Officially Sealed Mails

Officially Sealed Mails

Registered November 1900 cover from Potchefstroom, Transvaal to Boer prisoner of war at Deadwood Camp on St. Helena island, repaired at bottom with parts of a Cape of Good Hope post office seal, which is inscribed “Edges worn through (unclear)” on back. Violet Potchefstroom censor on reverse and black Johannesburg, Transvaal press censor on front. Dec 23rd St. Helena receiving cancel on front.

Inscription: “FOUND OPEN AND OFFICIALLY / CLOSED IN G.P.O.”

Control Number: “W.A.R. & Sons. C2636.10,000.10.1900.” at lower left and “G.P.O. 670. / C.P. 82.” at upper right.

1910 cover from Beaufort West, Cape Of Good Hope to Montreal, Quebec with red “official seal” inscribed “Found open & / Officially Closed / in Post Office / By= [initials]” on reverse, created by hand from a paper fragment. Highly unusual usage from the Cape exactly 2 weeks before it joined the Union of South Africa. Perhaps the remaining stock of official seals had been exhausted, hence the need make up one? A wonderful cover.

Back on thin, glassine-like paper Perforation: imperf Inscription: Inverted “–McC. & Co., Ltd., Ldn.– 1129. 6/95. 300,000”. at center

Officially Sealed Mails of Cape of Good Hope
1910 cover from Beaufort West, Cape Of Good Hope to Montreal, Quebec with red “official seal” inscribed “Found open & / Officially Closed / in Post Office / By= [initials]” on reverse, created by hand from a paper fragment. Highly unusual usage from the Cape exactly 2 weeks before it joined the Union of South Africa. Perhaps the remaining stock of official seals had been exhausted, hence the need make up one? A wonderful cover.

Back on thin, glassine-like paper Perforation: imperf Inscription: Inverted “–McC. & Co., Ltd., Ldn.– 1129. 6/95. 300,000”. at center

Control Number: none

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