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Auction: 14018 - The Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902, featuring Occupation and Siege Issues, The Harry Birkhead Collection
Lot: 163

(x) Mafeking
The town was surrounded by the Transvaal Army on 12 October 1899. The siege last seven months and the town was relieved on 17 May 1900 after 217 days
Postal History
1899 (Oct.) envelope (opened-out for display with "mafeking club" imprint on flap, endorsed "Oct: 18: All right-") to Dublin, signed by Dr. W. Hayes at top left, smuggled out of Mafeking to Kuruman, bearing Cape 1d. carmine cancelled by "kuruman/bechuanaland" c.d.s. (25.10), upon arrival redirected to Skerries and with "rathmines d.d. dublin" c.d.s. (5.8) at lower left. One of only two recorded covers out of Mafeking via Kuruman. A remarkable item involving two towns besieged by the Boers. Photo

Note: Edward Ross's diary of the Mafeking Siege records that some letters were sent out by special runner via Kuruman, 190 miles west of Mafeking, during October 1899

provenance:
"Goodyear", Christie's Robson Lowe, June 1993



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Sold for
£2,200