Special Stamps: The Great Trek
South Africa, Pietermartizburg · 1988-11-21
Official first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
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front
This cover is postmarked in November 1988 in Pietermaritzburg. It marks 150 years since the Great Trek, when between 12,000 and 15,000 Afrikaans frontier farmers and their families left the Eastern Cape between 1834 and 1840 to settle in the interior. The four stamps trace different aspects of that journey. The 16c stamp maps the routes taken by the main Trek leaders. The 30c and 40c stamps reproduce panels from a set of 15 tapestries housed in the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, showing the preparations for the Trek and the difficult crossing of the Drakensberg. The 50c stamp reproduces a Pierneef painting of the Church of the Vow in Pietermaritzburg. One detail worth noting is the tapestry work itself. Those 15 panels were designed by the artist W H Coetzer but physically woven by nine women over a period of seven years, making the artwork on these stamps the product of a genuinely collaborative and lengthy undertaking rather than a single painting.
Description of the Cachet
The cachet shows the Voortrekker Monument at Winburg, framed inside an ornate oval border. Five tall concrete columns rise together against a clear blue sky, each one narrower and slightly shorter than the last, creating a sense of movement upward. A single figure stands atop the tallest column, silhouetted against the clouds. The five columns are not just an architectural detail. Each one represents one of the major Trek leaders, Tregardt, Potgieter, Maritz, Retief and Uys, standing together at the site where the largest gathering of Trekkers once took place. That gives the illustration real historical weight beyond its visual simplicity. The oval frame around the monument uses a dark decorative scroll pattern, giving the cover a formal, almost heraldic feel. Below it the bilingual title reads Groot Trek and Great Trek, flanked by the years 1838 and 1988 marking the sesquicentennial.
Information Card
SPECIAL POSTAGE STAMPS COMMEMORATING THE GREAT TREK: 1838–1988 The Great Trek 150 years ago occupies a unique place in the history of South Africa. Between 12 000 and 15 000 Afrikaans frontier farmers and their families left the Eastern Cape between 1834 and 1840 to settle elsewhere in the interior. The year 1838 was of particular importance and significance in the course of the Trek. 16c Great Trek Routes The most prominent Trek leaders were Louis Tregardt, Johannes Jacobus (Lang Hans) Janse van Rensburg, Andries Hendrik Potgieter, Gerhardus Marthinus (Gerrit) Maritz, Pieter (Piet) Retief, Karel Pieter Landman and Petrus Lafras (Piet) Uys. Except for the diary kept by Tregardt, very few descriptions exist of the specific routes taken by the respective Trek parties. Among others, the towns of Winburg in the Orange Free State, Potchefstroom in the Transvaal and Pietermaritzburg in Natal were founded by the Voortrekkers. Both Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Natal, and Potchefstroom, the first capital of the Transvaal, celebrate their 150th anniversaries during 1988. 30c and 40c Exodus and Crossing the Drakensberg The Voortrekker Monument at Pretoria houses 15 tapestry panels which depict scenes from the Great Trek. The panels were designed by the artist W H Coetzer and were executed under his supervision by 9 women over a period of 7 years. The 30c stamp features the tapestry Exodus, which depicts the preparations for the Trek, while the 40c stamp shows the tapestry Crossing the Drakensberg, which depicts the laboriousness of the journey. 50c Church of the Vow, Pietermaritzburg This stamp is a reproduction of the oil painting, DIE GELOFTEKERK — Na die diens (Church of the Vow — After the service), by J H Pierneef (1886–1957). It depicts worshippers at this church, which was built in compliance with the vow taken by the Voortrekkers. The original church was renewed in 1910 — its plain gables were replaced by Cape gables and a front porch was added — and is now a Voortrekker museum. Commemorative envelope Voortrekker Monument, Winburg This monument was erected at the site where the largest gathering of Trekkers took place and where Retief was elected leader-in-chief. The five concrete columns symbolize the Treks of Tregardt, Potgieter, Maritz, Retief and Uys. (Colour transparency: SPIX International) SPESIALE POSSEËLS TER HERDENKING VAN DIE GROOT TREK: 1838–1988 Die Groot Trek 150 jaar gelede neem 'n unieke plek in die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika in. Tussen 1834 en 1840 het tussen 12 000 en 15 000 Afrikaanse grensboere en hulle gesinne die Oos-Kaap verlaat en hulle elders in die binneland gevestig. Die jaar 1838 was van besondere betekenis en belang in die verloop van die Trek. 16c Roetes van die Trek Die belangrikste Trekleiers was Louis Tregardt, Johannes Jacobus (Lang Hans) Janse van Rensburg, Andries Hendrik Potgieter, Gerhardus Marthinus (Gerrit) Maritz, Pieter (Piet) Retief, Karel Pieter Landman en Petrus Lafras (Piet) Uys. Behalwe die dagboek wat deur Tregardt bygehou is, bestaan daar min beskrywings van die presiese roetes wat deur die onderskeie Trekgeselskappe gevolg is. Benewens ander, is die dorpe Winburg in die Oranje-Vrystaat, Potchefstroom in Transvaal en Pietermaritzburg in Natal deur die Voortrekkers gestig. Sowel Pietermaritzburg, die huidige hoofstad van Natal, as Potchefstroom, die eerste hoofstad van Transvaal, herdenk hulle 150ste bestaansjaar gedurende 1988. 30c en 40c Exodus en Oor die Drakensberge Die Voortrekkermonument in Pretoria huisves 15 tapisseriepanele wat gebeure uit die Groot Trek uitbeeld. Die panele is deur die kunsskilder W H Coetzer ontwerp en onder sy toesig deur 9 vroue oor 'n tydperk van 7 jaar uitgevoer. Die 30c-seël toon die tapisserie Exodus wat die voorbereiding vir die Trek uitbeeld, die 40c-seël die tapisserie Oor die Drakensberge wat die moeisaamheid van die tog verbeeld. 50c Geloftekerk, Pietermaritzburg Die seël is 'n reproduksie van die olieverfskildery DIE GELOFTEKERK — Na die diens deur J H Pierneef (1886–1957). Dit toon kerkgangers by die Kerk wat in 1840 gebou is ter nakoming van die Voortrekkergelofte. Die oorspronklike Kerk is in 1910 vernuwe toe die eenvoudige gewels deur die Kaapse gewels vervang is en 'n voorportaal aangebou is. Die gebou is tot 'n nasionale gedenkwaardigheid verklaar en dien tans as 'n Voortrekkermuseum. Gedenkkoevert Voortrekkermonument, Winburg Die monument is opgerig op die plek waar die grootste samekoms van Trekkers plaasgevind het en waar Retief tot Hoofleier verkies is. Die vyf betonsuile stel die trekgeselskappe van Tregardt, Potgieter, Maritz, Retief en Uys voor. (Kleurtransparant: SPIX International)
Theme: Heritage
Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.
Addressed: No
Signed: No
Stamp denomination: R1.36 (ZAR)
SG reference: 673-676
SAPO serial number: 5.2
Estimated value: ~US$0.37
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 248 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.
