From 26.10.1976 to 29.4.1994 in 17 years 6 months 5 days TBVC provided 1293 collectable stamps making an average of 74 stamps per year or 6+ stamps per month (66 designs per Annum)

 
Bophuthatswana - First Definitive Reprints - All Perforation 14


1c - Cylinders 340 - 343
15-04-1981


2c - Cylinders 432 - 435
21-06-1982


1c - Cylinders 552 - 555
23-11-1983



2c - Cylinders 496 - 499
27-05-1983


3c - Cylinders 440 - 443
18-08-1982


4c - Cylinders 207 - 210

06-07-1979


5c - Cylinders 235 - 238
05-01-1980


7c - Cylinders 231 - 234
18-12-1979


8c - Cylinders 396 - 399
02-02-1982


10c - Cylinders 436 - 439
21-06-1982


4c - Cylinders 500 - 503 30-05-1983

10c - Cylinders 492 - 495 22-03-1983

TBVC Homelands Philately (1976 - 1994) On-going Review

Other Collectable items related with TBVC Stamps
First Day Covers
The First Definitive issues are presented on a cards
Transkei - Blank on the reverse and in a plastic sleeve with the Coat of Arms in Gold.

Bophuthatswana -
Details of the Totems depicted on the stamps noting each tribe they belong to. Card in a plain plastic sleeve.

Venda
A card is folded in half with the details of the various flowers on the inside front and on the reverse.

Ciskei
On the reverse of the card is the details of each bird. The 11c New value only available on a maxi card. Other new values 12c, 14c 16c, 18c and 21c all on their own illustrated envelope.

Second Definitive issues
Transkei -
On a card housed in an envelope on the reverse there is a brief description of the various Tribal Customs practised by the Xhosa. 11c on a maxi card. 12c, 14c, 16c and 21c on illustrated envelopes.

Bophuthatswana - The theme is Industries and a description of each design is on the reverse of the card. New values, 11c on a maxi card. 12c, 14c, 16c, 18c and 21c (Strip of 5 different stamps) all on separate illustrated envelopes.

Venda -
The theme is Reptiles and they are described on the reverse of the card. New values 11c on maxi card. 12c, 14c, 16c, 18c and 21c on separate illustrated envelopes.

Ciskei -
Card folded into three sections, with the se-tenant miniature sheet on the inside front, the remaining space devoted to describing each design.

Continued in next column

 

TBVC Commemorative Issues
As may be anticipated there is an illustrated envelope for each issue, including all MS. For the Foundation MS each Territory issued an FDC for the 1986 to 1992 issues, seven for each TBVC.
There is no FDC for Transkei 1993/94, Bophuthatswana 1993, Venda 1993/94 and Ciskei 1993.

FDC’s

Defs

New Vals

Comms

MS

Found MS

Transkei
2
4
71
3
7
Bophuthatswana
2
5
69
1
7
Venda
2
5
59
3
7
Ciskei
2
5
49
2
7
Totals
8
19
248
9
28
FDC's

Transkei

Bop

Venda

Ciskei

Definitives
6
7
7
7
Commemoratives
71
69
59
49
MS
3
1
3
2
Foundation
7
7
7
7
Totals
87
84
76
65

TBVC FDC’s Total 312 and there are a few ‘Special’ events to add to the count. Transkei issued a return flight FDC in 1977 (FDC No 1.4)

Bophuthatswana - Issued seven illustrated envelopes for special events being Mafikeng (2.9.1980) World Title Fight (25.10.1980) Gillwell Reunion (4.9.1982) Thaba Nchu (1.10.1983) Taung Skull Anniversary (4.2.1985) Mafikeng Anniversary (11.3.1985) and The Sun City Express (4.3 1989)

Only three of the above covers have Post Office Status being numbered 1.13s, 1.27s and 1.32.2 (s = special)

Venda
Issued one extra No 1.20Special Donald Fraser Hospital 1934 - 1984

 
Bophuthatswana - 1985 Second definitive Reprints

01-03-1989 1c - Cylinders 974 - 977

01-06-1990 1c - Cylinders 1078 - 1081

31-12-1990 1c - Cylinders 1135 - 1138

22-05-1991 1c - Cylinders 1179 - 1182

18-07-1994 1c - Cylinders 1451 - 1454

28-05-1986 2c - Cylinders 794 - 797

01-06-1988 2c - Cylinders 914 - 917

20-07-1989 2c - Cylinders 998 - 1001

22-05-1991 2c - Cylinders 1183 - 1186

05-06-1992 2c - Cylinders 1275 - 1278

03-07-1992 4c - Cylinders 1307 - 1310

17-12-1992 5c - Cylinders 1355 - 1358

19-05-1993 5c - Cylinders 1407 - 1410

26-06-1992 6c - Cylinders 1279 - 1282

02-08-1991 7c - Cylinders 1203 - 1206

26-06-1992 7c - Cylinders 1283 - 1286

19-05-1993 10c - Cylinders 1411 - 1414

05-12-1985 12c - Cylinders 658 - 661

03-07-1992 15c - Cylinders 1311 - 1314

15-01-1993 15c - Cylinders 1395 - 1398

11-03-1994 15c - Cylinders 1447 - 1450

02-03-1988 16c - Cylinders 910 - 913

02-09-1987 20c - Cylinders 874 - 877

30-01-1990 20c - Cylinders 1074 - 1077

12-11-1990
20c - Cylinders 1139 - 1142

16-08-1991 20c - Cylinders 1231 - 1234

26-06-1992 20c - Cylinders 1287 - 1290

27-06-1994 20c - Cylinders 1455 - 1458

20-07-1989 25c - Cylinders 1002 - 1005

01-06-1990 25c - Cylinders 1082 - 1085

24-01-1992 25c - Cylinders 1255 - 1258

03-07-1992 25c - Cylinders 1315 - 1318

01-02-1989 30c - Cylinders 966 - 969

01-06-1990 30c - Cylinders 1086 - 1089

16-08-1991 30c - Cylinders 1235 - 1238

15-01-1993 30c - Cylinders 1399 - 1402

18-07-1994 30c - Cylinders 1459 - 1462

01-02-1989 50c - Cylinders 970 - 973

06-08-1990 50c - Cylinders 1110 - 1113

04-10-1991 50c - Cylinders 1207 - 1210

15-01-1993 50c - Cylinders 1403 - 1406

04-10-1991 R1 - Cylinders 1211 - 1214
Venda - First Definitive Reprints

30-04-1982 1c - Cylinders 274 - 277

06-05-1981 2c - Cylinders 202 - 205

18-08-1982 3c - Cylinders 310 - 313

15-01-1980 5c - Cylinders 114 - 117

27-01-1982 8c - Cylinders 254 - 257

22-01-1980 25c - Cylinders 118 - 121


05-11-1984


08-03-1984


04-03-1983


17-02-1984

1c - Cylinders 458 - 461

2c - Cylinders 418 - 421

10c - Cylinders 346 - 349

50c - Cylinders 414 - 417

Venda - Second Definitive Reprints

29-05-1989 1c - Cylinders 872 - 875

19-12-1990 1c - Cylinders 978 - 981

29-05-1989 2c - Cylinders 876 - 879

17-09-1990 2c - Cylinders 970 - 973

07-09-1992 2c - Cylinders 1134 - 1137

15-07-1991 5c - Cylinders 1022 - 1025

19-10-1992 5c - Cylinders 1142 - 1145

12-07-1993 5c - Cylinders 1202 - 1205

22-04-1994 5c - Cylinders 1302 - 1305

06-08-19912 7c - Cylinders 1058 - 1061

 

12-07-1993 8c - Cylinders 1206 - 1209


27-01-1982 10c - Cylinders 254 - 257

20-07-1993 10c - Cylinders 1218- 1221

13-12-1993 10c - Cylinders 1254 - 1257

13-09-1989 15c - Cylinders 880 - 883

12-07-1993 15c - Cylinders 1210 - 1213

22-04-1994 15c - Cylinders 1306 - 1309

18-02-1988 16c - Cylinders 791 - 794

30-09-1988 16c - Cylinders 811 - 814

17-09-1990 20c - Cylinders 974 - 977

07-09-1992 20c - Cylinders 1138 - 1141

12-07-1993 20c - Cylinders 1214 - 1217

14-03-1994 20c - Cylinders 1298 - 1301

10-12-1987 30c - Cylinders 787 - 790

04-09-1992 30c - Cylinders 1146 - 1149

13-12-1993 30c - Cylinders 1258 - 1261

14-01-1991 50c - Cylinders 1002 - 1005

09-07-1990 R1 - Cylinders 934 - 937

27-01-1989 R2 - Cylinders 847 - 850

13-12-1993 R2 - Cylinders 1262 - 1265
Ciskei - First Definitive Reprints
04-12-1981 - 8c Original Printing - Cylinders 29 - 32
13-01-1982 - 8c Reprint - Cylinders 87 - 90

4 December 1981
Original Printings
17 Values from 1c to R2
Additional values
11c, 12c, 14c, 16c, 18c & 21c

Reprints
8c in Cylinder strip of 5
Cylinder blocks of four
1c, 2c, 9c, 10c, 15c, 16c
20c, 25c, 30c, 50c, R1 & R2


02-09-1987


30-01-1990


20-07-1989

 

1c - Cylinders 464 - 467

1c - Cylinders 668 - 671

2c - Cylinders 604 - 607


14-08-1989


09-11-1983


21-08-1989


21-08-1989

9c - Cylinders 616 - 619

10c - Cylinders 226 - 229

10c - Cylinders 608 - 611

15c - Cylinders 612 - 615


18-02-1988


01-07-1989


27-01-1989


01-07-1988

16c - Cylinders 488 - 491

16c - Cylinders 512 - 515

20c - Cylinders 576 - 579

25c - Cylinders 516 - 519


31-10-1988


31-10-1988


31-10-1988


31-10-1988

30c - Cylinders 540 - 543

50c - Cylinders 544 - 547

R1 - Cylinders 548 - 551

R1 - Cylinders 552 - 555

1 August 1991 - Second Definities (The Solar System)
Original 20c - Cylinders 770 - 773
Original 25c - Cylinders 774 - 777
Original 35c - Cylinders 782 - 785
Reprint 16-11-1992 Cylinders 894 - 897
Reprint 16-11-1992 Cylinders 898 - 901
Reprint 27-04-1993 Cylinders 983 - 986
Reprint 16-11-1992 Cylinders 902 - 905
The Above is almost complete
Further Information will follow

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