Postage stamps and postal history of the Cape of Good Hope
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, led by the explorer Bartolomeu Dias.
Frequently, packets of letters were left under postal stones inscribed in French, Dutch and Danish, which became the first, unmanned, post offices of the Cape.
[1][2][3] A supply camp was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652 in the area which later became Cape Town.
The unusual shape of the stamps was probably inspired by the large triangular obliterator used by the Cape Revenue Department from 1839.
The original die for these stamps was cut by William Humphrys, an engraver employed by Perkins Bacon.
[4] On 1 April 1863 the rate to Great Britain was increased to one shilling, if sent by mail packet, and reduced to four pence, if sent by private vessels.
[7] Each stamp was individually cut into a single piece of metal (known as a cliche) so there are many slight variations.
All Cape stamps except the triangulars were valid for use in all of the Union until they were demonetised on 31 December 1937, along with the issues of Transvaal, Natal and Orange River Colony.
Here, sailors exchanged packets of letters left under postal stones .
