British Bechuanaland was a crown colony of the United
Kingdom that was constituted on 
30th September 1885 following the
collapse of two Boer republics that seceded in 1882: Stellaland and Goshen.
Prior to that, the area of Bechuanaland consisted of the Northern provinces
which were administered as the Bechuanaland Protectorate and a Southern part
that was administered as the crown colony of British Bechuanaland. British
Bechuanaland became part of Cape Colony on 16th November 1895 and
Cape of Good Hope in 1910 (Union of South Africa).
30th September 1885 following the
collapse of two Boer republics that seceded in 1882: Stellaland and Goshen.
Prior to that, the area of Bechuanaland consisted of the Northern provinces
which were administered as the Bechuanaland Protectorate and a Southern part
that was administered as the crown colony of British Bechuanaland. British
Bechuanaland became part of Cape Colony on 16th November 1895 and
Cape of Good Hope in 1910 (Union of South Africa).
Philatelic Profile:
The first stamps of British Bechuanaland were a set of nine
‘British Bechuanaland’ overprints on Cape of Good Hope stamps from the
1871-1885 time period. 
The set (Scott #1 to #9) is sought after and catalogs in
the $500 range for Mint and around half that for Used. There are a few “ritish”
error and double overprint varieties that fetch a premium into the 1000s.
Overprints on British stamps followed during the period from 1885 to 1887.
Certain Postage & Revenue overprint high values (10sh and up) fetch into
the 100s (Scott #20) and the poundage values (Scott #21 and #22) go into the
1000s. Certain surcharge overprints and reprints on the earlier issues dominated
the British Bechuanaland stamp issues during the period till 1891.
The set (Scott #1 to #9) is sought after and catalogs in
the $500 range for Mint and around half that for Used. There are a few “ritish”
error and double overprint varieties that fetch a premium into the 1000s.
Overprints on British stamps followed during the period from 1885 to 1887.
Certain Postage & Revenue overprint high values (10sh and up) fetch into
the 100s (Scott #20) and the poundage values (Scott #21 and #22) go into the
1000s. Certain surcharge overprints and reprints on the earlier issues dominated
the British Bechuanaland stamp issues during the period till 1891.
A set of five stamps that were ‘British Bechuanaland’
overprints on British QV issues appeared during the period from 1891 to 1894.
That set (Scott #33 to #37) is relatively affordable and catalogs in the $45
range for Mint and around half that for Used. A Specimen handstamped variety of
this set exists and they catalog in the $200 range each. Half used on cover
varieties of many of the higher denominations exist and they fetch a huge
premium. Vertical ‘British Bechuanaland’ overprints (reading up and down
respectively) on Cape of Good Hope issues were issued in a
couple of sets: The first set (Scott #31 and #32) issued in 1891 catalogs for
around $15 Mint and around the same for used. The second set (Scott #38 and#39) issued between 1893 and 1895 is even less expensive and catalogs in the
$10 range for Mint or Used. Several error varieties of these two sets exist and
they fetch well into the 100s and 1000s.
That set (Scott #33 to #37) is relatively affordable and catalogs in the $45
range for Mint and around half that for Used. A Specimen handstamped variety of
this set exists and they catalog in the $200 range each. Half used on cover
varieties of many of the higher denominations exist and they fetch a huge
premium. Vertical ‘British Bechuanaland’ overprints (reading up and down
respectively) on Cape of Good Hope issues were issued in a
couple of sets: The first set (Scott #31 and #32) issued in 1891 catalogs for
around $15 Mint and around the same for used. The second set (Scott #38 and#39) issued between 1893 and 1895 is even less expensive and catalogs in the
$10 range for Mint or Used. Several error varieties of these two sets exist and
they fetch well into the 100s and 1000s. Last Updated: 12/2015.
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