South African Postcard Interest Group
The following is based on an edited PowerPoint AI-generated Summary from the SAPIG (SA Postcard Interest Group) Zoom Meeting held on 25th March 2025.
To join this group, please Contact Andre du Plessis at the PFSA.
The meeting covered two lots of Natal postcards. The first were postcards printed in Ladysmith during the Siege that took place during the South African War (aka Anglo-Boer War, 1899 1902). The presenter was John Handman in SA. Keith Klugman RDPSA FRPSL in Seattle, USA, presented Early Natal illustrated Colour postcards.
Routed via DURBAN ‘9 MR 1900’.
An example of the front of the first issue postcard with two soldiers, right.
Siege of Ladysmith Postcards Discussion
John Handman described his interest in the Siege of Ladysmith which was sparked by his family’s involvement, one on either side. He shared his collector’s knowledge of the siege postcards, including their design, paper, printing, and postal rates.
Versions of the Siege Postcard
John mentioned two distinct cards produced during the siege, with the first one featuring two figures at the bottom. John noted the cards’ varying sizes, thicknesses, and ink colors, attributing these differences to the limited resources available during the siege.
An example of the back of the first issue postcard.
John presented the second version of the postcard produced during the siege. He pointed out the addition of an extra figure representing the Natal volunteers bottom right and small changes to the design, including ‘ZAR’ on the hat of General Piet Joubert.
Three British defenders. ‘Piet’ has different hat. ‘Long Tom’ to side, not on barrel.
John compared the first and second printed cards, noting specific changes such as the smoke from the cannon, the badge on Joubert’s hat, and the positioning of ‘Long Tom’. There are also changes to the reverse card, including the font used and the flag flying defiantly above the damaged town hall. The flag is smaller and more solid, more ‘Swiss’.
Postcard History and Design Discussion
While John’s various examples were of the common red variety, he did show a black one. He also had one ‘unique card’ with a handwritten message thought to be in Tamil posted to a teacher in Verulam, Natal, as well as some bearing British stamps.
Mention was also made of the possible designer of the postcards. Generally, the design of the postcards if not the publishing of the postcards themselves is attributed to Earl Robert, an illustrator, possibly also a journalist, who was known to work on the Ladysmith Bombshell, the town’s siege newspaper. John is not fully convinced that Robert published these postcards but cannot with confidence suggest who else it might be.
Andre and John Kramer asked questions about the postcard’s design and variations. Alan mentioned an article by Duggan in the Anglo-Boer War Journal that breaks down the postcards into six different varieties and suggests the existence of a blue version. John Handman expressed interest in reading the article and seeing, if not, acquiring the blue version. (Subsequent to this meeting the blue one has come to light. See it here.)
Keith Klugman’s Scarce Natal Postcard Collection
Keith is an acknowledged authority on the stamps and postal history of early Natal. Unsurprisingly, he has extended his enthusiasm for all things Natalian to postcards.
Postcard supplied courtesy of Roger Porter.
In the meeting, Keith shared his extensive collection of early postcards from Natal, focusing on the illustrated colour types produced before the Anglo-Boer War that show various Natal scenes, mostly around Durban. His earliest recorded example of these was posted to Buenos Aires, Argentina, from Durban on 7th January 1898.
There appears to have been some confusion about overseas postage rates. Keith’s aforementioned earliest recorded postcard was incorrectly posted at the 1d rate and taxed on arrival in South America. A similar card sent to Germany was also posted at the incorrect rate but was not taxed. Five subsequent postcard sent overseas to Germany (3), Holland (1) and Argentina (1) were all sent at the correct rate. Five other cards that Keith showed were used ie. messages written on them but none were posted.
Keith’s last recorded date of use of these early illustrated cards is 23rd December 1903. This was used as a Christmas Greeting card and posted locally in Durban.
General Discussion
The group briefly discussed early divided back postcards used in South Africa with John Handman and Roger Porter identifying examples from August 1903, presumably early ones. Keith said that many early postcards were produced overseas, even those depicting local scenes. Ian Patterson provided information about a postcard of Dundee, correcting its identification as the Masonic Hall rather than the post office. Alan Harley found one of Keith’s displayed postcards in his collection and offered to send him a scan.
Appreciation was shown for John’s inclusion of historical photo of a wagon outside the shell-struck Town Hall with John Handman providing insights into its history.
Next Meeting
The meeting ended with agreement for the next meeting on the 29th April 2025.
