Postage stamps and postal history of the Orange Free State

The Orange Free State began to issue postage stamps in 1868, and continued until 1897.

The O.F.S. was formally annexed to the British Crown and renamed the Orange River Colony on the 28th of May 1900.

Postage stamps

The sole design used was an orange tree, with the inscription "Oranje Vrij Staat" in the margin. The stamps were typographed by De La Rue and Company, and came in denominations from one penny to five shillings, in various colours. Periodic shortages forced the use of overprints, in 1877, 1881, 1882, 1888, 1890, 1892, 1896, and 1897. The stamps of the republic are generally common today, but some of the overprints are scarce. Many kinds of overprint errors are known (inverted, double, etc), and some of them command high prices.

Revenue stamps

A variety of revenue stamps were issued both as the Orange Free State and the Orange River Colony.

External links

• http://www.stampdomain.com/country/southafrica/display.htm

Further reading

• The history of the postage stamps of the Orange Free State and Orange River Colony from their origin to 1906 by Léon de Raay, 1907.
• More about the postmarks of the Orange Free State and the Orange River Colony, 1868-1910 by Archibald George Mount Batten, 1973.
• Orange Free State : postal and other markings, 1868-1910, an original study by A Cecil Fenn, 1956.
• The Postal Stationery of South Africa. Part 1. Cape of Good Hope, Natal, New Republic, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Zululand by W J Quik and Dr G H......
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