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Lot# 4250 - Auction 234-243

  • Lot# : 4250 Mafeking

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    'Mafeking Besieged' on Stamps of British Bechuanaland 1900 (March 29): Surcharged 1 s. on 4 d. green & purple-brown, single example tied to 1900 Northern route cover with original contents from Colonel Baden-Powell, addressed to "W.L.Thomas, 190 Strand, London", tied by MAFEKING / C.G.H. datestamp (April 4) in black, with manuscript '1/-' notation below in pencil. Reverse with 'Bulawayo / Rhodesia' cds (April 14) and London arrival cds (May 25) in black. The envelope with some restoration and tear closed at base, but with an extraordinary letter and 'scrap' enclosed: "Mafeking 3.4.00. So sorry, dear Mr. Thomas, for not having been able to send you much - but every minute of my time has been taken up with this defence. I have from time to time sent scraps like enclosed but so many of our letters get stopped by the Boers that I fear very few will have reached you. As soon as communications are restored I will send you a few in case they may be of interest. My best remembrances to Mrs. Thomas and all your circle. Yours sinc. R. Baden-Powell" with a small postcript "N.B. The 'Siege' stamp on this envelope may be useful for collectors of stamps". The 'scrap' enclosure is a print of a native boy with a pencil message written by Baden-Powell on reverse: "Siege Games in Mafeking - In the native town one sees the children playing at sieges and bombardments in cunningly-made loop-holed earthworks. Their artillery being whippy sticks which project lumps of clay with great force and precision. From this we evolved the system, which we used with great effect, of throwing dynamite bombs from the end of a long bamboo into the enemy's trenches". Sold with a small Daily Telegraph article from 1984 when the cover was last sold. A truly wonderful evocation of the Siege, a delightful hand-written and signed letter from Robert Baden-Powell and a fine example of a very scarce stamp on cover. A gem.
    Starting bid : 2,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 3,000 CHF