TBVC - South African Homelands - Postal Stationery and Postmarks

Previous Page

Southern Africa Philately
Email info@southafricacollector.com

Next Page

TBVC Postal Stationery and Postmarks
South African Homelands
By Otto Peetoom
Postal Stationery - Date Stamp Cards - Postal History

Venda

Ciskei

Collect Index

Southern Africa Philately

Transkei
Postal Stationery - Postcards and Aerogrammes
In the December 1976 edition of The South African Philatelist and a note states...Aerogrammes, envelopes, post cards were all issued for sale
on the day of Independence, 26 October 1976. They all follow closely their South African counterparts as regards paper, format and size...

1976 Postcards - 3c Inland and 7c Overseas
Both issued in sets of ten on white glossy paper. The coloured portraits by Aubrey Elliott are at the left and a coloured definitive stamp at top right.
Inscriptions in English and Xhosa, the 3 cent Inland cars depict ‘Threshing sorghum’ and the portraits feature Xhosa males, from boys to old men.

7c Overseas Postcards - Include a 7c definitive Herd Boy and the portraits depict Xhosa women and the illustrations show their dress and head gear
Aerogrammes - The stamps are a Butterfly motif printed in black and depths of brown, 4c Inland (Blue paper) and 10c Overseas (Blue-green paper)
Registration Envelope (160 x 114 mm) Inscriptions in English and Xhosa

1982 8c Inland Postcards
An increase in Postal rates required a new set of stationery postcards, using the same designs as before, but with an 8c Imprinted stamp
Complete set of ten cards CTO UMTATA 15 VI 82

1984 11c Inland Postcards

Bophuthatswana
Postal Stationery - Postcards and Aerogrammes
In the February 1978 edition of The South African Philatelist the issued postal stationery is described in Afrikaans noting 3c Inland Postcards and on
the reverse of each card it depicts a handmade implement in black that matches the design of the imprinted 3c stamp.
Names of items in the Setswana language
A 4c Inland Aerogramme plus a 10c Overseas version both depict birds in flight

Dinkgwana - Pottery

Kika ya nama - A mortar and pestle to pound sorghum

Leswana - utensil with a shallow concave at the one end for eating soup

Leselo - Winnowing basket

Modutwana - Leather container

Motlhotlho - A plated Beer sieve (strainer)

Phafana - Beer from a calabash

Sego sa bojalwa - Calabash used for drinking alcohol

Tlatlana - A Woven Basket

Petlwana - Type of chisel for carving

Increased Postage Rates
The above 3 cent (Ten designs) were employed again for another four sets
5c (1981) 10c (1983) 11c (1984) and 12c (1985)

1986 14c Inland Rate - Original Designs Redrawn
No announcement for this issue appeared in the SAP.
The 14c stamp Imprint is larger than before and the use of the handmade implements is now depicted on the front of each Postcard, the reverse is blank
The 14c added value postage stamp was issued in April 1986 and this set of cards is CTO 1986-10-02

1977 4c Inland Aerogramme

1977 10c Overseas Aerogramme

Venda
Postal Stationery - Aerogrammes, Registered envelope and Postcards
In the November 1979 edition of The South African Philatelist a description of the Postal stationery to be used in Venda includes to Aerogrammes
Inland 4c and Overseas 10c, one Registered envelope (161 x 114mm)
Ten illustrated 3c Inland Postcards depicting the flowers used on the first definitives. Date of printing 2 August 1979 for 16,000 sets

1979 5c Inland Postcards Same designs as before, but with a 5c Imprinted Stamp

Designs used on the 2c and 6c Definitives

Designs used on the 7c and 9c Definitives

Designs used on the 8c and 15c Definitives

Designs used on the 20c and 25c Definitives

Designs used on the R1 and R2 Definitives

Later Aerogramme Issue circa 1981 Inland rate raised from 4c to 5c

Ciskei
Postal Stationery - Postcards and Aerogrammes
I searched issues of The South African Philatelist but found no references to the Postal Stationery of Ciskei

Designs used on the 1c and 4c Definitives

Designs used on the 5c and 8c Definitives

Designs used on the 10c and 15c Definitives

Designs used on the 20c and 30c Definitives

Designs used on the 50c and R1 Definitives

Increased Postage Rates
The above 5 cent (Ten designs) were employed again for another two sets
8c (1982) and 11c (1985)

TBVC Commemorative Cards and Postmarks

TBVC South African Homelands - Commemorative Cancels

Introduction
Pictorial cancels, usually for Philatelic events and/or other specific occasions are usually applied to plain unaddressed postcards known as ‘Date Stamp Cards’. Initially such cards enjoyed a specific design for the occasion but soon gave way to a ‘Standard’ design which was changed over time.

Transkei
The first card coincided with AMPHILEX 77, a World Philatelic Exhibition held in Amsterdam from 26 May to 5 June 1977. A pictorial cancel incorporated a Xhosa woman smoking a long stemmed pipe, similar to the 4c definitive.

PORTUCALE 77, the second International Thematic Stamp Exhibition held at Porto in Portugal from 19 to 28 November 1977. Again a custom made card depicting the Exhibition logo with a pictorial cancellation using a Cycad.

Postmark No 9 - Follows the sequence of the last Commemorative issue
Transkei Weaving Industry (9.6.1978)

CAPEX 78 - Another International Exhibition held in Toronto, Canada from 9 to 18 June 1978. Another custom made card, once again using a Xhosa Woman smoking a pipe and the cancellation reflects long stemmed pipes as depicted on a 1978 20c commemorative.

Postmark No 11 - Follows the sequence of the previous
Commemorative issue Edible Wild Fruits (25.9.1978)

ESSEN 78 - The second International Fair held in Essen, Germany from 1 to 5 November 1978 . Depicting the Transkei Coat of Arms, this was the last customised card with the Essen logo above the Arms.

Continued in next column

Standard Types of ‘Date-stamp cards’
Three different Transkei versions

Postmark No 56 - This number makes no sense whatsoever as it
does not tie in with anything obvious.
The corresponding RSA ‘ESSEN 80’ is numbered ‘36’

First Standard ‘Date-stamp card’
ESSEN 80 - The third International Fair held in Essen, Germany from 15 to 19 November 1980. This design continued in use until April 1983.

Second Standard ‘Date-stamp card’
ESSEN 84 - The 5th International Fair held in Essen, Germany from 26 to 31 May 1984. This design continued in use until August 1987.

Postmark No S23 (S denotes Special)

Third & Final Standard ‘Date-stamp card’
The design of the card includes a faint image of a Duiker as a background.

Riccione ‘88 - International Stamp Exhibition, Italy held from 27 to 29 August 1988 in San Marino. The event is printed at the top of the card.
This design continued in use until the end of the Homelands.

Third Standard ‘Date-stamp card’
PIETERMARITZBURG 150 - The Annual South African National Exhibition held from 22 to 27 November 1988. The event is printed at the foot in English and Afrikaans and on all SA National cards.

On all non S. Africa exhibitions cards the events are at foot in English only.

Descobrex ‘89 (S27) Exhibition in Maia, Portugal, besides the special commemorative cancels there is no inscription on the card.

BANGKOK October 1993 (S38) - This is the last Date-stamp card issued.

Bophuthatswana
Date-stamp cards - Commemorative Cancels

Bophuthatswana initially issued two different cards depicting the Coat of Arms and thereafter used four types of standard ‘Date-stamp cards’

CAPEX 78 Toronto
Coat of Arms in blue with circular Leopard logo below

ESSEN 78 - Germany - Smaller size Coat of Arms without logo

First Standard ‘Date-stamp card’
Pretoria Bophuthatswana Expo from 24 August to 4 September 1978 Revamped card, Arms at the top, logo at foot, in use up to May 1981

Second Standard ‘Date-stamp card’
Pretoria Bophuthatswana Expo from 26 August to 5 September 1981 Revamped card, logo, at the top, Coat of Arms in the middle.
In use until August 1983

Third Standard ‘Date-stamp card’
ESSEN 84 - The 5th International Fair held in Essen, Germany from 26 to 31 May 1984. This design continued in use until August 1987.

Fourth & Final Standard ‘Date-stamp card’
The design of the card includes a faint image of a Leopard as a background.

Riccione ‘88 - International Stamp Exhibition, Italy held from 27 to 29 August 1988 in San Marino. The event is printed at the top of the card.
This design continued in use until the end of the Homelands.

Continued in next column

Venda
Used three standard Designs. The first with the Coat of Arms in green

SAPDA Stamp show - Johannesburg from 22 to 24 November 1979
Special cancel No S1. Used up to April 1981.

Second Standard ‘Date-stamp card’
Rand Show Johannesburg from 5 to 23 April 1984. Cancel No S8

Third & Final Standard ‘Date-stamp card’
The design of the card includes a faint image of a herd of Elephants as a background and the Venda logo at foot.

Riccione ‘88 - International Stamp Exhibition, Italy from 27 to 29 August 1988 in San Marino. Cancel No S19.
The event is printed at the top of the card.
This design continued in use until the end of the Homelands.

Ciskei
Used three standard Designs starting with a plain card with the Coat of Arms and the logo at the foot

ESSEN 82 - Germany - 4th International Stamp Exhibition. Cancel No S1

Second Standard ‘Date-stamp card’
ESSEN 84 - The 5th International Fair held in Essen, Germany from 26 to 31 May 1984. (Cancel No S5)
This design continued in use until August 1988.

Third & Final Standard ‘Date-stamp card’
The design of the card includes a faint image of a Crane as a background.
PIETERMARITZBURG 150 22 - 27 November 1988. Cancel No S15

International Philatelic Exhibitions

Transkei

AMPHILEX 77

Transkei

PORTUCALE 77

Transkei

CAPEX 78 (9)

Bophuthatswana

CAPEX 78 (3)

Transkei

ESSEN 78 (11)

Bophuthatswana

ESSEN 78 (7)

Transkei
ESSEN 80 (56)

Bophuthatswana

ESSEN 80 (22)

Venda

ESSEN 80 (53)

Transkei

WIPA 81 (S8)

Bophuthatswana

WIPA 81 (S9)

Venda

WIPA 81 (S5)

International Philatelic Events	Date	Transkei	Bop	Venda	Ciskei
AMPHILEX 77 Amsterdam - International Stamp Exhibition	26 May - 5 June 1977	No - Number	†	†	†
PORTUCALE 77 Porto - Thematic Stamp Exhibition	19 - 28 November 1977	No - Number	†	†	†
CAPEX 78 Toronto - International Stamp Exhibition	9 - 18 June 1986	9	3	†	†
ESSEN 78 - Germany - 2nd International Stamp Exhibition	1 - 5 November 1978	11	7	†	†
ESSEN 80 - Germany - 3rd International Stamp Exhibition	15 - 19 November 1980	56	22	53	†
WIPA Wien - International Stamp Exhibition	22 - 31 May 1981	S8	S9	S5	†
ESSEN 82 - Germany - 4th International Stamp Exhibition	28 April - 2 May 1982	S10	S12	S6	S1
BELGICA 82 Brussel - International Stamp Exhibition	11 - 19 December 1982	S11	S15	S7	S3
ESSEN 84 - Germany - 5th International Stamp Exhibition	26 - 31 May 1984	S14	S17	S10	S5

Transkei

ESSEN 82 (S10)

Bophuthatswana

ESSEN 82 (S12)

Venda

ESSEN 82 (S6)

Ciskei

ESSEN 82 (S1)

Transkei

BELGICA 82 (S11)

Bophuthatswana

BELGICA 82 (S15)

Venda

BELGICA 82 (S7)

Ciskei

BELGICA 82 (S3)

Transkei

ESSEN 84 (S14)

Bophuthatswana

ESSEN 84 (S17)

Venda

ESSEN 84 (S10)

Ciskei

ESSEN 84 (S5)

International Philatelic Events	Date	Transkei	Bop	Venda	Ciskei
ISRAPHIL 85 Tel Aviv - International Stamp Exhibition	14 - 22 May 1985	S17	S20.1	S12	S7
ESSEN 86 - Germany - 6th International Stamp Exhibition	10 - 13 April 1986	S18	S23	S14	S8
AMERIPEX ‘86 Chicago - International Stamp Exhibition	22 May - 1 June 1986	S19	S24	S15	S9
JOHANNESBURG 100 - International Stamp Exhibition	7 October 1986	S20	S25	S16	S10
Riccione ‘87 Italy - International Stamp Exhibition	22 - 24 August 1987	S21	S26	S17	S12
Riccione ‘88 San Marino - International Stamp Exhibition	27 - 29 August 1988	S23	S28	S19	S14
Riccione ‘89 Italy - International Stamp Exhibition	26 - 28 August 1989	S25	S31	S22	S17

Transkei

ISRAPHIL 85 (S17)

Bophuthatswana

ISRAPHIL 85 (S20.1)

Venda

ISRAPHIL 85 (S12)

Ciskei

ISRAPHIL 85 (S7)

Transkei

ESSEN 86 (S18)

Bophuthatswana

ESSEN 86 (S23)

Venda

ESSEN 86 (S14)

Ciskei

ESSEN 86 (S8)

Transkei

AMERIPEX ‘86 (S19)

Bophuthatswana

AMERIPEX ‘86 (S24)

Venda

AMERIPEX ‘86 (S15)

Ciskei

AMERIPEX ‘86 (S9)

Transkei

JOHANNESBURG 100 (S20)

Bophuthatswana

JOHANNESBURG 100 (S25)

Venda

JOHANNESBURG 100 (S16)

Ciskei

JOHANNESBURG 100 (S10)

Transkei

Riccione ‘87 Italy (S21)

Bophuthatswana

Riccione ‘87 Italy (S26)

Venda

Riccione ‘87 Italy (S17)

Ciskei

Riccione ‘87 Italy (S12)

Transkei

Riccione ‘88 Italy (S23)

Bophuthatswana

Riccione ‘88 Italy (S28)

Venda

Riccione ‘88 Italy (S19)

Ciskei

Riccione ‘88 Italy (S14)

Transkei

Riccione ‘89 (S25)

Bophuthatswana

Riccione ‘89 (S31)

Venda

Riccione ‘89 (S22)

Ciskei

Riccione ‘89 (S17)

International Philatelic Events	Date	Transkei	Bop	Venda	Ciskei
Descobrex ‘89 Maia, Portugal - International Stamp Exhibition	25 Nov - 3 December 1989	S27	S33	S24	S19
WIEN ‘90 Vienna - Thematic Stamp Exhibition	29 Aug - 2 September 1990	S30	S35	S27	S21
Helvetia ‘90 Geneva - International Stamp Exhibition	5 - 16 September 1990	S31	S36	S28	S22
PHILNIPPON ‘91 Tokyo - International Stamp Exhibition	16 - 24 November 1991	S33	S38	S30	S24
GRANADA Spain - International Stamp Exhibition	24 April - 3 May 1992	S34	S39	S31	S25
ESSEN 92 - Germany - International Stamp Exhibition	7 - 10 May 1992	S35	S40	S32	S26
BANGKOK Thailand - World Philatelic Exhibition	1 - 10 October 1993	S38	S43	S35	S29

Transkei

Descobrex ‘89 (S27)

Bophuthatswana

Descobrex ‘89 (S33)

Venda

Descobrex ‘89 (S24)

Ciskei

Descobrex ‘89 (S19)

Transkei

WIEN ‘90 (S30)

Bophuthatswana

WIEN ‘90 (S35)

Venda

WIEN ‘90 (S27)

Ciskei

WIEN ‘90 (S21)

Transkei

Helvetia ‘90 (S31)

Bophuthatswana

Helvetia ‘90 (S36)

Venda

Helvetia ‘90 (S28)

Ciskei

Helvetia ‘90 (S22)

Transkei

PHILNIPPON ‘91 (S33)

Bophuthatswana

PHILNIPPON ‘91 (S38)

Venda

PHILNIPPON ‘91 (S30)

Ciskei

PHILNIPPON ‘91 (S24)

Transkei

GRANADA Spain (S34)

Bophuthatswana

GRANADA Spain (S39)

Venda

GRANADA Spain (S31)

Ciskei

GRANADA Spain (S25)

Transkei

ESSEN 92 - Germany (S35)

Bophuthatswana

ESSEN 92 - Germany (S40)

Venda

ESSEN 92 - Germany (S32)

Ciskei

ESSEN 92 - Germany (S26)

Transkei

1993 BANGKOK Thailand (S38)

Bophuthatswana

1993 BANGKOK Thailand (S43)

Venda

1993 BANGKOK (S35)

Ciskei

1993 BANGKOK (S29)

South African National Stamp Exhibitions

Bophuthatswana
Paarl 300
Foundation MS

1987 Transkei PAARL 300 - Foundation MS

Ciskei
Paarl 300
Foundation MS

South African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions

PAARL 300
16 - 19 SEPT 1987

Transkei S22

Bophuthatswana S27

Venda S18

Ciskei S13

Transkei S24

Bophuthatswana S29

Venda S20

Ciskei S15

South African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions

PIETERMARITZBURG
150
22 - 27 NOV 1988

South African National Philatelic Exhibitions	Date	Transkei	Bop	Venda	Ciskei
PAARL 300 - National Exhibition	16 - 19 September 1987	S22	S27	S18	S13
PIETERMARITZBURG 150 - National Exhibition	22 - 27 November 1988	S24	S29	S20	S15
NORTHLANDS Wanderers 101 - National Exhibition	6 - 9 September 1989	S26	S32	S23	S18
STAMPS 150 Jan Smuts Airport - National Exhibition	1 - 4 August 1990	S29	S34	No - Number	S20
CAPE TOWN - National Exhibition	9 - 12 October 1991	S32	S37	S29	S23
PRETORIA ‘92 - National Exhibition	8 - 10 October 1992	S36	S41	S33	S27
eThekwini Durban - National Exhibition	18 - 22 August 1993	S37	S42	S34	S28

South African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions

NORTHLANDS
Wanderers 101
6 - 9 Sept 1989

Transkei S26

Bophuthatswana S32

Venda S23

Ciskei S18

Transkei S29

Bophuthatswana S34

Venda S26

Ciskei S20

South African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions

STAMPS 150
Jan Smuts Airport
1 - 4 AUG 1990

South African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions

CAPE TOWN
9 - 12 October 1991

Transkei S32

Bophuthatswana S37

Venda S29

Ciskei S23

Transkei S36

Bophuthatswana S41

Venda S33

Ciskei S27

South African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions

PRETORIA ‘92
8 - 10 October 1992

South African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions

eThekwini Durban
18 - 22 August 1993

Transkei S37

Bophuthatswana S42

Venda S34

Ciskei S28

South African Philatelic Dealers Association (SAPDA)
Annual Stamp Fair and Exhibition held at the Rosebank Hotel

1979 Venda S1

1980 Transkei S5

1981 Bophuthatswana S11

1982 Ciskei S1

1984 Venda S9

1979 First SAPDA Stamp Fair
A full page advertisment appeared in the November 1979 edition of The South African Philatelist and a report followed in the January 1980 SAP.
The show was hailed...an unequivocal success... The were 14 dealer’s stands plus invited exhibits in 40 frames. The report continues...The Post Office had counters for SA, SWA, Transkei, Bophuthatswana and Venda material. It was the first stamp exhibition at which Venda was represented and for the event a special Venda datestamp was used on a SAPDA 79 cover...

Said special cancel is illustrated in the SAP and it notes...Philatelic Services and Intersapa produced a datestamp card at 15c... A 3c stamp was applied to each item, thus the actual card cost 12 cents.

The SAPDA Show became an annual event and the different Territories took turns in producing an annual special postmark.
1980 (Transkei) 1981 (Bophuthatswana) 1982 (Ciskei) 1983 (SWA) 1984 (Venda)
1985 (Transkei) 1986 (Bophuthatswana) 1987 (Ciskei) 1988 (RSA) 1989 (Venda) and
1990 (Transkei) No further special cancel produced until 1996 when it became Namibia’s turn.

In view of the fact that each Territory used a different type of datestamp card in subsequent years it seemed appropriate to illustrate each item complete.

The SAPDA show was certainly one of the highlights on the South African Philatelic calender.
In particular prior to the beginning of regular alternative stamp fairs as they are known today.
I visited the first SAPDA show in 1989 and as an Overseas dealer, I appreciated being able to see most of the SA dealers under one roof. To visit them at their place of abode requires a great deal of travelling. During the 1990’s I came to every SAPDA show and enjoyed many memorable stays at the Rosebank hotel...nothing ever stays the same and one can only look back on fond memories of years gone by.

Several dealers had a shop in the Rosebank area and then of course there was Stephan Welz a stone’s throw away. More good memories when the stamp department was directed by Dannie Swart and Henk de Lange. Another era of days gone by.

Venda S1 22 - 24 November 1979

Transkei S5 6 - 9 August 1980

Bophuthatswana S11 29 - 31 October 1981

Ciskei S1 28 - 30 October 1982

SAPDA Show 28 - 30 April 1983 - SWA Special cancel

Venda S9 26 - 28 April 1984

Continued in next column

Transkei S16 9 - 11 May 1985

Bophuthatswana S11 10 - 12 April 1986

Ciskei S11 30 April - 2 May 1987

SAPDA Show 5 - 7 May 1988- RSA Special cancel

Venda S21 4 - 6 May 1989

Transkei S28 28 - 30 June 1990

1985 Transkei S16

1986 Bophuthatswana S22

1987 Ciskei S11

1989 Venda S21

1990 Transkei S28

The Annual Pretoria Agricultural and Industrial Show or Pretoria Expo

The Pretoria Show (Expo)
In 1931 a three day Agricultural was held from 29 May to 1 June called the ‘Pretoria Show’. A label depicting a cow was produced for this event.

An Annual Pretoria show started in 1939 as an agricultural event and by 1962 it had expanded to include industrial and commercial exhibitions. It is hosted annually at the Pretoria Show Grounds (Now known as the Tshwane Events Centre) just west of the Pretoria City Centre.

It was briefly renamed the ‘T Show’ (or Tshwane Show), from 2011 onward the ‘Spring Show’ and from 2014 as the ‘Jacaranda Agricultural Show’.

The event is the largest springtime show in South Africa, and takes place during the last week of August to early September.

Continued in next column

Today it offers a little bit of everything: livestock, arts and crafts, travel and tourism, vehicles, education and more.

Besides a full range of equestrian, cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits and carcass events each year, the show also hosts the National Dorper Championships, the National Boerbok Championships and the National Damara Championships.

From 1978 to 1980 the Expo was on for 12 days, starting on a Thursday and ending on a Monday.
From 1981 to 1985 it ran for 11 days from a Wednesday to Saturday.
Today it has been reduced to a four day event.

Philatelic Services, representing Bophuthatswana, had a presence at the show from 1978 to 1985 and a special pictorial datestamp was designed each year.
In 1985 Venda also participated with a special cancellation.