BRITISH BECHUANALAND

Botswana

Return To Catalogue - Stamps of Bechuanaland overprinted 'MAFEKING BESIEGED'

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them: evert@klaseboer.com.

1886 Stamps of Cape of Good Hope overprinted

Overprinted 'British Bechuanaland' horizontally

  1/2 p black (overprint red)
  1/2 p black (overprint black)
  1/2 p black (overprint green)
  1 p red
  2 p brown
  3 p red
  4 p blue
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh green

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

A 5 Sh orange with the same overprint seems to have been prepared, but was not issued.

Forgeries, examples:

In the genuine stamps, there is no '.' behind 'Bechuanaland'!

1889 Stamp of Cape of Good Hope, overprinted 'BRITISH BECHUANALAND'

  1/2 p green

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1889 Stamp of Cape of Good Hope, overprinted 'Bechuanaland Protectorate

  1/2 p black (overprint green)

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1891 Stamps of Cape of Good Hope, overprinted 'British Bechuanaland' vertically (upwards or downwards)

  1 p red
  2 p brown

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1887 Stamps of Great Britain overprinted 'BRITISH BECHUANALAND'

(Reduced view)

  1/2 p orange ('BRITISH' and 'BECHUANALAND' far apart)
  1 p lilac (1892)
  2 p green and red (1892)
  4 p brown and green (1892)
  6 p lilac on red (1892)
  1 Sh green (1892)

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Overprinted 'Protectorate'

  1/2 p orange

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Surcharged and overprinted 'Protectorate'

  'Four pence' on 1/2 p orange

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forged overprint:

(Reduced size)

Forged 'Protectorate' overprint made by the forger Sperati. I'm not quite sure what kind of forgeries Sperati made with this forged overprint.

1887 Fiscal stamps of Great Britain overprinted 'BRITISH BECHUANALAND POSTAGE & REVENUE' in black

(Reduced sizes)

  1 p lilac
  2 p lilac
  3 p lilac
  4 p lilac
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh green
  2 Sh green
  2 Sh 6 p green
  5 Sh green
  10 Sh green
  1 Pound lilac
  5 Pounds lilac

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Surcharged

  'One Half Penny' on 3 p lilac
  '1d.' on 1 p lilac
  '2d.' (red) on 2 p lilac
  '4d.' (red) on 4 p lilac
  '6d.' on 6 p lilac
  '1 s.' on 1 Sh green

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Further overprinted 'Protectorate'

  '1d.' on 1 p lilac
  '2d.' on 2 p lilac
  '3d.' on 3 p lilac
  '4d.' (red or black) on 4 p lilac
  '6d.' on 6 p lilac
  1 Sh green
  2 Sh green
  2 Sh 6 p green
  5 Sh green
  10 Sh green

The lower values were mainly used for postal purposes and the higher values for fiscal use.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

The above forgery was made by Senf, it was given as an 'art supplement' or 'Kunst-Beigabe' in 1888 with the stamp journal the 'Illustrirten Briefmarken-Journal'.

1897 Stamps of Great Britain overprinted 'BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE'

On Queen Victoria stamps

  1/2 p orange
  1/2 p green
  1 p lilac
  2 p green and red
  3 p lilac on yellow
  4 p brown and green
  6 p lilac on red

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

On King Edward stamps (1904)

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  2 1/2 p blue
  1 Sh red and green

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

On King George V stamps (1914)

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  1 p red (other design)
  1 1/2 p brown
  2 p orange
  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p violet
  4 p grey
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh brown
  2 Sh 6 p brown
  5 Sh red

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forged overprints exist, examples:

(Forged overprints on King Edward stamps, overprint with too large letters)

1912 Overprinted 'Bechuanaland Protectorate' on stamp of Transvaal

  6 p orange and grey

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Two other fiscal stamps of Transvaal 2 Sh 6 p orange and black and 1 Pound green and black with overprint 'Bechuanaland Protectorate' are bogus issues. They pretended to be a 'Mochudi' provisional issue and were supposed to have been issued in November 1905. I have never seen these bogus issues. If anybody possesses a picture of such a stamp, please contact me.

1932 King George V, large sized stamps with animals near a river and baobab tree

1/2 p green, 1 p red, 2 p brown, 3 p blue, 4 p orange, 6 p lilac, 1 Sh black and olive, 2 Sh black and orange, 2 Sh 6 p black and red, 3 Sh black and lilac, 5 Sh black and blue, 10 Sh black and brown.

A 1 Pound black and green fiscal stamp with 'REVENUE REVENUE' inscribed on top. This appears to have been the only fiscal stamp in this design that was isued.

1935 Silver Jubilee of King George V, inscription '1910-1935'

A 1 p red and blue, 2 p olive and blue, 3 p blue and brown and 1 Sh lilac and black were issued in a design identical to many other British colonies (Windsor castle).

1937 Inscription '12th MAY 1937' portrait of King and Queen

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

The values 1 p red, 2 p brown and 3 p blue were issued (design identical to that of many other British colonies).

1938 As 1932 issue, but with portrait of King George VI

1/2 p green, 1 p red, 1 1/2 p blue, 2 p brown, 3 p blue, 4 p orange, 6 p lilac, 1 Sh black and olive, 2 Sh 6 p black and red, 3 Sh black and lilac, 5 Sh black and blue, 10 Sh black and brown.

One fiscal stamp was issued in the same design, but with inscription 'REVENUE REVENUE' instead of 'POSTAGE REVENUE': 1 Pound grey.

1945 Stamps of South Africa (both 'SOUTH AFRICA' and 'SUID AFRIKA') overprinted 'Bechuanaland'

  1 p red and brown (soldier)
  2 p violet and blue (agriculture)
  3 p blue (man and woman looking at star)

The overprint exists on both 'SUID AFRIKA' and 'SOUTH AFRICA' stamps.

Basic South Africa 1 p stamps and similar 'Basutoland' and 'Swaziland' overprints

1947 Royal visit, different designs

1 p orange (King), 2 p green (Queen and King), 3 p blue (princesses), 1 Sh lilac (whole Royal family).

1948 Royal Silver wedding, identical to sets issued in many other British colonies, inscription '1923-1948', image of King and Queen

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 1/2 p blue (smaller size)
  10 Sh grey 

1949 UPU issue (design similar to many other British colonies)

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 1/2 p blue
  3 p blue
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh olive

1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, inscription 'CORONATION JUNE 1953', design identical to many other British colonies

For stamps in a similar design, but for other British colonies, click here

  2 p brown and black 

1955 As 1938 design, but with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  2 p brown
  3 p blue
  4 p orange
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh black and olive
  1 Sh 3 p black and lilac
  2 Sh 6 p black and red
  5 Sh black and blue
  10 Sh black and brown

Surcharged (1961) in 'cents'
  1 c (two types of overprint exist) on 1 p red
  2 c on 2 p brown
  2 1/2 c on 2 p brown
  2 1/2 c on 3 p blue
  3 1/2 c (two types of overprint exist) on 4 p orange
  5 c (two types of overprint exist) on 6 p lilac
  10 c on 1 Sh black and olive
  12 1/2 c on 1 Sh 3 p black and lilac
  25 c on 2 Sh 6 p black and red
  50 c on 5 Sh black and blue
  'R1' on 10 Sh black and brown
  
  

Fiscal stamps with inscription 'REVENUE REVENUE' instead of 'POSTAGE REVENUE' were issued in the values: 1 Pound green and black and 5 Pounds orange and black. Furthermore were issued in new currency (1961) the surcharged values 'R2' on 1 Pound green and black and 'R10' on 5 Pounds orange and black

1961 Animals and birds set with face of Queen Elizabeth II, inscription 'BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE'

1 c, 2 c, 2 1/2 c, 3 1/2 c, 5 c, 7 1/2 c, 10 c, 12 1/2 c, 20 c, 25 c, 35 c, 50 c, 1 R, 2 R.

These stamps exist with overprint 'REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA'.

1963 Freedom from hunger, design identical to many other British colonies

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  12 1/2 c green

1964 Red Cross, inscription 'BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE'

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  2 1/2 c black and red
  12 1/2 c blue and red

1964 Shakespeare, inscription 'BECHUANALAND'

For stamps in the same design, but for other British colonies, click here.

  12 1/2 c brown 

1965 ITU, inscription 'BECHUANALAND'

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

  2 1/2 c yellow and red
  12 1/2 c brown and lilac

1965 International Co-operation Year, inscription 'BECHUANALAND'

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 c blue and lilac
  12 1/2 c violet and green

1965 Internal Self Government, inscription 'BECHUANALAND'

  2 1/2 c red and gold
  5 c blue and gold
  12 1/2 c brown and gold
  25 c green and gold

1966 Churchill issue

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  1 c blue, black, gold and red
  2 1/2 c green, black, gold and red
  12 1/2 c brown, black, gold and red 
  20 c violet, black, gold and red

1966 Bechuanaland Royal Pioneer Corps, left hand side different for each value

  2 1/2 c green, black and red
  5 c blue and brown
  15 c red, black and green
  35 c orange, red and green

Bechuanaland became independent in 1966 and renamed itself Botswana, later stamps have inscription 'BOTSWANA'.

Postage Due Stamps

1926 Postage due stamps of Great Britain, overprinted 'BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE'

  1/2 p green (overprint vertical)
  1 p red (overprint vertical)
  2 p brown (overprint horizontal)

1932 Value in circle, inscription 'BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE POSTAGE DUE'

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  2 p lilac

Surcharged
  '1 c' (two types of overprint exist; small and large) on 1 p red
  '2 c' (two types of overprint exist; small and large) on 2 p lilac
  '5 c' on 1/2 p green

Currency in 'cents'
  1 c red
  2 c lilac
  5 c green 
 

Postal Stationary

I have seen envelopes of Great Britain with Queen Victoria on it overprinted 'BRITISH BECHUANALAND': 1/2 p brown (with rounded corners), 1 p brown (ellipse), 4 p orange (circle) and 'FOUR' on 2 p blue (registration, circle).

Fiscal Stamps

In 1887 some fiscal stamps of Cape of Good Hope (6 p and 1 Sh) were overprinted 'BRITISH BECHUANALAND' (sorry, no picture available).

1903 issue: 5 Pounds, reduced size

In 1903 again some fiscal stamps of Cape of Good Hope were overprinted (1 Pound, 5 Pounds and 10 Pounds, all with image of a woman), this time with 'BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE'.

1904 King Edward VII issue

Some fiscal stamps of Transvaal with the image of King Edward VII were also overprinted from 1904 to 1912:
'Bechuanaland Protectorate' on 2 Sh 6 p and 1 Pound
'BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE' (large 'B' and 'P') on 5 Pounds
'BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE' (letters same size) on 2 Sh 6 p, 1 Pound and 5 Pounds.

Again an overprint on some fiscal stamps of Cape of Good Hope (King Edward VII) appeared in 1906: 1 p, 1 Sh, 2 Sh, 5 Sh and 1 Pound.

'BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE.' on 10 Sh olive and lilac fiscal stamp of South Africa

In 1917 some fiscal and postage stamps of South Africa were overprinted with:
'BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE.' on 2 Sh 6 p, 5 Sh, 10 Sh, 1 Pound black and blue, 1 Pound red and green and 5 Pounds;
'Bechuanaland Protectorate' on 1 p red (king) and 1 p red and black (ship);
'Bechuanaland Revenue Only' (in 2 lines) on 6 p, 1 Sh, 2 Sh, 2 Sh 6 p, 5 Sh, 10 Sh and 1 Pound;
'Bechuanaland Revenue Only' (in 3 lines) on 6 p, 1 Sh, 2 Sh, 2 Sh 6 p, 5 Sh, 10 Sh and 1 Pound.

A postage stamp of 1887 was overprinted with 5 Pounds in 1918 (very rare).

1932 King George V, large sized stamps with animals near a river, similar to postage stamps of 1932, but with inscription 'REVENUE REVENUE' instead of 'POSTAGE REVENUE'

A 1 Pound black and green fiscal stamp with 'REVENUE REVENUE' inscribed on top, the design is identical to the postage stamps.

  1 Pound black and green

1938 As 1932 issue, but with portrait of King George VI, design similar to postage stamps

  1 Pound grey

1955 As 1932 and 1938 design, but with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, design similar to postage stamps

  1 Pound green and black
  5 Pounds orange and black

New currency (1961)
  'R2' on 1 Pound green and black
  'R10' on 5 Pounds orange and black

Tati Concessions

(Reduced size)

Some fiscal stamps with the image of an elephant and inscription 'TATI CONCESSIONS LIMITED' were also issued in 1895 (values 1 Sh red, 2 Sh 6 p blue, 5 Sh lilac, 10 Sh green, 1 Pound grey and 5 Pounds orange). They are all quite rare. I've seen them with a purple 'THE TATI CONCESSIONS LIMITED TATI MATABELELAND' oval cancel.

Numeral cancels

Killer cancels, example (see also http://www.postmarks.co.za/PH%20British%20Bechuanaland.htm and http://www.postmarks.co.za/PH%20Bechuanaland%20Protectorate.htm):

'1159' Lobatsi cancel

555 cancel from Vrijburg and 638 cancel from Mafeking

Other cancels that exist are
172: Taungs Station
390: Mochudi
534: Kuruman
554: Taungs
555: Vrijburg
576: unknown
568: Gaberones
579: Groot Chwaing
638: Mafeking
669: Sandpitts
674: Molepolole
676: Shoshong and later used in Palapye village
677: Kanye
679: Tati
758: Palla
836: Romoutsa
968: Macloutsi
1000: Gaberones Station
1003: Lobatsi Railway Station
1014: Pitsani
1052: Palapye Station (very rare)
1054: ? unknown
1061: ? Mahalapye Siding?
1145: ? Gaberones Village?
1159: Lobatsi

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer