Cape of Good Hope Squared Circle Datestamp (NOT Cape Town) - 1884 / 1889

#1 · September 28, 2020, 7:07 pm

Quote from Steve on September 28, 2020, 7:07 pm
The Experimental Squared Circle Datestamp used Outside Cape Town

After the Squared Circle Datestamp's introduction into the GPO Cape Town on 25th January 1882, four other post offices were issued with the new datestamp. These Cape post offices received new [1+4] experimental Squared Circle Datestamps with 'CAPE COLONY' at the base of the circle.

Despite not being quite as big and important as Port Elizabeth and certainly not as brash and wealthy as Kimberley, the first post office outside Cape Town to be recorded using the new [1+4] datestamp was Grahanstown according to Franco Frescura:

Grahamstown- 5th July 1882 - [1+4]
Port Elizabeth - 25th August 1882 [1+4]
Kimberley - 24th November 1882 [1+4]
King Williams Town - 20th March 1883 [1+4].

(These dates are the first recording of the postmark, not the date of issue.)

These dates are taken from the monumental work done by Franco Frescura who has compiled among other things the first and last dates recorded of postmarks on covers and stamps. His work is documented in 'The Post Offices of the Cape of Good Hope 1792 - 1910' (2002). If readers have covers cancelled with experimental Squared Circle Datestamps that are before the dates given here, these are important finds. Please send us copies. The dates given here are based on voluminous research which is almost never ending and constantly revised by new finds.

Cape Town and all four post offices received a [1+4] experimental Squared Circle Datestamp. The sole exception is the GPO CAPE TOWN which was issued with a (1+3) datestamp. As a result, and despite the hard work and long service of the GPO CAPE TOWN (1+3) datestamp, the vast bulk of the postal work conducted with the experimental Squared Circle Datestamp in the five selected post offices was performed using a (4+1) type.

The Later 'Approved' Squared Circle Datestamps
Smaller post offices would not receive SqCs until the test was concluded. Ultimately, the SqC found favour with the Cape Post Office and some 60 small post offices received a variety of different types, ie. (1+3), (1+4), (2+4), etc., most with 'C.G.H' at base of the circle. A few exceptions exist which will be shown later. They are not included here because they were not experimental. However, a topic covering the 'approved' experimental SqC datestamps will be added in future. They are a wide-ranging field, interesting, hugely collectable and deserving of close attention.

The Experimental Squared Circle Datestamp used Outside Cape Town

After the Squared Circle Datestamp's introduction into the GPO Cape Town on 25th January 1882, four other post offices were issued with the new datestamp. These Cape post offices received new [1+4] experimental Squared Circle Datestamps with 'CAPE COLONY' at the base of the circle.

Despite not being quite as big and important as Port Elizabeth and certainly not as brash and wealthy as Kimberley, the first post office outside Cape Town to be recorded using the new [1+4] datestamp was Grahanstown according to Franco Frescura:

Grahamstown- 5th July 1882 - [1+4]
Port Elizabeth - 25th August 1882 [1+4]
Kimberley - 24th November 1882 [1+4]
King Williams Town - 20th March 1883 [1+4].

(These dates are the first recording of the postmark, not the date of issue.)

These dates are taken from the monumental work done by Franco Frescura who has compiled among other things the first and last dates recorded of postmarks on covers and stamps. His work is documented in 'The Post Offices of the Cape of Good Hope 1792 - 1910' (2002). If readers have covers cancelled with experimental Squared Circle Datestamps that are before the dates given here, these are important finds. Please send us copies. The dates given here are based on voluminous research which is almost never ending and constantly revised by new finds.

Cape Town and all four post offices received a [1+4] experimental Squared Circle Datestamp. The sole exception is the GPO CAPE TOWN which was issued with a (1+3) datestamp. As a result, and despite the hard work and long service of the GPO CAPE TOWN (1+3) datestamp, the vast bulk of the postal work conducted with the experimental Squared Circle Datestamp in the five selected post offices was performed using a (4+1) type.

The Later 'Approved' Squared Circle Datestamps
Smaller post offices would not receive SqCs until the test was concluded. Ultimately, the SqC found favour with the Cape Post Office and some 60 small post offices received a variety of different types, ie. (1+3), (1+4), (2+4), etc., most with 'C.G.H' at base of the circle. A few exceptions exist which will be shown later. They are not included here because they were not experimental. However, a topic covering the 'approved' experimental SqC datestamps will be added in future. They are a wide-ranging field, interesting, hugely collectable and deserving of close attention.

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