Rhodesia Philately: 1970 Inauguration of the Posts & Telecommunications Corporation – 2½c Despatch Rider

Less than a hundred years ago the first postal services followed closely on the heels of the pioneer column sent by Rhodes to occupy Mashonaland. The mails were carried by relays of despatch riders of the British South Africa Company’s Police. The 2½c stamp depicts a despatch rider of the time. In 1892 the Chartered Company entrusted the organisation of its postal service to the Postmaster General of the Cape Colony and in August of that year the first regular postal service was started.

Details
  • Designer: Rose Martin
  • Printer: Mardon Printers (Pvt.) Ltd., Salisbury, Rhodesia
  • Process: Lithography
  • Paper: Chromo with brown gum
  • Watermark: None
  • Perf: 14.5 (comb)
  • Cylinders: 
    • 1A (Magenta) 1A (Cyan) 1A (Yellow) 1A (Orange)
    • 1B (Magenta) 1B (Cyan) 1B (Yellow) 1B (Orange)
  • Sheet: R10 x 5 (50)
  • Quantity: 400,000
Sheet Numbers
References