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TRAINS on POSTAL STATIONERY
SOUTH AFRICA
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(click on any image for an enlarged view in a separate window.)
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CJRRU member AJC (Albert) Borgstein of South Africa, who has
published extensively about railway stamps of Africa,
supplied the information and scans below, excerpted from his soon-to-be-published book, "South African Railway Related Covers: 1910-2003". All the information here is the result of Albert's recently- completed research on these cards, and represents the most definitive coverage to date on the topic. We are grateful to him for sharing this with our readers. The numbering system (e.g. P1, P2, ...P27) is Albert's. |
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Date: Feb 18, 1927 The first Union pictorial postcard set was issued on 18 February 1927. This was a set of 24 postcards with on the one side the black -and-white picture (framed in a grey border), and on the reverse space for the address and a message. The brown text on the reverse reads: "UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE / CARTE POSTALE / POST CARD (Coat-of-Arms) POSKAART". The imprinted Van Riebeeck's ship stamp has a 1½d face value (overseas postage rate); the frame of the stamp is in brown while the ship is printed in black. The number of the postcard is printed in black. The title on the front of the postcard appears in either white or black at the bottom of the picture. In a white pointed rectangular block, situated in the lower left- or righthand corner, is the text: "Photo by S.A.R. Publicity Dept." as all photographs for this set were provided by this railway department. These postcards were sold in four series of six cards each. Three of the photographs have rail ilnterest. P1: No. 13: "Johannesburg: Town Hall" This is the first postcard in series no.3 and depicts this building in Rissik Street. Interesting here are the three double- decker trams in Market Street; these double-bogie trams were built by Brush (1912-1924) and carried numbers 111-120 and 140-192. They had a capacity for 80 seated and 18 standing passengers. Since 2 February 1891 horsetrams ran in Johannesburg, initially operated by a private enterprise but in 1904 taken over by the City Council. On 14 February 1906 the first line was electrified (Market Square-Doornfontein) which rapidly expanded and five years later it was the largest tramway system in South Africa. The last tram (no.159) ran on 18 March 1961. P2: No.16: "Tulbagh, Cape: Michell's Pass": This is the fourth postcard in series no.3 and depicts both the road and railway line in the Tulbagh Kloof. The text is misleading as it indicates that the Michell's Pass is illustrated here (often even wrongly listed in most books as the "Michall's Pass"). The Michell's Pass is, however, situated between Wolseley and Ceres and contains only a road and no railway line at all! These towns are connected by a branch line which is situated to the north-west of this pass and runs a different route via Waveren! The illustrated railway line through the Tulbagh Kloof runs from Gouda to Tulbaghweg and forms part of the mainline from Cape Town to Johannesburg. P3: No.21: "Cape: Toverwaterpoort": This is the third postcard in series no.4 and depicts the gorge through the Swartberg mountain range, described here as Toverwaterpoort but presently known as Toorwaterpoort. It has a length of about 5km and is utilized by the Cape Town to Port Elizabeth mainline on the section between Oudtshoorn and Willowmore. This line was completed on 1 March 1904 and was initially part of the Grand Junction Railway. Apart from this railway line only the Olifants River uses this narrow defile as a passage and there is no road. In order to cross this river a three-span bridge had to be constructed here as well. River floods often proved disastrous to this line and during the '90's it was even out of use for a couple of years! On this postcard a train is nearing the famous overhanging rockface in this gorge. |
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Date: Nov 24, 1927 As the 1½d overseas postage rate proved unsuccessful, the same post cards (again in four series of six) were issued again, but now with the ½d Springbok head stamp for inland postage. The frame of this imprinted stamp is in green with this animal's head in black. The text, also in green, reads: "POST CARD (Coat-of-Arms) POSKAART" and the postcard number is also printed in green. On the left of the stamp is a black dotted rectangular frame with printed at the top half: "1d. extra/for oversea." and at the bottom half "Buiteland / 1d. ekstra." To the left appears underneath "For address only. / Net vir die adres." The same pictures of interest are: As the postcard rate increased on 1 April 1931 from ½d to 1d, an additional ½d adhesive stamp had to be affixed by the Postmasters which still had unsold stock of these postcards. By June of that year all stocks not yet changed in this way had to be returned by these Post Offices to the Government Printer. Here the same process took place of affixing a ½d adhesive stamp on the dotted frame, originally intended for the additional stamp for overseas postage, after which they were distributed again. (P4.1, P5.1, P6.1) |
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Date: February 1932 As in April 1931 the postage rate had increased to 1d the next set of 12 cards were issued in February 1932 which had the imprinted 1d ship stamp (black ship with red frame) on the reverse. Two series ( nos.5+6) of six cards were issued. The black text on the reverse reads: "POST CARD (coat-of-arms) POSKAART". Also appearing here at the top right of the dividing line is: "For address only / Alleen vir die adres". These cards are not numbered. The rectangular block containing the text "Photo by S.A.R. Publicity Dept." is no longer pointed on the sides. Some of the cards in this set have been noted without the red frame around the ship on the imprinted stamp but this has not yet been seen on the undermentioned postcard. P7: "Van Riebeek's Statue - Capetown" Reference: Monument Station - H.S. Hagen (Editor) - Railways Africa - Aug.2002 |
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Dates: 1934 /1935 A new set of 24 postcards was issued in 1934 due to a decrease of the postcard rate to ½d. These were based on a set of 36 brown postcards (by Tuck ?) for the Empire Exhibition during 1924/25 in Wembley, Great Britain. A number of pictures from these 36 'Wembley' postcards were used for the 1934 Post Office postcards, while a couple of new pictures were added to this set as well. They were printed in black-and-white framed in a grey border. However, the 'Wembley' postcards were numbered and this was copied on the Post Office postcards which led to omitted and unnecessary numbers! Two postcards are here of railway interest. P8: No. 16: "Amanzimtoti - Natal": This view shows the railway bridge across the Manzimtoti ('sweet water') River on the South Coast railway line from Durban to Port Shepstone. (The similar 'Wembley' postcard was also no.16 but titled "Natal: South Coast".) P9: No.29: "Railway Line near Victoria Bay": This shows the George- Knysna railway line at Victoria Bay just past the present halt. There is no corresponding 'Wembley' postcard here as number 29 of the 'Wembley' set actually depicts Church Square in Pretoria! The titles of these postcards are printed in white at the bottom portion of the grey frame. In a white rectangular block at the lower right of the picture appears the text: "Photo by S.A.R. Publicity Dept". On the reverse of these cards is printed in green: "POST CARD (smaller Coat-of-Arms) POSKAART" and above the address space: "For address only. / Net vir die adres." Imprinted is the ½d Springbok-head stamp (black head, green frame); on the left is a black dotted rectangular box in which is printed at the top half "1d. extra / for oversea." and at the bottom half "Buiteland / 1d. ekstra." An additional stamp of 1d could be affixed here if this postcard had to be mailed overseas. In 1935 the postcard rate increased to 1d and on unsold stocks an additional ½d adhesive stamp was affixed on the '1d. oversea' box. (P8.1, P9.1) |
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Date: June 1958 Another set of 36 postcards was issued in June 1958 with new pictures, printed on the address side. The usual Coat-of- Arms depicted on the previous sets was removed. The top text is no longer in capital letters and reads: "Post Card . Poskaart" (or vice versa). The imprinted l½d stamp shows the head of a leopard and is printed in brown. It is similar to the in October 1954 issued 1½d adhesive stamp of the Large Definitive set depicting wild animals. A curiosity of these postcards is that when the text begins 'Post Card', the country name 'South Africa' appears in English at the top of the stamp and in Afrikaans 'Suid-Afrika' at the bottom. When it starts with 'Poskaart' it is the reversed situation. Above the address bars is printed "For address only / Alleen vir die adres" (or vice versa). The reverse of these cards is left blank for messages. The title of each postcard appears underneath the picture: these cards are not numbered. Two of these postcards are of railway thematic interest, namely: P10: "Krugerstandbeeld - Kruger Statue / Pretoria": This view shows the Kruger statue on Church Square, Pretoria. Initially this statue stood in front of Pretoria station and was moved to the northwest corner of Church Square. It was later moved again to its current place in the centre of Church Square. President Paul Kruger is regarded as the initiator of the NZASM railway company and was closely involved with this railway and opened many of its lines. P10.1: "Krugerstandbeeld - Kruger Statue / Pretoria": During printing using cylinder 66 a sequence error was made resulting in the English country name at the top of the stamp. P11: "Campanile - Kloktoring / Port Elizabeth": The Campanile tower of Port Elizabeth was built in 1923 (height: 51.8m) to commemorate the first landing of the British Settlers in Algoa Bay on 10 April 1820. Of railway interest on this picture are goods trucks behind the Customs House (situated on the right, below the first address bar) as well as railway tracks going underneath the road bridge (on the lower-left of Campanile) on the main road leading into the harbour area. P11.1: "Campanile - Kloktoring / Port Elizabeth": During printing using cylinder 66 a sequence error was made resulting in the Afrikaans country name at the top of the stamp. |
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Date: October 1959 In October 1959 the postcard rate increased from 1½d to 2d which required a new set of 36 postcards but now with the 2d zebra stamp imprinted in purple, which is also similar to the October 1954 Definitive adhesive stamp of this value. In contrast to the 1958 postcard set, the Afrikaans country name 'Suid-Afrika' always appears at the top of the stamp. Some postcards of this set have been noted without an imprinted stamp. These cards are otherwise similar to the previous set. Two different types of each postcard have been noted: P12: "Krugerstandbeeld - Kruger Statue / Pretoria": Picture is in slate-green color. The boldly printed Zebra stamp (purple) is situated 8-9mm from the last letter in 'Postcard'. P12.1: "Krugerstandbeeld - Kruger Statue / Pretoria": Picture is in grey-green color. The lightly printed Zebra stamp (violet) is situated 2-3mm from the last letter in 'Postcard'. P13: "Campanile - Kloktoring / Port Elizabeth": Picture is in slate-green color. The boldly printed Zebra stamp (purple) is situated 8-9mm from the last letter in 'Poskaart. P13.1: "Campanile - Kloktoring / Port Elizabeth": Picture is in grey-green color. The lightly printed Zebra stamp (violet) is situated 2-3mm from the last letter in 'Poskaart'. The above distances between the stamp and the last letter of
'Postcard' or 'Poskaart' are averages as this space differs from
1½mm to 10½mm! Three printings were made: |
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Date: Feb 14, 1961 When decimal currency was introduced on 14 February 1961 a new set of postcards with this currency was issued on the same date. This set was reduced to only twenty cards but both postcards of interest to the railway philatelist were retained. The imprinted stamp depicts once again the leopard's head in brown but now with a 1½c face value. The country name always appears in English on top. These postcards are otherwise identical to the previous postcard set P14: "Krugerstandbeeld - Kruger Statue / Pretoria" P15: "Campanile - Kloktoring / Port Elizabeth" All the previous sets of postcards were produced during the Union period by the Government Printer in Pretoria on off-white cardboard stock and they are non-glossy. |
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Date: June 1961 On 31 May 1961 the Union of South Africa became a Republic and for this reason a set of 20 postcards was issued with the new 1½c stamp depicting an Afrikaner bull. It is printed in brown while the pictures are in a red-brown color. The same pictures as in the previous set were used. P16: "Krugerstandbeeld - Kruger Statue / Pretoria": Printed on dull off-white cardboard stock like the previous sets of postcards. 'P' of 'Poskaart' is in line with lefthand edge of picture. P16.1: "Krugerstandbeeld - Kruger Statue / Pretoria": (1962) Printed on dull off-white card- board stock with 'P' of 'Poskaart' 1 mm to the left of the lefthand edge of the picture. P16.2: "Krugerstandbeeld - Kruger Statue / Pretoria": (1963) Stamp is purple-grey in color. P16.3: "Krugerstandbeeld - Kruger Statue / Pretoria": (1965) Address/picture side of card printed on glossy cardboard stock. Message side of card is non-glossy. P17: "Campanile - Kloktoring / Port Elizabeth": Printed on dull off-white cardboard stock like the previous sets of postcards. 'P' of 'Postcard' is in line with lefthand edge of picture. P17.1: "Campanile - Kloktoring / Port Elizabeth": (1962). Printed on dull off-white cardboard stock with 'P' of 'Postcard' 1 mm to the left of the lefthand edge of the picture. P17.2: "Campanile - Kloktoring / Port Elizabeth": (1963). Stamp is purple-grey in color. P17.3: "Campanile - Kloktoring / Port Elizabeth": (1965). Address/picture side of postcard printed on glossy cardboard stock. Message side of card is non-glossy. |
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Date: Dec 1, 1966 On this date a totally new set 20 postcards was introduced. The new pictures were for the first time printed in full-color and are larger in size (50x76mm). The titles underneath these pictures were moved to the riqht-hand edge of picture and are printed vertically. A number of pictures in this set have also been printed vertically on these postcards. An initial printing and two reprints were made. The black text at the top, now between picture and imprinted stamp, reads: "Postcard / Poskaart" and above the address space "For address only / Slegs vir die adres". The imprinted 1½c stamp shows the Afrikaner bull but is now printed in blue. The following postcards are of railway interest: P18: "Heerengracht: Cape Town/Kaapstad": Depicts the Heerengracht, the extension of Adderley Street in Cape Town. The second building on the left is the station of Cape Town; at the time when this photograph was taken this building was still under construction. Work started in November 1955 and not only consisted of this building but also the railway lines into the station. Main lines into the new station were opened on 21 April 1963, the Nyanga line followed on 25 April 1964 with the Bellville and Cape Flats lines exactly a month later. The first train from Simonstown arrived in the new station on 14 June. Lines to Woodstock were quadrupled by 5 December 1965. The non-white station concourse was opened in July 1966, while the white station concourse followed in May 1967. The demolition of the old station started in March 1968 where the last maintine train had departed on 20 April 1963. The main platforms of the new station are quite long and able to accommodate trains of 24 passenger vehicles. The facade displays various forms of transport and on the concourse is a pedestal with the locomotive "Blackie" and a photograph of its driver. This is surrounded on its four corners by mosaic crests of the CGR which were taken from the floor of the old station (booking halt). The colors of Table Mountain and sky on this postcard are green. P18.1: "Heerengracht: Cape Town/Kaapstad": (Reprint): The color of the sky is now grey and the design of the bull on the stamp is much sharper with a somewhat lighter background which is often fading at the top. P19: "Johannesburg": Shown here are the railway lines on the west side of Johannesburg station leading towards Braamfontein. Across the tracks is the Van Riebeeck roadbridge (1952) in Harrison Street. The twin bridge in the centre, next to the building on the left, leads onto the station platforms. P19.1: "Johannesburg": (Reprint as no.18.1). Sky is printed in purple. P20: "Krugerstandbeeld: / Kruger Statue: Pretoria": A different view of this statue on Church Square, Pretoria, as seen from the north-eastern side. P20.1: "Krugerstandbeeld: / Kruger Statue: Pretoria". (Reprint as no.18.1). |
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Date: Sep 5, 1968 As with the Definitive set of stamps of 1964, the redrawn design was also incorporated on these postcards. The Afrikaner bull stamp-design is also used here but is now printed with a difference in the lower text. Its upper line still has the previous small letters but the bilingual country names on the bottom line now have larger letters. The color of this stamp is light-blue. The pictures also have distinctive colors as listed below: P21: "Heerengracht: Cape Town/Kaapstad": Table Mountain and sky are printed in purple. P21.1: "Heerengracht: Cape Town/Kaapstad": Stamp has a 5mm phosphor frame. P22: "Johannesburg". Sky is printed in blue. P22.1: "Johannesburg": Stamp has a 5mm phosphor frame. P23: "Krugerstandbeeld: /Kruger Statue: Pretoria". Purple color of paving around statue. P23.1: "Krugerstandbeeld: /Kruger Statue: Pretoria": Stamp has a 5mm phosphor frame. |
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Date: May 17, 1971 When the postal rate for postcards increased from 1½c to 3c a new set of 20 postcards was issued with a large blue 3c stamp which depicts a bird (shrike). This stamp also has a cream or yellow phosphor frame. The same pictures were used as in the previous set. The undermentioned postcards are of railway interest: P24: "Heerengracht: Cape Town/Kaapstad". Table Mountain and sky are now purple. P25: "Johannesburg". color of sky: Blue. P26: "Krugerstandbeeld: / Kruger Statue: Pretoria". color of paving around statue is grey. Two different types of cardboard (glossy and non-glossy) have been used in this set.
The postcards P18 to P26 also have a number of flaws
which have resulted in the following additional variations: |
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Date: Aug 1, 1975 In November 1974 a new set of Definitive stamps were issued and subsequently a new set of 20 postcards followed. The imprinted 3c stamp depicts a geranium flower (Pelargonium inquinans) similar to the 3c value stamp of the Definitive set but without the stamp's purple background. Interesting here is also that in contrast to the other postcard sets the stamp even has a printed "perforated stamp" frame! The size of the picture is considerably smaller (49x65mm) than those of the previous sets. The text at the top was also changed, now reading "poskaart / postcard" without any capital letters. The text printed above the address space reads "Slegs vir adres / For address only". The address bars are here longer than those of the previous sets. The picture on the postcard, which is of railway interest, is printed vertically, as is the title. P27: "1820 Setlaarskloktoring en dokke, Port Elizabeth Foto Satour / 1820 Settlers Campanile and docks, Port Elizabeth Photo Satour". A different view of the Campanile is depicted here. Clearly illustrated are the tracks and goods trucks on the right leading towards the no. 2 and 3 quays. Behind the bridge at the foot of the Campanile is the shunting yard leading to the Charl Malan quay. Apart from goods trucks two steam locomotives can also be distinguished here. The tracks going underneath the road bridge are more difficult to see. Here also two different types of cardboard have been used, namely glossy and non-gfossy. |
All maps courtesy of the CIA World Factbook.
All text Copyright © 2003, William M. Senkus and AJC Borgstein
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Revised -- 05/03/2004