Skukuza

South Africa, Skukuza · 1976-06-05

Official

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info card_2

Cachet: The cachet is a loose ink line drawing of a solitary acacia tree bent slightly by the wind, standing over low bushveld scrub with a scatter of birds taking flight overhead. The linework is sketchy and expressive rather than tightly detailed, built from quick confident strokes that suggest movement in the branches and grass. It's a simple, atmospheric bushveld scene rather than a busy illustration.

Info card

THE BLACK RHINOCEROS (Diceros bicornis) Black rhinoceros occur in two of South Africa's ten national parks. In the Addo Elephant National Park there are currently 11 black rhinoceros and in the Kruger National Park there are an estimated 30 to 40. These colossal animals, when fully grown, can reach a mass of between 1 000 and 2 000 kg and a shoulder height of about 160 cm. The animal can charge at about 45 km/h. A record length of 135 cm for the front horn has been recorded. The black rhinoceros has a pointed upper lip which extends over the lower lip. The white rhinoceros, in contrast, has a broad upper lip. The black rhinoceros has a dark grey colour. THE BONTEBOK (Damaliscus pygargus) Half a century ago the bontebok was considered to be the rarest species of buck in the world. In 1931, the National Parks Board established the Bontebok National Park at Bredasdorp with a nucleus herd of 17 animals. DIE SWARTRENOSTER (Diceros bicornis) Swartrenosters kom in twee van Suid-Afrika se tien nasionale parke voor. In die Nasionale Addo-olifantpark is daar tans 11 swartrenosters en in die Nasionale Krugerwildtuin is daar na skatting tussen 30 en 40. Hierdie kolosse kan, wanneer hulle volgroei is, 'n massa van tussen 1 000 en 2 000 kg en 'n skouerhoogte van sowat 160 cm bereik. Die dier storm teen sowat 45 km/h. 'n Rekordlengte van 135 cm vir die voorste horing is aangeteken. Die swartrenoster het 'n gepunte bolip wat oor die onderlip strek. Die witrenoster daarenteen het 'n breë bolip. Die swartrenoster is donkergrys van kleur. DIE BONTEBOK (Damaliscus pygargus) 'n Halfeeu gelede is die bontebok beskou as die skaarsste boksoort ter wêreld. In 1931 het die Nasionale Parkeraad met 'n kernkudde van 17 bontebokke die Nasionale Bontebokpark by Bredasdorp gestig.

Additional information

This cover is postmarked on 5 June 1976 in Skukuza, with a special postmark bearing the Kruger National Park crest and the motto "Custos Naturae". It carries the South Africa environmental conservation set, SAPO [number to confirm], a set of four stamps designed by Paul Bosman depicting a cheetah, black rhinoceros, bontebok and Cape mountain zebra. The bontebok stamp ties into a genuine conservation success story, since the species had been reduced to a single herd of just 17 animals when the Bontebok National Park was established at Bredasdorp in 1931. Skukuza itself, where this cover was postmarked, serves as the main rest camp and administrative hub of the Kruger National Park.

Theme: Wildlife

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

Addressed: No

Signed: No

Stamp denomination: R0.48 (ZAR)

SAPO serial number: 2.15

Estimated value: ~US$0.1

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