Day 3 - Great Britain, British Colonies, Pre-Union South Africa - the Besançon Collection (Part Ii)

Mafeking Besieged' on Stamps of the Cape of Good Hope 1900 (March 23): Surcharged 3 d. on Cape 1 d. carmine, Hope standing, a block of four used on 1900 Northern route cover to Ireland, endorsed at top by 'W. H. Weeks, Chaplain, Bechuanaland Rifles', tied by MAFEKING / C.G.H. datestamps (April 19) in black. The envelope complete but for top flap and opened for display, showing on flap CROCODILE POOLS / SOUTH AFRICA cds (April 25) and 'Bulawayo / Rhodesia' transit cds's (April 30). Obverse with Lucan arrival (June 9) and readdressed to London. File folds but an extremely rare cover.rnrnProvenance: Collection Maria de La Queillerie, Harmers, London, May 18-19, 1970, lot 461.rn                   Collection Bill Hart, Cavendish, Derby, 25-26 June 1993, lot 1816.
Catalogue 247: Pre-Union South Africa