The 1883-4 Additional Values

Additional values were needed when postal rates changed in 1882-83. The rate for newspaper postage changed from 1d to ½d in 1882, and the rate for a ½ ounce letter to other parts of South Africa was reduced from 4d to 3d in 1882, then to 2d in 1883.

In 1883 the necessary additional values were printed by De La Rue and Company, using the same master die and electrotyping process. The values produced were:

½d chestnut
2d mauve
3d ultramarine

The Halfpenny Definitive

The halfpenny definitive stamp was produced in chestnut brown. There are several shades - perhaps due to fading (?) and two are shown here. Fresh mint stamps tend to be of the shade shown by the stamp on the right. A mint block of four is shown below.

The Two Pence Definitive

The bottom half of a lower right pane and a single stamp.

The Three Pence Definitive

A single stamp of the typical shade.

Postmarks

An OFS stamp cancelled with a Bloemfontein, Orange Free State postmark dated M[a]Y 25 [18]93. The cancellers as well as the stamps were manufactured in England and shipped out to South Africa. This one was engraved in English in error and was soon replaced, and therefore copies of this postmark are rare.