Stellenbosch 300 Years

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This cover is postmarked on 8 November 1979 in Stellenbosch, SAPO reference PT 3.19. It marks the 300th anniversary of the town's founding by Governor Simon van der Stel in November 1679, making it the oldest town in South Africa. The two stamps show the old main building of the University of Stellenbosch and the Rhenish Church on the Braak. It's a striking detail that the university, only formally established in the early 20th century, went on to produce six of South Africa's first seven prime ministers since Union in 1910.

Description of the Cachet

The cachet shows a detailed heraldic coat of arms with a silver knight's helmet crested by a gold anchor and oak leaves, sitting atop a shield divided into gold and red bands with two red towers, a stylised flower, and a third tower below. A ribbon beneath the shield carries the Latin motto "Fortis et Superbus". The words "jaar 300 years Stellenbosch" appear underneath in bold black text, marking the tercentenary being celebrated. The postmark itself carries an acorn and oak leaf design, echoing the oak trees mentioned as one of the town's defining features.

Information Card

STELLENBOSCH Stellenbosch is the oldest town in South Africa. In November 1679 Governor Simon van der Stel decided to establish a settlement here. Shortly afterwards, the first farms were allocated and the first school was started. The town was officially established in 1685, after which it was decided to erect a church and establish a court of law here, and even were issued. Initially the town served mainly as the centre for a farming community. The farmers specialized in viticulture but they also cultivated grain and farmed with cattle and sheep. Fruit farming on a large scale commenced only towards the end of the 19th century. For more than two centuries the farmers made their own wine and marketed their own produce. The large wineries, which are now known country-wide and even abroad, were only established in the twentieth century. The wine industry was aided at an early stage by the settlement of a number of French Huguenots in the district. Since the beginning Stellenbosch, as the main town of the second district, has also been an important administrative centre. The first landdrost (magistrate) was appointed in 1685. His residence, the drostdy, was erected on an island in the Eerste River in 1687 on the spot now occupied by the theological seminary. For years the district had its own burgher commando, which was called up on several occasions for service in the Eastern Border wars. The Voortrekker leader Piet Retief also farmed in the district for some time. The kruithuis, which was erected in 1776–1777, reminds the visitor of Stellenbosch's military past. After 1850 Stellenbosch became a well-known education centre within a few decades. In 1858 the Dutch Reformed Church established its first seminary for ministers here. Some two years later the first girls' school in South Africa, initially intended for the daughters of Rhenish missionaries, was established and in 1864 the Stellenbosch Gymnasium followed, which later developed into the Paul Roos Gymnasium and the University of Stellenbosch. It is known that the university has produced important leaders in virtually all fields, including six of the seven prime ministers since Unification in 1910. Typical of Stellenbosch's image is its many oak trees, the large number of historical buildings — most of which are in the Cape Dutch style — that were erected as residences, churches, schools, etc. and in many cases are still being used for these purposes, and the spectacular mountains surrounding it. STELLENBOSCH Stellenbosch is die oudste dorp in Suid-Afrika. In November 1679 het goewerneur Simon van der Stel besluit om hier 'n nedersetting te stig. Kort daarna is die eerste plase toegeken en met die eerste skool begin. Die amptelike dorpstigting het in 1685 plaasgevind en daarna is besluit om hier 'n kerk op te rig en 'n geregshof te vestig, en erwe is uitgegee. In die begin was die dorp hoofsaaklik die middelpunt van 'n boeregemeenskap. Die boere het hulle veral op wynbou toegelê, maar hulle het ook graanboere beoefen en met beeste en skape geboer. Eers teen die einde van die 19e eeu het vrugteboerdery op groot skaal begin. Meer as twee eeue lank het die boere self wyn gemaak en self hul produkte bemark. Die groot wynmakerye, wat vandag landswyd en selfs in die buiteland bekend is, het eers in die twintigste eeu tot stand gekom. Die wynbedryf is in 'n vroeë stadium deur die vestiging van 'n aantal Franse Hugenote in die distrik aangehelp. Van die begin af was Stellenbosch, as die hoofdorp van die tweede distrik, ook 'n belangrike administratiewe sentrum. Die eerste landdros is in 1685 aangestel. Sy woonplek, die drostdy, is sedert 1687 op 'n eiland in die Eersterivier gestaan, op die plek waar die Teologiese Kweekskool nou is. Die distrik het jarelank sy eie burgerkommando gehad, wat verskeie kere opgeroep is om in Oosgrensoorloë diens te doen. Die Voortrekkerleier Piet Retief het ook 'n tyd lank in die distrik geboer. Die kruithuis, wat in 1776–1777 opgerig is, herinner die besoeker aan Stellenbosch se militêre verlede. Na 1850 het Stellenbosch binne 'n paar dekades 'n bekende onderwyssentrum geword. In 1858 is die Ned. Geref. Kerk se eerste Kweekskool vir predikante hier gestig. Ongeveer twee jaar later het die eerste meisieskool in Suid-Afrika, wat aanvanklik vir die dogters van Rynse sendelinge bedoel is, hier tot stand gekom en in 1864 is die Stellenbosch Gymnasium gestig, wat mettertyd tot die Paul Roos-gimnasium en die Universiteit van Stellenbosch ontwikkel het. Dit is bekend dat die universiteit op vrywel alle terreine vername leiers opgelewer het, onder meer ses van die sewe eerste ministers sedert Uniewording in 1910. Kenmerke van Stellenbosch se dorpsbeeld is sy talle eikebome, die groot aantal historiese geboue — die meeste in die Kaaps-Hollandse styl — wat as woonhuise, kerke, skoolgeboue, ensovoorts opgerig is en in baie gevalle nog daarvoor gebruik word, en die skouspelagtige berge wat hom omring.

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