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 now spelt “Mafikeng”.
In addition to the value shown below, each stamp is overprinted “MAFEKING, BESIEGED.” or without serifs, as well as either “British Bechuanaland” or “Bechuanaland Protectorate” as indicated. Other values were overprinted on stamps of Cape of Good Hope, or the unappropriated .
The margins of the sheets were removed to enable them to be fitted in the press used for overprinting, so copies cannot be found with control letters in the margin (though forgeries exist).
March 1900, seriffed overprint
On BRITISH BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE (MAFEKING BESIEGED)
| (SG №) | denomination | colour | date of issue | number issued |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1d on ½d | Vermilion | 28/03/1900 | 6,000 |
| 7 | 3d on 1d | Lilac (Die II) | 04/04/1900 | 1,800 |
| 8 | 6d on 2d | Green/Carmine | 06/04/1900 | 44,280 |
| 9 | 6d on 3d | Purple/Yellow | 30/03/1900 | 38,040 |
| Varieties | ||
| 6.v1 | 1d on ½d | Surcharge inverted |
| 6.v2 | 1d on ½d | Vert pair, surcharge tete-beche |
| 7.v1 | 3d on 1d | Surcharge double |
| 9.v1 | 6d on 3d | Surcharge inverted |
| 9.v2 | 6d on 3d | Surcharge double |
On BRITISH BECHUANALAND (MAFEKING BESIEGED)
| (SG №) | denomination | colour | date of issue | number issued |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1s on 4d | Green/Brown | 29/03/1900 | 2,320 |
| 11d | 2s on 1s | Dull Green | 29/03/1900 |
| Varieties | ||
| 11.v1 | 1s on 4d | Surcharge double |
| 11.v2 | 1s on 4d | Surcharge inverted |
| 11.v3 | 1s on 4d | With additional sans serif overprint |
| 11.v4 | 1s on 4d | Surcharge treble |
| 11.v5 | 1s on 4d | Surcharge double, one inverted |
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.
Change to sans-serif font
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.
| (SG №) | denomination | colour | date of issue | number issued |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 3d on 1d | Lilac (Die II) | 01/04/1900 | 1,800 |
| 13 | 6d on 2d | Green/Carmine | 25/04/1900 | 1,200 |
| 14 | 6d on 1s | Purple/Rose Red | 12/04/1900 | 38,040 |
| 15 | 1s on 6d | Purple/Rose Red | 12/04/1900 | 240 |
| 16 | 2s on 1s | Dull Green | 13/04/1900 | 570 |
| Varieties | ||
| 12.v1 | 3d on 1d | Overprint double |
Forgeries abound, many of them contemporary, even very convincing ones with wrong spellings (“BESEIGED” for “BESIEGED”):
References specific to this and related chapters
GBOS GB Overprints Compendium edition 8, Dr John Gledhill (12/4/2020)
Particular thanks go to Stanley Gibbons Ltd, for permission to quote their catalogue numbers and numerous other contributors who are mentioned in the Appendix section.
All content is copyright, Dr John Gledhill and the GB Overprints Society, May 2025.
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.