The 'R.D.M.' Police Frank

The 'R.D.M.' frank was used by the OFS mounted police force, or Rijdende Dienst Macht.

Its origins and usage are still obscure, but it seems to have been a Boer war provisional issue. There appear to have been three printings, the first two in black on white paper, differing only in the number of vertical ornaments on the edges of the frank (the first printing has eight, the second, nine), and the third printing in black on yellow paper. The order of printing has been deduced from the dates on the (very few) used copies known, so could well be incorrect.

Examples of this frank are very uncommon; the one shown here is from the third printing, which was probably made during 1899. This printing was probably type-set and consisted of sheets of 12 franks, in four rows of three franks each.