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Lot# 4547 - Auction 234-243

  • Lot# : 4547 Transvaal

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    Typographed by J.F.Borrius in Potchefstroom 1873/74: 6 d. bright blue on thick wove paper, clear impression, rouletted 15½-16, an unused example attached to an extraordinary autographed letter sheet, written in German by Friedrich Jeppe, the Postmaster General of the South African Republic (Transvaal), sent from Pretoria on 7 November 1874 to Adolph Otto, on his "FJ" crested notepaper, ordering further stamps to be sent Book Post via Natal (note the illustration of how to address the package on page 3 of the letter, photographed here). The full transcript states:"Dear Mr. Otto, The new 6d. stamps ordered by my Brother-in-Law arrived here in a very damaged state" (issue of October 1874, Gi 42) "Now I request you to do 1'000 sheets of the old plate with the old Eagle exactly as shown on the reverse, to send it to me by Book Post via Natal and not via Cape Town, address it to me as shown below. You misunderstood my last order completely; I did not want any changes in the crest, but exactly as the old crest was. Therefore please be so kind and make for me as soon as possible a new plate from the old and print from it 1'000 sheets; the plates or the sheets exactly the same size of 40 of one plate and to perforate them as previously, i.e. to be cut cut with a wheel or a knife. I need the stamps as quickly as possible and the sending should be carried out in the following way. Put the sheets on top of each other (do not fold them as you did with the last sending) and put between each two sheets a sheet of fine paper so that they do not stick together. If a 1'000 sheets are too heavy for one parcel please pack it in 2, 3 or more....for the making of the plate, the printing and postage I enclose a Bank of England note A/74 92742 to the value of £st. 5. Should the cost be more then my brother-in-law in Rostock will pay you. I am writing to you direct to save time. I will write to you again soon and send you a large order in one go of large quantities etc. although at the moment I cannot tell you definitely. In great haste, I remain, your obdeient Fred Jeppe". There is then a PS "Do not forget to make the old crest exactly as the old one and the colour as per sample which I am enclosing, the paper can be a little thicker". An extraordinary document of great importance to the Postal History of the Transvaal and Southern Africa.
    Starting bid : 1,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,000 CHF