Memoir 7 of the Rhodesian Study Circle
The King George VI postage and revenue stamps of Northern Rhodesia
By Alan Drysdall, Ian Lane and Jean Cheston
Comb-bound with card covers, A4 format, xii + 74p, 35 illustrations, including 6 colour plates; available from the Publications Officer, Jean Cheston, Gomshall Road, Cheam, Surrey (tel. ) @ £10 if purchased at a meeting, £12 inclusive of postage within the UK and £14 inclusive of overseas surface postage.
At the time the Rhodesian Study Circle was founded in 1948, King George VI was on the throne and the stamps described in this memoir were the current definitive issue in Northern Rhodesia. Wilf Nodder, the founding father of the Study Circle and the first Hon. Editor of what was originally the Bulletin, provided a running commentary on the various post-World War II changes of colour, etc., as they happened. Northern Rhodesia, with definitive stamps based on a design unique to the Colony, was then popular with collectors. Subsequent contributors in the 195 Os, and in particular Rex Pearce, then resident in Kitwe, continued the commentary on events. However, from the late 1950s, interest in the KG VI stamps of Northern Rhodesia began to decline, as indeed did interest in King George VI issues in general, as many collectors switched their interest to the QE II issues or, disillusioned with the proliferation of new issues, began to collect in accordance with a new ‘fashion’, namely postal history. In recent years there has been an upsurge in interest in the KG VI issues of the Commonwealth as a whole. In order to overcome shortages of paper, ink and spare parts for machinery, not to mention the devastating effects of being bombed, the various printers had to make use of what was available, providing a challenging field for study, particularly as the records dating from the war years are incomplete. It is certainly timely to publish an updated account of Northern Rhodesia’s KG VI definitives that incorporates the results of continuing research undertaken by a few dedicated aficionados. Those results will surprise and perhaps inspire you.
Memoir 8 of the Rhodesia Study Circle
The Postal Stationery of the British South Africa Company 1890 – 1924
By Cliff Wheatley and Keith Hanman
With chapters by Colin Hoffman, Ian Johnstone and Robson Lowe; edited by Alan Drysdall
Comb bound with card covers, A4 format, 77 pages with 10 illustrations plus the front cover in colour. Available from the Publications Officer of the RSC (£10.00 inc p+p add £2.00 for surface mail abroad).
The subject is covered in great depth. As well as bringing up to date information included in past Journals it includes much new research.
Memoir 9 of the Rhodesia Study Circle
Early Gold Mining in Southern Rhodesia – The Mining Regulations and Revenue Documents of the British South Africa Company
By Christopher J Cooksey
Comb bound with card covers, A4 format, x+ 58 pages, 64 illustrations including 40 in colour and 10 tables. Available from the Publications Officer of the RSC (£10.00 inc. p+p, add £2.00 for air mail), (Printed paper rate).
This profusely illustrated memoir explains the rather complex mining regulations and describes 23 different types of certificate together with the appropriate stamp duties, many of which varied during the period under review.