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Auction: 21030 - The 'Greca' Collection of Southern African Postal History
Lot: 8

Basutoland
Military Mail
The Gun War
The so-called "Gun War" was precipitated by the Cape Government's decision to enforce disarmament on the Basothos of Basutoland following their refusal to hand over their guns. The confrontation lasted from September 1880 to 11 April 1881 during which time the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles from Cape Colony joined Brigadier-General Clarke's Headquarters Column which was sent to relieve the besieged British stations in Basutoland
1880 enevlope to Cape Town, headed "Pr R Pillans No. 6 Camp D.E.O.V.R." (Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles), countersigned by Commanding Officer, showing Rosebank c.d.s. (16.10) with, on reverse, Aliwal North and Cape Town (16.10) datestamps. Photo

provenance
Christie's Robson Lowe auction, March 1987
Gerald Sattin, June 2008

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Estimate
£800 to £1,000

Starting price
£650