James Fouche

South Africa, Cape Town · 1968-04-10

Official

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front

info card_2

Cachet: The cachet on this cover leans on heraldry rather than illustration. On the left a detailed coat of arms shows two springbok as supporters flanking a shield divided into quarters, each carrying its own emblem, with a lion crest rising above and the motto "Unitate Vires" on a ribbon beneath. The initials "S P" appear in bold serif type above the crest, standing for State President. A blue airmail panel sits beside the crest, showing a flying springbok alongside the words "Per Lugpos / By Air Mail / Par Avion". The bottom of the cover carries the bilingual label "Amptelike Gedenkkoevert / Official Commemorative Envelope", numbered 7 in the series, with the date "10.IV.68" printed beneath the crest. Two stamps in the top right corner, in pink and blue, both show the same portrait and the date 10 April 1968. They are cancelled by a Cape Town postmark marking the inauguration of the State President.

Info card

JACOBUS JOHANNES FOUCHÉ is op 6 Junie 1898 op Wepener in die Oranje-Vrystaat gebore. Sy skoolloopbaan begin op Rouxville en na verdere opleiding aan die Grey-Kollege, Bloemfontein, en die Hoër Jongenskool, Paarl, studeer hy verder aan die Victoria-Kollege, Stellenbosch. In 1941 word hy verkies tot Volksraadslid vir die kiesafdeling Smithfield en in 1960 vir Bloemfontein-Wes. In 1951 word hy Administrateur van die Oranje-Vrystaat, in 1959 Minister van Verdediging en in 1966 Minister van Landbou-tegniese Dienste en van Waterwese. Dié pos het hy beklee tot sy aanwysing as Staatspresident. In 1966 is die graad D.Phil (h.c.) deur die Universiteit van Stellenbosch aan hom toegeken. Mnr. Fouché is in 1920 getroud met mej. Letta Rhoda McDonald. Hulle het een seun, dr. J. J. (Buks) Fouché. JACOBUS JOHANNES FOUCHÉ was born at Wepener in the Orange Free State on the 6th June, 1898. He started school at Rouxville and after further education at Grey College, Bloemfontein, and Paarl Boys' High School, he continued his studies at Victoria College, Stellenbosch. In 1941 he was elected Member of Parliament for the Smithfield constituency and in 1960 for Bloemfontein West. He became Administrator of the Orange Free State in 1951, Minister of Defence in 1959 and in 1966, Minister of Agricultural Technical Services and of Water Affairs, a post which he held until his election as State President. In 1961, the University of Stellenbosch conferred upon him the degree D.Phil (h.c.). Mr Fouché married Miss Letta Rhoda McDonald in 1920. They have one son, Dr J. J. (Buks) Fouché.

Additional information

This cover is postmarked on 10 April 1968 in Cape Town. It carries two stamps marking the inauguration of Jacobus Johannes Fouché as State President of South Africa. Fouché had already served as Administrator of the Orange Free State, Minister of Defence and Minister of Agricultural Technical Services and Water Affairs before his election as State President, and the University of Stellenbosch had conferred an honorary doctorate on him in 1961.

Theme: Heritage

Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.

Addressed: No

Signed: No

Stamp denomination: R0.15 (ZAR)

SAPO serial number: 7

Estimated value: ~US$0.1

This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.