Natal South Africa stamps year 1882 – 1910 Used lot

Natal South Africa stamps year 1882 – 1910 Used lot

Stamps from the Colony of Natal issued between 1882 and 1910 cover the final years of Queen Victoria’s reign and the entirety of King Edward VII’s reign before Natal joined the Union of South Africa.

This period is defined by a shift from complex overprints to standardized definitive sets, and eventually, some of the most beautiful high-value stamps in British Commonwealth philately.

1. Late Victorian Issues (1882–1901)

By 1882, the “Chalon Head” designs were being phased out in favor of simpler portraits of Queen Victoria. Key issues from this timeframe include:

• 1882–1889 Definitives: These used the “Crown CA” watermark. Notable values include the ½d blue-green, 1d rose, and 2d olive-green.
• 1887 “Die” Varieties: The 2d olive-green is a favorite for specialists, as it exists in Die A and Die B variations (distinguished by the number of shading lines on the Queen’s neck).
• The 1891 Surcharge: A 2½d value was created by surcharging the 4d brown stamp in black ink to meet new postal rates.
• The 1895 “Half-Penny” Surcharge: A surplus of 1d rose stamps was overprinted “Half-Penny” to meet demand for lower denominations.

2. King Edward VII Issues (1902–1910)

Following the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, a new series featuring King Edward VII was introduced. These are among the most popular Natal stamps due to their elegant bi-color designs.

• 1902–1903 Set: A comprehensive set ranging from ½d to £1. The higher values (5s, 10s, and £1) are particularly striking, often printed in two colors (e.g., the 5s in rose and blue).
• 1904–1908 Multi-Crown CA Watermark: Many values were reprinted with the new “Multiple Crown CA” watermark.
• The “High Values” (£1.10s to £30): Natal is famous for its exceptionally high-value fiscal/postage stamps issued in 1902–1904. While the £5, £10, and £20 stamps were primarily for revenue use, they are technically valid for postage and are the “crown jewels” of a Natal collection.
  • Note: Be wary of forgeries of these high values, as they are frequently faked.

3. The “Interprovincial” Period (1910)

On May 31, 1910, Natal became part of the Union of South Africa.

• The Final Issue: The last unique Natal stamps were the 1908–1909 King Edward VII reprints.
• Usage after 1910: Between 1910 and 1913, before the first national “Springbok” and King George V stamps were ready, Natal stamps remained valid for use throughout the entire Union. These are known as “Interprovincials” and are identified by having a Natal stamp cancelled in a different province (like Transvaal or the Cape).

Collector’s Summary Table