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Southern
Africa Philately |
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TBVC
Postal Stationery and Postmarks
South
African Homelands
By Otto Peetoom
Postal Stationery - Date Stamp Cards - Postal
History |
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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...
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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 |
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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
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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
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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 |
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Ciskei
Postal Stationery - Postcards and Aerogrammes
I searched issues of
The South African Philatelist but found no
references to the Postal Stationery of Ciskei
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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) |
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TBVC
Commemorative Cards and Postmarks |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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.
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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. |
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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
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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
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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.
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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 |
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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) |
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 |
International
Philatelic Events |
Date
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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 |
International
Philatelic Events |
Date
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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 |
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South
African National Stamp Exhibitions |

Bophuthatswana
Paarl 300
Foundation MS
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1987 Transkei PAARL 300 -
Foundation MS
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Ciskei
Paarl 300
Foundation MS
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South
African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions
PAARL 300
16
- 19 SEPT 1987
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Transkei S22
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Bophuthatswana
S27 |

Venda
S18
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Ciskei
S13
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Transkei
S24
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Bophuthatswana
S29
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Venda S20
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Ciskei S15
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South
African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions
PIETERMARITZBURG
150
22
- 27 NOV 1988
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South
African National Philatelic Exhibitions |
Date
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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
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Transkei S26
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Bophuthatswana
S32 |

Venda
S23
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Ciskei
S18
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Transkei
S29
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Bophuthatswana
S34
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Venda S26
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Ciskei S20
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South
African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions
STAMPS
150
Jan Smuts Airport
1
- 4 AUG 1990
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South
African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions
CAPE
TOWN
9
- 12 October 1991
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Transkei S32
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Bophuthatswana
S37 |

Venda
S29
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Ciskei
S23
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Transkei
S36
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Bophuthatswana
S41
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Venda S33
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Ciskei S27
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South
African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions
PRETORIA
‘92
8
- 10 October 1992
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South
African
National
Philatelic
Exhibitions
eThekwini
Durban
18 - 22 August 1993
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Transkei S37
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Bophuthatswana
S42 |

Venda
S34
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Ciskei
S28
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South
African Philatelic Dealers Association (SAPDA)
Annual Stamp Fair and Exhibition held
at the Rosebank Hotel |

1979
Venda S1
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1980
Transkei S5
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1981
Bophuthatswana S11
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1982
Ciskei S1
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1984
Venda S9
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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. |

1985
Transkei S16
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1986
Bophuthatswana S22
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1987
Ciskei S11
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1989
Venda S21
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1990
Transkei S28
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The
Annual Pretoria Agricultural and Industrial Show or
Pretoria Expo |
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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 |
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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.
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Bophuthatswana

24.08
- 04.09 1978 5
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Bophuthatswana

23.08
- 03.09 1979 12S
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Bophuthatswana
21.08
- 01.09 1980 S5 |
Bophuthatswana

26.08
- 05.09 1981 S10
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Bophuthatswana

25.08
- 04.09 1982 S13
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Bophuthatswana
- 1980 Pretoria Expo |
Venda
- 1985 Pretoria Expo |
Bophuthatswana

24.08
- 03.09 1983 S16
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Bophuthatswana

22.08
- 01.09 1984 S18
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Bophuthatswana
28.08
- 07.09 1985 S21 |
Pretoria
Expo
1978 - 1980 (12 days)
Thursday to Monday
1981 - 1985 (11 days)
Wednesday to Saturday
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Venda

28.08
- 07.09 1985 S13
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