Postmarks of the Cape of Good Hope by Robert Goldblatt

Postmarks of the Cape of Good Hope (First Edition in Illustrated Dust Jacket)

The Standard Reference on Cape of Good Hope and Griqualand West Postal History, 1792 to 1910

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Postmarks of the Cape of Good Hope: The Postal History and Markings of the Cape of Good Hope and Griqualand West 1792 — 1910
• Author: Robert Goldblatt
• Publisher: Reijger Publishers (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town
• Publication Date: 1984
• ISBN-10: 0620070986
• Edition Details: First Edition. Trade issue.
• Binding: Publisher's orange-brown cloth boards with white title lettering to the front, black ribbon marker, illustrated dust jacket.
• Physical Format: Quarto, 267 pages. With route maps to the endpapers, line illustrations of postmarks, and colour plates. Foreword by Comdr F.W. Collins and a bibliography.
• Language: English

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Very Good Plus (VG+)
• Exterior / Boards: The orange-brown cloth boards are clean, sound and square, with white lettering to the front. The spine and corners are fine. A black ribbon marker is present. The top edge of the text block is slightly toned.
• Interior: The pages are clean and the binding tight. The endpapers carry maps of the postal routes, and the text is printed on matt art paper with colour plates. No foxing or markings.
• The Dust Jacket: Present. The black illustrated jacket, with a colour watercolour of a Cape cart, has intact flaps. There is some surface marking or smearing to the back panel and a few small specks. It is protected in a durable archival-type plastic cover, which is wrinkled in places.

Synopsis & Historical Value

Postmarks of the Cape of Good Hope, published in Cape Town by Reijger in 1984, is Robert Goldblatt's study of the postal history and markings of the Cape of Good Hope and Griqualand West from 1792 to 1910. It covers postal routes, rates and a listing of postmark strikes, with illustrations of handstamps and covers.

The book also gives information on the Cape postal authorities, early postmasters and postal contractors, with lists of post offices. A foreword by Comdr F.W. Collins and a bibliography complete the apparatus.

It remains cited by philatelic societies and literature guides as an authoritative reference on Cape postal history, and is a working tool for collectors of Cape stamps, postmarks and covers. This copy is the first edition in its illustrated dust jacket.

Author Profile: Robert Goldblatt

Robert (Bob) Goldblatt of Cape Town was a leading Southern African philatelist who signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists of Southern Africa in 1979. He is best remembered for this book on Cape postal history.

His study of the Mafeking Blues is regarded as probably the most comprehensive work on the subject and earned him the W.E. Lea Trophy. He wrote regularly for The South African Philatelist, and his other works include The Official Post and the Official or Free Letter Stamps of the Cape of Good Hope and a 1988 Supplement to Postmarks of the Cape of Good Hope.

Cape of Good Hope postal history · Robert Goldblatt Postmarks · Cape postmarks reference book · Griqualand West postal history · Cape philately literature · Reijger Publishers 1984 first edition