The Sheep and Wool Industry in South Africa

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A warmly illustrated 1972 South African first day cover documenting the country's sheep and wool industry, complete with a pastoral photograph insert of grazing Merinos. This cover is postmarked on 15-05-1972 in Pretoria. It documents the history and scale of South Africa's sheep and wool industry, tracing the Merino's arrival in the country back to a diplomatic mistake in the 1780s, when the Spanish crown gifted breeding sheep to the House of Orange that failed to thrive in the wet Dutch climate before a small number were sent on to the Cape for experimentation under Colonel Robert Jacob Gordon. By 1972 the industry supported nearly 750 000 people and represented a capital investment of R2500 million, with roughly 70% of national wool production exported to about 30 countries.

Description of the Cachet

The cachet shows a shepherd walking beside a large flock of sheep across open grassland, a flat topped hill rising in the background and windswept marks streaking the sky above, all rendered in warm sepia tones. The illustration credits the artist in small red script at the bottom right corner. A "PER LUGPOS BY AIRMAIL PAR AVION" airmail label with a leaping springbok logo sits in the top left corner. The two stamps show a curled lamb resting beside a wool skein on the 15c value, illustrated by Henrich Botha, and a Merino ram's head against open veld on the 4c value, illustrated by Kobus Esterhuysen. The Pretoria postmark carries a stylised swirled wool motif at its centre. A separate photographic insert accompanies this cover, showing a large flock of Merino sheep grazing on green pasture with a distinctive flat topped mountain in the background, a grazing horse visible among the flock in the middle distance. This cover leans on pastoral realism throughout, from the sepia toned cachet illustration to the colour photograph insert, reflecting the industry's deep roots in South African farming landscape and history.

Information Card

THE SHEEP AND WOOL INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA South Africa was the first country outside Europe to come into possession of the Merino - and that by mistake! Spain was the homeland of this fine-woolled sheep. Here the animals were under strict guard and export was prohibited. The Spanish King then presented the Royal Family of Orange with a few sheep from his Merino flock. The sheep did not thrive in the wet climate of the Netherlands. In 1789 Col. Robert Jacob Gordon, at the time the military commander at the Cape (under Dutch rule), received two rams and four ewes for experimentation. The blunder of the dispatch was disclosed and in 1791 Col. Gordon returned the original number of sheep. He however retained the few offspring at the Cape. After his death his wife sold all the sheep to seafarers on their way to Australia. In this way the first fine-woolled sheep came to Australia. Some of the 1820 British Settlers were experienced sheep farmers overseas. In the sphere of breeding they did pioneer's work and even started wool-processing. The Great Trek also made a considerable contribution towards the further expansion of the sheep and wool industry. The Voortrekkers took their flocks of sheep with them wherever they trekked. Today nearly 750 000 people in South Africa make a livelihood from some or other of the many facets of the sheep and wool industry. Capital investment in the industry amounts to R2500 million. It is calculated that there are 33,4 million sheep in the country. Of these 28,4 million are wool bearing sheep. About 70% of the wool production is exported to approximately 30 countries. The balance of the clipping is processed inland by the wool textile industry. The processed wool is mainly exported as scoured and combing-wool. South Africa is in partnership with Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay in the International Wool Secretariat and its head-office is in London. The main object is to promote wool on an international basis. Photo acknowledgment: SAR & H **Afrikaans:** DIE SKAAP- EN WOLBEDRYF IN SUID-AFRIKA Suid-Afrika was die eerste land buite Europa wat in besit van Merino's gekom het - en dit per abuis! Spanje was die tuisland van dié fynwolskaap waar die diere streng bewaak en uitvoer verbied is. Die Spaanse Koning skenk toe aan die Vorstehuis van Oranje 'n paar skape uit sy Merinokudde. In die nat klimaat van Nederland het die skape nie geaard nie. In 1789 ontvang kol. Robert Jacob Gordon, destydse militêre bevelvoerder aan die Kaap (onder Hollandse bewind), twee ramme en vier ooie om proefnemings mee te doen. Die fout van die sending is ontdek en in 1791 stuur kol. Gordon die oorspronklike getal skape terug maar hou die paar aanteel terug in die Kaap. Na sy dood verkoop sy vrou al die skape aan seevaarders onderweg na Australië. Só het die eerste fynwolskape in Australië aangekom. Sommige van die 1820 Britse Setlaars was ervare skaapboere oorsee. Op die gebied van teling het hulle baanbrekerswerk gedoen en selfs 'n begin gemaak met wolverwerking. Die Groot Trek het aansienlik bygedra tot die verdere uitbreiding van die skaap- en wolbedryf. Die Voortrekkers het hulle skaapkuddes met hulle saamgeneem waar hulle ook al getrek het. Vandag is nagenoeg 750 000 mense in Suid-Afrika van die een of ander van die baie fasette van die skaap- en wolbedryf bestaan afhanklik. Kapitale belegging in die bedryf beloop R2500 miljoen. Daar is volgens berekening 33,4 miljoen skape in die land waarvan 28,4 miljoen wolskape is. Omtrent 70% van die wolproduksie word na ongeveer 30 lande uitgevoer. Die verwerkte wol word hoofsaaklik as gewaste en kamwol uitgevoer. Suid-Afrika is in vennootskap met Australië, Nieu-Seeland en Uruguay in die Internasionale Wolsekretariaat en sy hoofkantoor is in Londen. Die hoofdoel is om wol op 'n internasionale grondslag te bevorder. Foto-erkenning: SAS & H

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