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Lot# 4508 - Auction 234-243

  • Lot# : 4508 Orange Freestate

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    Military Frank 1899: 'Commando Brief' (-) black on yellow, Type 1, from upper left corner of the sheet of 20 subjects, a fine used example on 1900 cover to H. A. McQueen of the General Post Office in Bloemfontein endorsed at lower left 'OAS' (On Active Service) cancelled by VOLKSRUST / Z.A.R datestamp (Feb 9). Reverse with Bloemfontein arrival cds (Feb 13) in black. Central file fold but a very rare usage (only known used between October 20, 1899 and February 22, 1900) of the Military Frank on letter Gi = £ 1'750.rnrnNote: The accompanying article from the Transvaal Philatelist (August 2001) speculates, from a comment originally raised by the late Kenneth Griffith and a later article by Richard Stroud, that this cover could be an item of 'check' mail - due to complaints made to the authorities about the time mail took to arrive, items were deliberately placed into the Post to see if the service was indeed running smoothly.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 900 CHF