Postmarks of South West Africa under South African administration, by Ralph F. Putzel

Postmarks of South West Africa under South African administration, by Ralph F. Putzel.

Postmarks of South West Africa under South African administration is an encyclopaedic work on the philately of Namibia during the period 1914-1977, with a wealth of information on all aspects and with hundreds of photos and other illustrations. Author is Ralph F. Putzel.

For a very long time I have felt that something should he done about the serious gap in the Postal History of South West Africa (or Namibia as it may be called one of these days) from the time that South African Forces (under Allied instructions) occupied German South West Africa at the beginning of the First World War (1914-1918) after the German Colonial rule had come to an end. Whereas several German Authors, notably Friedemann and later Dr. Wittmann went to great length to report on the Postal History, the listing of all Post Offices, postmarks, etc. during the German Colonial Period, only comparatively little was done to collate information after the South African Occupation. Of these the best was the first one by Busch but unfortunately his booklet of 1920 was not immediately followed up until much later by Goetze and still later Gewande and Hoffmann-Giesecke issued further reports, finally Simenhoff in 1962. None, except Busch tried to give comprehensive illustrations. Whilst each of these experts added some valuable information (and especially Hoffmann-Giesecke did some extensive listing) none tried more than give basic check-lists of postmarks which did not always agree and made the sorting out of the postmarks even more difficult. This is especially valid for the period 1923-1977 as many previous authors tried to confine their articles to the period before overprinted stamps i.e. separate issues first appeared (the so-called 'Occupational Period') when South African stamps only by the postmark could be identified as originating from South West African Post Offices. Goetze missed many of the early rubber cancellers but gives more information than the others on Railway cancellations, whereas Hoff man n-Giesecke tried to list all postmarks to 1960 (though he missed quite a number) but as he illustrated practically none, it is very difficult to follow his listing. He also includes some Postal Agencies which have not been seen by anybody else. Simenhoff made quite a good listing up to 1923 (the Occupational Period) and unfortunately stopped there.

Since I began an International Mail Auction service 13 years ago, I have time and again handled substantial collections of South West African stamps, postmarks and covers and gradually came to realise that I was in a good position to add to Philatelic knowledge by putting aside photographs of interesting postmarks and covers, some of which you will now find illustrated on these pages as also some from the collections of other South West African Collectors. I have felt all along that in a first reference book of this kind, it is important to reproduce (by the photocopying process) as many original postmarks as possible, so that collectors can compare with their own copies and report any varieties, etc. for later correction. I felt I should also report on contradictory statements and queries, so that these can be sorted out and clarified later.

Unfortunately some of the early postmarks are so rare today that illustrations by Busch (frequently tracings) had to be shown wherever an original could not be photocopied. Without the continuous use of a photocopier, it would have been impossible to illustrate so many original postmarks. Where original postmarks were not perfect but gave at least a fair outline, I chose these in preference to tracings, as very early in the research it became apparent that of certain cancellers the Post Office had more than one copy made, distinguishable only by minute differences. Some postmarks, such as the 'skeleton type' relief cancellers, with their irregular lettering were almost impossible to trace accurately, but nevertheless this method became necessary in certain cases. Wherever an original postmark is not shown I have mentioned it accordingly.

During the 2 years I have been doing research in this field, an astonishing number of previously unknown postmarks and other postal history data have come to light including even a few converted German cancellers the old authorities had not mentioned. Such a wealth of material, thanks mainly to the wonderful response that came from Collectors ail over the World, was sent in that a voluminous correspondence developed and no doubt will continue to grow after the book has been published. I welcome any reports, criticism and corrections which I shall publish as far as possible in the circular letter, which has been going out from time to time to many dozens of S.W.A. postmark collectors, and possibly if the interest continues to increase as at present, it will be possible in a few years to publish a further edition.

Postmarks of each Post Office have been numbered from No.1. Details of the PO/PA opening and closing dates shown are those given in the Official Post Office Guide (POG) but as this source was not always accurate, also in later years was not published annually, & therefore missed a lot of shortlived Post Offices, it can only partially be used as a guide. The Regional Director P.O.Windhoek managed to get further or corrected information in many cases, although frequently P.O. records had already become unavailable. The study has shown that it was high time to record what files could still be traced to correct or query reports previously given and generally to lay a basis on which collectors can hopefully build up further in the coming years. [...]

This is an excerpt from the book: Postmarks of South West Africa under South African administration, by Ralph F. Putzel.

Title: Postmarks of South West Africa under South African administration
Subtitle: A comprehensive study, 1914-1977
Author: Ralph F. Putzel
Publisher: Collectors Mail Auctions
1st edition. Bergvliet, South Africa 1977
ISBN 0620026405 / ISBN 0-620-02640-5
Hardcover, 21x30 cm, 263 pages, throughout bw-photos and images