The Orange Free State (Oranje Vrijstaat), was an independent Boer sovereign republic under British suzerainty in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. It is one of the three historical precursors to the present-day Free State province. The Republic’s name derives partly from the Orange River, which in turn was named in honour of the Dutch ruling family, the House of Orange, by the Dutch explorer Robert Jacob Gordon.
Extending between the Orange and Vaal rivers, its borders were determined by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1848 when the region was proclaimed as the Orange River Sovereignty, with a British Resident based in Bloemfontein. Bloemfontein and the southern parts of the Sovereignty had previously been settled by Griqua and by Trekboere from the Cape Colony.
The Voortrekker Republic of Natalia, founded in 1837, administered the northern part of the territory through a landdrost based at Winburg. This northern area was later in federation with the Republic of Potchefstroom which eventually formed part of the South African Republic (Transvaal).
Following the granting of sovereignty to the Transvaal Republic, the British recognised the independence of the Orange River Sovereignty and the country officially became independent as the Orange Free State on 23 February 1854, with the signing of the Orange River Convention. The new republic incorporated the Orange River Sovereignty and continued the traditions of the Winburg-Potchefstroom Republic.
The Orange Free State developed into a politically and economically successful republic and for the most part enjoyed good relationships with its neighbours. It was annexed as the Orange River Colony in 1900. It ceased to exist as an independent Boer republic on 31 May 1902 with the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging at the conclusion of the Second Boer War. Following a period of direct rule by the British, it attained self-government in 1907 and joined the Union of South Africa in 1910 as the Orange Free State Province, along with the Cape Province, Natal, and the Transvaal.
In 1961, the Union of South Africa became the Republic of South Africa.
Blogs
- Big Blue 1840-1940: Classic Stamps of Orange Free State
- Big Blue 1840-1940: Orange Free State & Orange River Colony
- GB Pre-Cancels: Telegraph Stamps – Orange Free State
- Stamp Forgeries: Forged Stamps of Orange Free State
- The Springbok
Dealer
- Edenvale Philatelic Society
- Orange Free State Philately
- Philatelic Federation of South Africa
- Philatelic Federation of South Africa (Group)
- Philatelic Friends
- South Africa Revenue Stamp Collectors
- South African Stamps
- Southern African stamps & postal history
- Stamp Club (Only South Africa)
- Philatelic Federation of South Africa – @pfsastamps
Websites
- Cape & Natal Philatelic Journal
- Orange Free State Philately
- Philatelic Federation of South Africa
- Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa
- Southern Africa Philately
- Southern African Philatelic Dealers Association
