Lot 4033
1888 (19 Oct.) "Deutsche Colonial-Gesellschaft für Südwest-Afrika" corner card envelope to Hannover (9.1.89), via Cape Town (19.12), bearing Pfennig 20pf ultramarine (Michel 42c) vertical pair, cancelled by "Otyimbingue/Deutsch Südwest-Afrika" c.d.s., 40 Pfennig representing the U.P.U. foreign double rate (the Cape of Good Hope was not a member of the U.P.U.) and "5" in crayon for 5 pence onward transmission from the Cape to Germany, Extremely Fine and wonderful example of this very rare cancellation.
Estimate 12,000 - 15,000
Introduced on 10 August 1888, this canceller is known on only a few covers during the first period prior to the definitive establishment of the post office at Otyimbingue. There are two local covers, a defective postcard, two covers addressed to Germany, and an incoming cover recorded with this postmark during this period.
The first German postal agency in German South West Africa had been opened in Otyimbingue, the seat of the German Colonial Society, on 7 July 1888. By November, it was forced to move to Walfish Bay on account of attacks from the Herero, temporarily returning from 8 July to September 1889 and then again between mid-March and November 1891, before the postal agency was transferred on 7 December to Windhoek. The dates of the permanent post office in Otjimbingue were 30 May 1895 to 30 April 1914.
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| Realized $11,500 |
