Author: thedigitalphilatelist

Gloria Cycle Works was located on Abercorn Street, Bulawayo. The wholesale and retail cycle merchant was established in 1907 by Abram Radowsky. It was one of the oldest businesses in the country specialising in cycles and accessories. References Rhodesia and Eastern Africa: Historical and Descriptive Commercial and Industrial Facts, Figures,…

View More Southern Rhodesia Philately: Gloria Cycle Works

The Pioneer Column, a military volunteer force of settlers organised by Cecil Rhodes, founded Salisbury on 12 September 1890 as a fort. They originally named the city Fort Salisbury after The 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, the then British prime minister, and it subsequently became known simply as Salisbury. On the 3 May 1935,…

View More Southern Rhodesia Philately: Salisbury (Municipality)

The town of Bulawayo was declared a municipality on 26 October 1897 and was administered by a mayor and municipal council. On 4 November 1943, Bulawayo achieved city status and the Municipal Council of Bulawayo became the City Council of Bulawayo. Commerce & Industry A F Philip & Co Ltd…

View More Southern Rhodesia Philately: Bulawayo (Municipality)

Johnson & Fletcher Ltd was established in July 1897 by Harold Clarkson Fletcher and George Johnson. The head office was located in Bulawayo and opened as a consulting and general engineering business, supplying parts and equipment to gold mining companies. Additional branches were opened in Salisbury (1899), Beira (1904) and…

View More Southern Rhodesia Philately: Johnson & Fletcher Ltd (Bulawayo)

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large sub-Saharan African bovine. There are five subspecies that are recognized as being valid. Syncerus caffer caffer, the Cape buffalo, is the nominotypical subspecies, and the largest one, found in Southern and East Africa. The African buffalo is more closely related to other buffalo species…

View More Southern Rhodesia Philately: African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer)

In the early 1900s, the only maize grown in Rhodesia was the small, multi-coloured grain grown by the natives. Within ten years, Europeans began farming maize. Most maize was grown in Mashonaland. By the mid 1950s, maize accounted for 15.1 per cent of the country’s agricultural produce. Stamps & Postal…

View More Southern Rhodesia Philately: Maize

William Bain & Co (Rhodesia) Ltd was located on the corner of Second Street and Forbes Ave, Salisbury. It was an extension of William Bain & Co. Ltd of Lochrin Iron Works – a Scottish company. The business began trading in Southern Rhodesia in 1922 as a fencing and machinery…

View More Southern Rhodesia Philately: William Bain & Co (Rhodesia) Ltd

G North & Son Ltd was a farm equipment specialist located in Angwa Street, Salisbury.  The firm was established in Durban, South Africa, in 1869 by George North to supply agricultural implements and machinery. In addition to agricultural machinery, the business also supplied tools, paint and other general hardware supplies.…

View More Southern Rhodesia Philately: G North & Son Ltd (Salisbury)

W. M. Cuthbert & Co., Ltd, Johannesburg, was a shoe merchant established in 1882. The business traded as Cuthbert’s Shoe Stores, and it’s head office for Rhodesia was located in the Charter Buildings, Bulawayo. Additional branches were located in Salisbury, Gatooma and Umtali. References South African History Online Who’s who of…

View More Southern Rhodesia Philately: W M Cuthbert & Co Ltd

Lennon Limited was a chemist and druggist located on Selbourne Avenue and Fife Street, Bulawayo. In 1894 they became the first commercial pharmacy in Bulawayo. On 29th December, 1898, Lennon Limited became a registered company. The business was started by Barry Grey Lennon, an Irish chemist and nephew of the…

View More Southern Rhodesia Philately: Lennon Limited (Bulawayo)