The Hooded Datestamps of Southern Africa 1888 - 1903
Thanks to all who have subsequently sent me more HCD examples. The response is encouraging.
Alex Visser is pressing me to wrap this up by putting together a revised date listing of the 'HCD With and Without Dot in Name' for publication in the SA Philatelist . I look forward to doing this. It will not be too difficult but right now I am finalising a 180 sheet display on 'The Postal History of Simonstown' for presentation in five days time. I am currently desperately pre-occupied with this as I have found myself short by some 20 pages and am scratching around to find ways to plug the gap, one of which may be to show the Simonstown HCD research sheets. It's not ideal but it will provide a specific Simonstown filler. Also, as I am making the display to Simon Kelly's Cambridge Philatelic Society, it's a fitting tribute to him. As soon as this is done I will return to the HCDs. Till then.....
Here are the results of the preceding SAPC research as published by Alex Visser in the South African Philatelist (page 173 - 180, December 2023). This was not entirely all the SAPC's own work as Alex was able to bring some new and useful postmarks to the party. This list now separates the Dot and No Dot varieties which were previously lumped together in some instances. As such. it represents the most complete and up-to-date listing of HCD ERs and LRs as of 21/12/2023. We look forwarding to revising it further in future.
In the table below Alex has added letters in brackets next to several dates. These acknowledge the contributor of the HCD in this study when that person is other than an original researcher (Putzel, Visser and Frescura, all RDPSAs who's work built up our first HCD ER and LR table). The letters designating the new contributors to this research are 'H' Hill, 'K' Kelly, 'L' Lazarides, 'P' Pierce, 'S' Steve Hannath.
If you have new discoveries before the given ER and and after the LR please submit them to me and or Alex. Thanks.
Email Alex Visser: alex.visser@up.ac.za
Also, my thanks to those SAPC members - Bob Hill, Simon Kelly, Mike Berry, Yiannis Larides, Johan Diesveld, Bas Payne and others - who submitted HCDs for this study. I/we could not have done it alone!
See posts below for updates to this list.
- New Latest Recorded Date for GRAHAMS TOWN (* for Time Code, Dot). 'NO 15 91'.
I have received the following from Johan Diesveld.
"Dear Steve,
Well hope you are doing well. Been busy with other South African “stuff” (exhibit of ZAR postcards). Anyway I came across this HCD of Queenstown.
Kind regards,
Johan Diesveld".
Of note, it is a QUEENSTOWN (DOT) from 'FE 3 90'. While it does not provide any new insights like an ER or an LR, it does help to establish yet again that the QUEENSTOWN (DOT) was most likely the standard format of the HCD as used in Queenstown. Until we find a QUEENSTOWN (NO DOT), we will have to accept that this is the standard as used in Queenstown
Thanks Johan, keep them coming as you find them.
Your postcard is very nice. BONC 482 is CALA, known used from 23-May-83 to 5-Feb-95.
Uploaded files:
Okay, it is time to call an end to this post until someone sends me or Alex Visser an update on a new discovery of an ER or LR for posting here. It is fitting that having started this post in 2023 based on the Zoom display of Dr Simon Kelly, honoured ex-President, etc., etc., of the Cambridgshire Philatelic Society that I conclude here with the Simonstown part of his Hooded Circular Datestamp display, now in the possession of Dr Tony Howgrave-Graham, honoured President of the South African Collectors' Society.
Tony bought Simon's HCD display at auction. I am grateful to both Simon for sharing it with me in the first instance and Tony for sharing it at the last. I thank Alex Visser for suggesting I participate in documenting a small part of Cape colonial postal history. It was a pleasure to get involved. I also thank those who assisteded me by contributing to this post with samples and or comments, especially Yannis Larides, Bob Hill (Underbidder), Bas Payne and Johan Diesveld. My thanks to all of you for participating in a spirit of collaborative philately.
Click here to see Simon Kelly's Simonstown Hooded Circular Datestamp display.
It looks like we have a new Latest Recorded Date for GRAHAMS TOWN (* for Time Code, Dot). It was previously '28 OC 1891'.
I have received the following image. The Hooded Circular Datestamp is not great but I believe there is enough to see that it is from GRAHAMS TOWN, that there is smudged dot between the 'S' and the 'T', that there is the remnant of an asterisk at top and that the date is 'Nx 15 91'. This is confirmed to some extent by the clear as daylight KIMBERLEY receiving date stamps of 'NO 18 91'.
The fact that the postmark is snudged and unclear is typical of a distressed datestamp that has come to the end of its working life. This is the reason it is going to be replaced. It is appropriate that it should be in this condition.
So, I will send this off to Alex Visser and will post his comment here when I receive it. Watch this space!