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Auction: 21030 - The 'Greca' Collection of Southern African Postal History
Lot: 190

Orange Free State
Military Mail
1849 (29 June) entire letter from Bloemfontein to London, headed "From No. 1166 Pte. Jas. Butler, Res. Battn. 45th Regiment", the letter headed "Bloem Fontein Cape of Good Hope", countersigned by Commanding Officer, showing oval-framed "general post office/Crown/capetown" h.s. and "2" charge h.s. as Private Butler had not prepared his letter. A fine and rare soldier's letter from the Orange River Sovereignty. Photo

Note: On 1st December 1847, Lt. General Sir Harry Smith arrived in the Cape of Good Hope as the new Governor of Cape Colony. On 3rd February 1848 he proclaimed the whole territory between the Orange and Vaal Rivers to be subject to the Queen. The area was annexed to Cape Colony and designated "Orange River Sovereignty". It reverted back to the Boers as the independent Orange Free State on 23rd February 1854 and eventually became the Orange River Colony. The Boer farmers of the new sovereignty rose against the imposed British authority and occupied Bloemfontein on the 20th July, driving away the British Commissioner, Captain W.D. Warden. On 9th August Sir Harry Smith headed a column assembled at Colesberg to put down the rebellion. After a battle at Boomplaats on 29th August, Bloemfontein was entered on 2d September. The force occupied Winberg on the 7th where the Boers surrendered, and returned to Bloemfontein on the 14th.

provenance:
Gerald Sattin, June 2008

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Sold for
£850

Starting price
£650