Mafeking
During the Boer War part of the British army was besieged in Mafeking between 23 March and 17 May 1900 (though some reports describe it as a very peaceful and well managed siege, as evidenced by the established continuing postal service with the surrounding areas, and the organisation of frequent concerts and cycle races). As Mafeking was the postal headquarters for Cape of Good Hope (including former British Bechuanaland) and for the Bechuanaland protectorate, the stamps available for temporary overprinting come from all three issues. The overprinted stamp issues were somewhat philatelic and widely forged at the time (very accurately, with very convincing postmarks, many "on piece"); even the genuine overprints are mostly cancelled to order, so that rather pointless multiples exist. The 1d and 3d values soon ran out to be replaced by the "Baden Powell" and "Sergeant-major Goodyear" photographic issue.
"Mafeking" is the British transcription of the local name, more properly spelt "Mafikeng".
In addition to the value shown below, each stamp is overprinted "MAFEKING, BESIEGED." with or without serifs, as well as either "British Bechuanaland" or "Bechuanaland Protectorate" as indicated.
Note: this numbering system was drawn up by the Society for the website, and may not be used without permission.
Queen Victoria
March 1900
Other overprints in this set were made on Cape of Good Hope stamps.
(images ex Rossi, courtesy of Warwick & Warwick)
1 "1d" on ½d orange "Bechuanaland Protectorate" (28 March 1900)
2 "6d" on 3d purple on yellow "Bechuanaland Protectorate" (30 March 1900)
3 "1s" on 4d green & brown "British Bechuanaland" (29 March 1900)
4 "2s" on 1s green "British Bechuanaland" (date unknown)
Note: this single example of the "2s" overprint with the seriffed font is known, postmarked April 1900, and has been declared genuine but of undetermined status (GSM July 2005): illustration by kind permission of Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions May 2007.
Note: this overprint on the "Bechuanaland Protectorate" 4d stamp, although very authentic looking, is deemed bogus; as the "Bechuanaland Protectorate" is also decidedly squiffy that too could be forged.
(image courtesy of FK)
overprint varieties
The stamps with the seriffed overprint can be found with the comma missing; this occurred in positions 5 and 6 of the 6-cliché setting.
1 v1 1d on ½d, overprint inverted (see illustration below in pair)
(image ex Rossi, courtesy of Warwick & Warwick)
1 v2 1d on ½d, overprint inverted in pair with normal
2 v1 6d on 3d, overprint double
(image ex Rossi, courtesy of Warwick & Warwick)
2 v2 6d on 3d, overprint inverted
(image ex Rossi, courtesy of Warwick & Warwick)
3 v1 1s on 4d, overprint double
3 v2 1s on 4d, overprint double one inverted
(image ex Rossi, courtesy of Warwick & Warwick)
3 v3 1s on 4d, overprint double one seriffed and one sans-serif
3 v4 1s on 4d, overprint treble
New values
April 1900
(images ex Rossi, courtesy of Warwick & Warwick)
5 "3d" on 1d lilac "Bechuanaland Protectorate", seriffed font (4 April 1900)
6 "6d" on 2d green & red "Bechuanaland Protectorate", seriffed font (6 April 1900)
overprint varieties
5 v1 3d seriffed font, overprint double
Change to sans-serif font
seriffed type, sans-seriff type
On the 6d value the layout is also rearranged - the "6d" is now below "BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE", whereas in the first issue it was above it.
March-April 1900
(images ex Rossi, courtesy of Warwick & Warwick)
7 "3d" on 1d lilac (1 April 1900)
8 "6d" on 2d red and green (25 April 1900)
9 "1s" on 6d purple on red "Bechuanaland Protectorate" (12 April 1900)
10 "1s" on 6d purple on red "British Bechuanaland" (28 April 1900)
11 "2s" on 1/- green "British Bechuanaland" (13 April 1900)
overprint varieties
7 v1 3d on 1d, sans-serif font, overprint double
3 v3 1s on 4d overprint double one seriffed and one sans-serif (see above)
Note: A contemporary caricature of the Mafeking stamps was produced under the following conditions: "When he heard about the surcharged provisional stamps being used inside Mafeking a certain Lieut Llewellyn of the forces outside the sieged town sent 5/- by runner to procure some specimens. Instead of the stamps he expected, however, he received back from the printers this special 'issue' prepared for him alone and inscribed
LLEWELLYN
5s
BEFOOLED
(information on this courtesy of Francis Kiddle)
Forgeries
As mentioned above, forgeries of all these issues abound. Here is an interesting example of one which looks like a perfect overprint, and a perfect postmark.
There is just one problem as you can see: the forger has spelt "besieged" wrongly! An error which is perpetrated in many a dealer's lists.... (image courtesy of Citycollectables)
page last updated: 24 August 2007, 17 June 2017
gbos: GB Overprints Society