The half-collared kingfisher (Alcedo semitorquata) is a kingfisher in the subfamily Alcedininae that is found in southern and eastern Africa. It feeds almost exclusively on fish and frequents streams, rivers and larger bodies of water with dense shoreline vegetation. “The black bill distinguishes this species from the other small blue…
View More Rhodesia Philately: Half-Collared Kingfisher (Alcedo semitorquata)Author: thedigitalphilatelist
Rhodesia Philately: Umtali
Umtali was founded in 1897 as a fort, located about 8 km from the border with Mozambique. It is sometimes also the “Gateway to the Eastern Highlands”. In 1891, the town was moved to a site known as Old Mutare. In 1896 the construction of the railway between Beira and Bulawayo…
View More Rhodesia Philately: UmtaliRhodesia Philately: Umtali – Christmas Pass
Christmas Pass is a mountain pass that leads into Umtali from the west. The pass was so named by some of the colonial pioneers who camped at the foot of the pass on Christmas Day 1890. Things To Do Kingsley Fairbridge Memorial References Wikipedia: Mutare
View More Rhodesia Philately: Umtali – Christmas PassRhodesia Philately: Golden-Breasted Bunting (Emberiza flaviventris)
The golden-breasted bunting (Emberiza flaviventris) is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae. It occurs in dry open woodlands and moist savanna in Africa south of the Sahara, but is absent from the equatorial forest belt. “This is another bird that has adapted to man’s gardens and can become…
View More Rhodesia Philately: Golden-Breasted Bunting (Emberiza flaviventris)Rhodesia Philately: Eland (Taurotragus oryx)
Shoulder height about 5½ ft., up to 1,200 lbs.; yellow-fawn light lower face and chest, dark nose, humped shoulders; nearly straight horns, spiralled at base, project back and outwards; horns of female lighter than male; pronounced dewlap in male; largest antelope; predominantly a browser; large herds; placccid, shy; fairly wide…
View More Rhodesia Philately: Eland (Taurotragus oryx)Rhodesia Philately: J Gaffen & Son
J Gaffen & Son were located in the Brest Buildings, 8th Avenue, Bulawayo. They were watchmakers, jewellers and engravers. By 1977, the business had relocated to 88 Selbourne Avenue.
View More Rhodesia Philately: J Gaffen & SonRhodesia Philately: Kingsley Fairbridge Memorial
The Kingsley Fairbridge Memorial statue at Christmas Pass, Umtali, was unveiled by Her Majesty the Queen Mother on 8 July 1953 during her Royal Tour. Present at the unveiling was the Mayor of Umtali, Mr. Harry Went and other local dignitaries. Kingsley Fairbridge was an Umtali boy who pioneered child…
View More Rhodesia Philately: Kingsley Fairbridge MemorialRhodesia Philately: Big Tree
The Big Tree is a large baobab of the species Adansonia digitata situated close to Victoria Falls in Rhodesia. It is located approximately 2km from the Zambezi River, Victoria falls. It is estimated that The Big Tree may be about 2,000 years old based on girth and growth ring data…
View More Rhodesia Philately: Big TreeRhodesia Philately: Anton Jacobsen (Pvt) Ltd
Anton Jacobsen (Pvt) Ltd was located at Nottingham House on the corner of Main Street and 12th Avenue, Bulawayo. The location acted as both a showroom and office. The business provided monumental mason work. Their motto was ‘Memorials of Enchanting Beauty‘.
View More Rhodesia Philately: Anton Jacobsen (Pvt) LtdRhodesia Philately: Livingstone Statue
The Statue of David Livingstone on the Rhodesian side of the Victoria Falls is erected towards Devil’s Cataract in the western bank of the falls. The statue has an inscription that states that David Livingstone visited the falls in 1851 when he documented his first impression on the beauty of…
View More Rhodesia Philately: Livingstone Statue