South African Flag Golden Jubilee
South Africa, Pretoria · 1977-11-11
Official first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
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This cover is postmarked on 11-11-1977 in Pretoria. It marks the golden jubilee of the South African Union flag, adopted in 1927 after a three-year search for a design acceptable to both English and Afrikaans speaking South Africans. The info card notes that the earlier "Red Ensign" flag, used from 1910, remained the merchant fleet flag until 1951 despite being replaced as the national flag.
Description of the Cachet
Bands of colour step down the left side of the cover like a staircase, running from a plain orange strip marked 1652 at the top through a Union Jack block and the old orange, white and blue Union flag, ending at a bottom band marked 1927. Small national flags of the era are folded into two of the steps. The design reads almost like a timeline, tracing South Africa's flags from Jan van Riebeeck's arrival through to the 1927 Union flag. The 1927-1977 flag stamp and matching postmark sit to the right.
Information Card
THE SOUTH AFRICAN FLAG The present South African flag is not our first flag. From 1910 to 1928 the country's flag was the British "Red Ensign" on which the shield of the Union Coat of Arms was superimposed. However, the flag was not very popular and in 1921 consideration was given to its replacement, although it still served as the flag of the merchant fleet until 1951. In February 1925 Dr D. F. Malan, the then Minister of the Interior, of Social Welfare and of Education, introduced a bill in the Union Parliament that made provision for an official flag for the Union of South Africa. Three years later, on Union Day 1928, the flag was hoisted everywhere in the country. For three years commissions of the House of Parliament and organisations outside the political arena searched for a flag to satisfy the English speaking people who wished to retain the Union Jack, as well as the Afrikaners who rejected it. Design after design was rejected but eventually in 1927 a compromise was negotiated and at a combined sitting of both Houses of Parliament the Union flag was unanimously approved. The flag consists of three horizontal bands in the colours orange, white and blue that Jan van Riebeeck brought to the Cape, with the old flags of the Orange Free State, the Union Jack and the Transvaal Vierkleur depicted on the white band. The law declaring this flag as the national flag specified further that the Union Jack would be flown together with the national flag on the Parliamentary Building and on the more important government buildings, at the Government offices in foreign countries, as well as at other places in the Union the Government might specify. In 1957 the practice of flying the Union Jack alongside the Union Flag was abolished. DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE VLAG Die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse vlag is nie ons eerste vlag nie. Van 1910 tot 1928 was die landsvlag die Britse "Red Ensign" met die skild van die Uniewapen daarop. Die vlag was egter nie baie gewild nie en in 1921 is oorweging daaraan geskenk om dit te vervang hoewel dit steeds tot 1951 as handelsvlootvlag gedien het. In Februarie 1925 het dr D. F. Malan, destyds Minister van Binnelandse Sake, van Volkswelsyn en van Onderwys, 'n wetsontwerp by die Unie-Parlement ingedien wat voorsiening gemaak het vir 'n amptelike vlag vir die Unie van Suid-Afrika. Drie jaar later, op Uniedag 1928, is die Unievlag oral in die land gehys. Drie jaar lank het kommissies van die Volksraad en organisasies buite die politiek gesoek na 'n vlag om die Engelssprekendes wat die Union Jack wou behou, en die Afrikaners wat dit verwerp het, te bevredig. Die een ontwerp na die ander is verwerp maar in 1927 is eindelik 'n vergelyk getref en het 'n gesamentlike sitting van albei Parlementshuise die Unievlag eenparig goedgekeur. Die vlag bestaan uit die drie horisontale bane in die kleure oranje, wit en blou waarmee Jan van Riebeeck na die Kaap gekom het, en op die wit strook is die ou vlae van die Oranje-Vrystaat, die Union Jack en die Transvaalse Vierkleur. Die wet wat hierdie vlag tot nasionale vlag verklaar het, bepaal verder dat die Union Jack saam met die nasionale vlag op die Parlementsgebou en vernaamste regeringsgeboue, by die Uniehawens en op die regeringskantore in die buiteland sou wapper, asook op ander plekke in die Unie wat deur die regering voorgeskryf word. In 1957 is die gebruik van die Union Jack langs die Unievlag gestaak.
Theme: Heritage
Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.
Addressed: No
Signed: No
Estimated value: ~US$0.1
This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.
This first day cover (FDC) is part of Southern Covers, a private collection of 211 first day covers documenting the postal history and philately of South Africa and the homeland states. New to first day cover collecting? Read the guide to learn about cachets, postmarks, and stamp collecting terms, or browse the whole collection of Southern African FDCs.
