Philatelic display
ALAN Wood from the Nottingham PS entertained members of the Loughborough and District Philatelic Society, when he presented his display “Basutoland/Lesotho” on Thursday, September 21.
His first two sheets were maps that showed the location of Basutoland in relation to the area of South Africa. Also, they showed the townships and villages and rivers. He said that the main export was soil!. It was particularly rich and fertile and dredged from the river Orange. Basutoland was a British protectorate in South Africa from 1868 and a British colony from 1884. Until 1933 Cape of Good Hope and South African stamps were used. His first stamps showed some Cape stamps with “Hope” seated. The postmark showed “Maseru”. ( The capital.). Other stamps of the same period were displayed, some surcharged and some overprinted. Most of his display was mainly postal history, with occasional postal stationery cards and postcards and stamps interspersed. His first two covers were dated 1868, these were followed by covers from the Basutoland Rebellion. Some postal stationery, then covers with censor marks used during the Rebellion. A few sheets of stamps came next with postage rate changes of 1883. A picture postcard of Maseru was also shown. Alan said that after 1910 the public could use any stamp from any state in South Africa to post your mail and some covers showed this. He then displayed some early Postage Due stamps on a Registered cover of 1927. From 1933 it had its own stamps. Again, covers were displayed showing this. A cover with an “Official” stamp dated 1934 was shown as were some of the first airmail covers to Nyasaland and Australia. “Specimen stamps were then displayed.
In the second half, Alan produced a map of the Post Offices in Basutoland. Blocks of 4 and 6 stamps were shown of King George VI reign that were of the same designs as those of George V. Beautifully engraved. He then displayed a few sheets of stamps showing various shades of red and green stamps that were printed. He then moved onto covers with the GVI definitives affixed. Covers with various postmarks were displayed. Some more covers with censor marks issued during WWII. A cover celebrating the Royal visit in 1947 was in evidence as was one for the Silver Wedding. On 4th October 1966 Basutoland proclaimed independence and the Kingdom of Lesotho was born. During 1965, when the country was made self-governing the stamps were inscribed Lesotho/ Basutoland, however, this changed to Lesotho on independence. Covers showing some of these were shown. This ended his main display. However, Alan then proceeded to display some miscellaneous related items that consisted of a Telegraph form, A £1 Registered stamp (only this value was ever used) A 1966 British 10/- Postal Order overprinted Basutoland 10c and with a 5c Lesotho Independence stamp attached. Some Lesotho errors that included inverted inflation surcharges. A stamp of a railway locomotive, with a colour shift. Some French Missionary pictorial postcards showing a variety of domestic and local scenes, were issued to raise funds for Missionary Work. This ended Alan’s displays. Brian Williams gave a vote-of-thanks on behalf of members. He said that we had all been given the privilege of seeing a beautiful specialised collection. With everything postal (except Maritime Mail), being covered from a country he did not think we had seen displayed before.
The president, Garth Taylor, wound up proceedings by informing members that the next meeting will be on Thursday, October 12, when Mr T Clayton will be presenting his display on “Italy”.