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Auction: 25011 - The David Spivack Collection of Queen Victoria Overprinted for use in the Bechuanalands
Lot: 274

(x) Bechuanaland
Military Campaigns and Expeditions
British West Charterland Expedition
1896 (24 Aug.) 1d. reply section stationery card to Shillong, Assam, uprated with 1888 ½d. vermilion pair tied by "676" barred oval with "palachwe/khamas town" c.d.s. alongside along with Durban (9.9), Tuticorin (2.10) and two Shillong (10.10) c.d.s., the reverse bearing two strikes of Mafeking transit c.d.s. and sent from "Camp on Botletli River". Also 1897 (15 Jan.) envelope also to the 42nd Gurkha Rifles, Shillong, Assam bearing, on the reverse, 1888 ½d. vermilion (9, three missing) cancelled by "676" barred oval along with Blackbeard Bros, Palapye company oval, Durban (25.1), Colombo and Shillong (1.3) c.d.s.; the address side with "palachwe/khamas town" despatch c.d.s. and Indian boxed Foreign Postage Due handstamp for 1 anna. A good pair of covers to Assam. Photo

Note: the reply card sent from Camp at Botletli River (in the Ngamiland area) appears to have been written by Lieut. E.J. Lugard, who had joined his brother, Capt. F. Lugard, the head of an expedition to Ngamiland, on behalf of a company prospecting for gold, known as 'British West Charterland Ltd.' This company was set up as a rival to Rhode's 'British South Africa Company'. It was unsuccessful and only survived for a few years. Arrangements were made with Khama who provided runners to maintain contact with the outside world. For some while contact with the expedition was lost as six runners died of thirst, and one was devoured by a lion. The expedition passed through Palapye on 15th June 1896 and, at the time of writing, had just crossed into Ngamiland. A rare card from this little known expedition

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Estimate
£500 to £600