JeffS
Member 
Posts: 2,837
What I collect: Oranges Philately, US Slogan Cancels, Cape of Good Hope Triangulars, and Texas poster stamps and cinderellas
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Post by JeffS on Jun 23, 2024 18:17:13 GMT
The "independence" of Southern Rhodesia claimed in 1965 was celebrated on its first anniversary by overprinting its current postage stamps with the words INDEPENDENCE / 11th November 1965. These stamps were rejected by the international community as having no postal authority. Mail without a return address was sent onward but postage due to an amount of double the deficiency.
This cover franked with 13 pence in invalid postage was sent to its destination in Great Britain charged 2 shillings, 6 pence postage due.  I acquired this for my Oranges Philately Project but decided to post it here until I get it properly incorporated in that.
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clivel
Member
Posts: 385 
What I collect: Basutoland, Bechuanaland, Rhodesias, South Africa, Swaziland, Israel to 1980, Ireland predecimal, Palestine Mandate
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Post by clivel on Jun 25, 2024 18:49:51 GMT
Perhaps a moderator could rename this thread from "Southern Rhodesia" to either "Rhodesia Post Federation" or "Rhodesia UDI".
Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from Britain occurred on the 11th November 1965.
A stamp to commemorate this was issued on the 8th December 1965. Printed by Mardon Printers, Salisbury, these crudely perforated stamps were the first stamps to be printed in Rhodesia.
A few weeks later, on the 17th January 1966, the first definitive series, stamps of Southern Rhodesia overprinted "Independence / 11th November 1965" were issued. Some of these are shown on the cover posted by JeffS above.
These stamps were all declared illegal by the UK government, also illustrated on the above cover.
Shortly after the Independence commemorative was issued, propaganda forgeries of the stamp appeared on the market with the added words Illegal and Due placed so as to read:
"Illegal Independence - 11th November 1965 - Postage Due 2/6".
The forgery is thought to have been created by notable philatelist and publisher of numerous philatelic books, Edward Proud at the behest of the British Government. These labels were issued in sheets of nine.
Some time later, a second version of these propaganda label appeared on the market, these are thought to have been produced by someone other than Edward Proud.
Clive
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JeffS
Member
Posts: 2,837
What I collect: Oranges Philately, US Slogan Cancels, Cape of Good Hope Triangulars, and Texas poster stamps and cinderellas
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Post by JeffS on Jun 25, 2024 19:59:26 GMT
@clive thank you for adding to this thread. I agree that a separate thread as you suggest would be beneficial. This is a very complex issue, postal history wise. I have seen and bookmarked the lengthy study of the use of these stamps posted online.
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