1899 (Dec 30) Rhodesia 1d postcard franked 1d, written from ...

Estimate

£800 - £1,000

1899 (Dec 30) Rhodesia 1d postcard franked 1d, written from Mochudi to Ireland and redirected to London, both stamps cancelled by "CROCODILE POOLS / SOUTH AFRICA" c.d.s, transit datestamps of Bulawayo (Jan 11), Durban (Feb 3), Warrenpoint (Feb 26) and London, minor corner staining at upper left, otherwise fine. The message includes "we are still here, very little going on". The Crocodile Pools datestamp is only recorded used during the Boer War (Dec. 1899 - Dec. 1901), often on covers from the besieged town of Mafeking, although it is also found on stampless soldiers covers, and occasionally cancelling stamps of Bechuanaland Protectorate or Rhodesia, the latter probably on mail from soldiers in the Rhodesia Regiment. The telegraph office at Crocodile Pools (in British Bechuanaland) was occupied by the Boers in October 1899 and the datestamps were therefore initially used at the Base Camp Post Office at Mochudi (Dec. 1899 - Jan. 1900, the Base Camp P.O moving to Gaberones in Feb. 1900) and was only returned to Crocodile Pools in Oct. 1901. Scarce on a Rhodesia card. Photo on Page 80.