Before Botswana?

[Jesper]

I'm trying to finish a small "genealogy project" which involves the progression from Stellaland, via Bechuanaland and Bechuanaland Protectorate to eventually Botswana.

The problem is that I only have the 1840 - 1940 Scott catalog. Perhaps you could help me with some names and numbers?

What were the name(s) of the stamp issuing entities between Bechuanaland Protectorate and Botswana and when did they emit their first issue. I can find the rest if you just give me the Scott #'s and the names.

[Tim_Balm]

According to Linn's Stamp Almanac (5th edition)...

Botswana: A republic in central southern Africa, directly north of the Republic of South Africa.  Formerly the British Bechuanaland Protectorate, the republic became independent as Botswana on September 30, 1966

and in my SG 92/93 British Commonwealth catalog...

Stellaland: The Boer republic of Stellaland was proclaimed toward the end of 1882.  A postal service was organized in Vryburg, and stamps were ordered from a firm in Capetown. These were only valid within the republic.  Until June 1885 mail to other parts of South Africa was sent through Christiana in the Transvaal and was franked with both Stellaland and Transvaal stamps.  No date stamps or obliterators were used by the Stellaland Post Office Stamps were pen canceled. [Stellaland SG#1-5/Sc#1-5 were issued in Feb, 1884]... In 1884 the British Government decided to annex both Goshen and Stellaland.  On 30 September, Stellaland and other territory to the south of the Molopo River was constituted by the Crown Colony of British Bechuanaland. [Brit Bech SG#1-8/Sc#1-9 were issued beginning 2Dec1885 (in 1886 per Scott)] ... Stellaland stamps continued to be used until December 1885. ... The large area north of the Molopo River was proclaimed a British Protectorate on 30 September 1885.  A postal service using runners was inaugurated in August 1888.  [Bech Prot SG#40-50/Sc#51-58 were issued starting 7Aug1888] ... [Bechuanaland gained internal self-government in 1965 and issued stamps as such on 1Mar1965 SG#186-89/Sc#198-201] ... Bechuanaland became the independent republic of Botswana on 30Sep1966.  [Botswana SG#202-5/Sc#1-4 and SG#206-19/Sc#5-18 were issued 30Sep1966]

Hope this helps.  I've got more reference books if you want a bit more history.

[Jesper]

Thanks Tim,

I think this will do ;-)

[Jesper]

Apparently none of you people can see the new news flash on the Forum page. I therefore announce the existence of a couple of new pages related to Botswana:

Stellaland
Bechuanaland
Bechuanaland Protectorate
Bechuanaland, internal self government
Botswana

There are a few more new pages and a couple has been updated.
Enjoy.

I will try to figure out why you can't see the new news flash on the Forum page.

[Tim_Balm]

Apparently none of you people can see the new news flash on the Forum page. ...
I will try to figure out why you can't see the new news flash on the Forum page.

Actually, I saw the flashing headline and looked for about 20 minutes for a new discussion thread on the forum.  It took me a while to actually find the new pages.

A question...  how can you distinguish between the Botswana Sc#1-4 set and the Sc#5-18 set as the first set issued?  Both were issued on September 30, 1966.  Of course, we are all free to collect 1st issues as we desire.  To me, both were first issue sets - and I have both in my collection.

[Jesper]

Actually, I saw the flashing headline and looked for about 20 minutes for a new discussion thread on the forum.