e 1900 "Kaffirgram", tiny cover to Milford, England, franked on back with horizontal pair of 6d surcharged "Mafeking Besieged" (type 1) on 3d lilac & black, canceled by Mafeking 4.4.00 cds, with Bulawayo 14.4.00 transits and Godalming 2 May arrival pmk, some ageing, fine and extremely rare Boer War item, with 1993 BPA certificate (During March 1900 a "Kaffirgram" service was established, using native Kaffir runners to carry outgoing mail to Bulawayo and Kimberley. In order to pay for the cost of the runners, stamps of Bechuanaland Protectorate, British Bechuanaland and the Cape of Good Hope were overprinted and surcharged by Townsend & Son, the publishers of the Mafeking Mail ("'MAFEKING, BESIEGED" in two lines in serifed capitals)
BRITISH COMMONWEALTH SOUTH AFRICA - Mafeking Siege Issues |