Bechuanaland Protectorate External Links References

Bechuanaland was divided into British Bechuanaland, a colony which later bacame part of the Cape Colony (and is now in South Africa). This is the area around Mafikeng (then called Mafeking). The northern part was the Bechuanaland Protectorate; its territory was expanded north in 1890. The British government originally expected to turn over administration of the protectorate to Rhodesia or South Africa, but Tswana opposition left the protectorate under British rule until it became independent as Botswana in 1966. The BP was technically a protectorate rather than a colony, but this was a legal distinction of little practical significance.

The protectorate was administered from Mafeking (now Mafikeng), creating a unique situation of the capital of the territory being located outside of it.

The eastern part of the colony was originally claimed by Matabeleland, and in 1887 Samuel Edwards (working for Cecil Rhodes) obtained a mining concession.

In 1891 administration of the protectorate was given to the High Commissioner for South Africa ; in 1895 the British South Africa CompanyThe British South Africa Company (BSAC) was established by Cecil Rhodes, receiving a royal charter in 1889. Modeling it on the British East India Company, he hoped it would enable colonisation and economic exploitation in southern Africa, as part of the S attempted to acquire the area, but three Tswana chiefs visited LondonLondon is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England, and with over seven million inhabitants in the Greater London area, is the second-most populous conurbation in Europe (after Moscow). From being Londinium the capital of the Roman province of Bri to protest and were successful in fending off the BSAC. Later attempts to develop also had little effect.

The BP was one of the "High Commission Territories", the others being Basutoland (now LesothoMmuso wa Lesotho Kingdom of Lesotho (In Detail) (Full size) National motto: Khotso, Pula, Nala(Peace, Rain, Prosperity Official language Sesotho, English Capital Maseru Capital's coordinates 29° 18' S, 27° 28' E Largest City Maseru Monarch HM The King of) and

by the Governor of the Cape, and then by the Governor-General of South Africa, and finally by the British High Commissioner to South Africa. The actual administration was headed in each territory by a Resident Commissioner, who thus had approximately the functions of a Governor but somewhat less authority.

1 External links

2 References

Thomas Tlou and Alec Campbell History of Botswana

Neil Parsons New History of Southern Africa

Fred Morton and Jeff Ramsay (eds) The birth of Botswana : a history of the Bechuanaland Protectorate from 1910 to 1966.

3 Postage stamps

The first postage stampA postage stamp is evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services. Usually a small paper rectangle which is attached to an envelope, signifying that the person sending the letter or package has paid for delivery, it is the most popular alternative to uss were produced in 18881888 is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). In Germany, 1888 is known as the 1888 Year of Three Emperors. Events January 3 91cm telescope first used at Lick Observatory January 12 ? Blizzards in Dakota and Montana, Minnesota, Nebr by overprintAn overprint is the addition of text (and sometimes graphics) to the face of a postage stamp after it has been printed. Overprints have been used for many purposes over the years. They have been used as surcharges, commemorations, and control marks. A suring stamps of Bechuanaland (some overprints of British stamps and some issued specifically for the colony) with "Protectorate". In 1889Events January-April January 8 Herman Hollerith receives a patent for his electric tabulating machine January 22 Columbia Phonograph is formed in Washington, DC. February 11 Meiji Constitution of Japan adopted; 1st Diet convenes in 1890 January 30 ? Crown a 1/2-penny stamp of Cape of Good Hope was overprinted "Bechuanaland / Protectorate.".

From 1897 to 1925 more British stamps were overprinted using the protectorate's name in various layouts. In 1910 a 6-pence stamp of Transvaal was also overprinted; although it was intended for fiscal use, postal uses are known.

The protectorate's first inscribed stamps appeared in a definitive series of 1932. The 12 values, ranging from 1/2d to 10sh, all used the same design; a group of cattle next to a baobab tree, surmounted by a portrait for King George V. The usual Silver Jubilee and Coronation issues appeared in 1935 and 1937, with King George VI replacing his father in a similarly-designed series of 1938.

The protectorate's Peace issue of 1945 was produced by overprinting "Bechuanaland" on South Africa's Peace stamps. Stamps were issued for the Royal Visit in 1947, and for the usual omnibus sets of the period. Queen Elizabeth II replaced her father in a definitive series of 1955, the rest of the design matching the previous definitives.

Three stamps in 1960 commemorated the 75th anniversary of the protectorate, then in 1961 Bechuanaland converted to the South African rand, necessitating surcharges on the existing definitives in February, followed by a new definitive series in October that was mostly pictures of birds, with some showing people at work.

Standard Commonwealth omnibus issues appeared up until independence, along with a 1 June 1966 issue commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Bechuanaland Pioneers and Gunners .

4 See also

History of Botswana

South Africa Botswana British colonies

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