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Auction: 14018 - The Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902, featuring Occupation and Siege Issues, The Harry Birkhead Collection
Lot: 208

(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
The Stamp Issues
Covers
There were two mail services, a local service and external communications. These were run under the supervision of the Military Authorities
External Mail Services
There was a Southern Route via Kimberley at a rate of 6d. and a Northern Route via Bulawayo at a rate of 1/-
Northern Route via Bulawayo
1900 (6 Apr.) envelope to London and redirected to Reading, originally failing to penetrate Boer lines and reposted on 7th. with seriffed overprint Cape 1/- on 4d. sage-green neatly cancelled and tied with crayon manuscript "1/-" and "JN" (John Nevett) checker's initials alongside, Norwood original destination datestamp (25.5) alongside, the reverse (part flap missing) with Crocodile Pools (20.4), part Bulawayo (23.4), Norwood (25.5) and Reading (26.5) c.d.s. A most unusual "second try" cover with the 1/- on 4d. particularly rare on cover. Brandon Certificate (2004). S.G. 5. Photo

Note: On arrival in Bulawayo, the batches of letters received from Mafeking, usually in groups of thirty, were examined on the Military Post Office "Base Train" , the postage verified, the batch number noted, and then initialled by the checking clerk

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Sold for
£3,500