Rhodesia: A Postal History by R. C. Smith

Rhodesia: A Postal History (Signed First Edition in Pictorial Dust Jacket)

The Standard Reference on Rhodesian Stamps, Posts and Telegraphs, from Pioneer Cable and Coach to the Federation

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Rhodesia: A Postal History: Its Stamps, Posts and Telegraphs
• Author: R. C. Smith
• Publisher: R. C. Smith; distributed in Rhodesia by Kingstons (Pvt.) Ltd., Salisbury, Rhodesia
• Edition Details: First Edition, Salisbury, 1967. Signed by the author on the title page.
• Binding: Publisher's red cloth boards with gilt double rules and gilt lettering to the spine, in a pictorial red dust jacket.
• Physical Format: Large quarto-format volume of over 400 pages. Illustrated with plates of stamps, photographs and a frontispiece portrait of the author.
• Language: English

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Very Good (VG)
• Exterior / Boards: The red cloth boards carry gilt double rules and lettering to the spine. There is light rubbing and some marks to the upper board, with slight wear at the spine ends and joints. The page block edges are toned.
• Interior: The text is clean and tightly bound in the pages examined. The endpapers show browning near the edges, with an adhesive or tape stain pattern on one pastedown, and the flyleaf has been taped at the edges. A few small spots are visible. The plates of stamps and photographs are present and the frontispiece portrait is intact.
• Provenance: Signed by the author in blue ink on the title page, apparently 'Robert C. Smith'. No bookplates or ownership stamps.
• The Dust Jacket: Present, and protected in a durable archival-type plastic cover. The pictorial red jacket is worn, with chipping and creasing along the edges and corners, white loss to the red print at the spine ends and a small tear to the front flap edge. Two strips of adhesive tape are on the back panel, and the inner flaps have been taped and are toned.

Synopsis & Historical Value

Rhodesia: A Postal History, subtitled Its Stamps, Posts and Telegraphs, was published in Salisbury in 1967 and traces the communications of Rhodesia from the pioneer days of cable and coach, through the British South Africa Company era, to the Federation and the post-Federal issues.

The book is heavily illustrated with stamps and old photographs. Beyond the strictly philatelic material, it offers numerous sidelights on the development of Rhodesia from pioneering days, and its coverage extends to topics such as airmail, transport and broadcasting.

It has long served as a working reference for Rhodesian philatelists. Later writers, including contributors to the Rhodesian Study Circle, quote and debate its statements. This copy, signed by the author and retaining its pictorial jacket, is a useful addition for collectors of Rhodesiana and postal history.

Author Profile: R. C. Smith

R. C. Smith, who appears in some catalogues as Robert C. Smith, wrote the standard postal history of Rhodesia, published in 1967. It was followed in 1970 by a Supplement to Rhodesia: A Postal History, which updated the original volume.

He is also credited with Rhodesia in Stamps, published by the Salisbury Stamp Co. in 1978.

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