Selakant 1939 PFSA
South Africa, East London · 1989-02-09
Unofficial first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
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front
info card
This cover was postmarked on 9 February 1989 in East London and produced by the Philatelic Foundation of Southern Africa to mark the exhibition Wanderers 101, held in September 1989. It carries a 50c miniature sheet from the 1989 coelacanth stamp series, sold at a premium as part of the Foundation's ongoing efforts to raise funds for South African philately, including the manufacture and storage of national exhibition display frames. The Foundation itself was registered in 1975 out of a founding meeting in Paarl, and by the time this cover was issued it had already spent more than R250 000 supporting exhibitions across the country.
Description of the Cachet
The cachet shows a full colour illustration of a coelacanth swimming against a soft green underwater backdrop, framed within an ornate decorative border above a boxed logo reading "Wanderers 101" with a small illustration of a horse drawn carriage. The East London shield postmark sits to the left, alongside the bilingual title "Identifisering van die - Identification of the Selakant 1939 Coelacanth" printed in bold black lettering beneath.
Information Card
THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA The Philatelic Foundation of Southern Africa was registered as a company on 9 June 1975 and three officers of the Post Office and three members of the Philatelic Federation of Southern Africa were elected as office-bearers at a founding meeting held on 9 September 1975 in Paarl. The membership was later increased to four members of each organisation. In recognition of the mutual cooperation and interdependence between organised philately in South Africa (as represented by the Foundation) on one hand and the South African Post Office on the other, an annual grant-in-aid which is provided for in the Operating Estimates, has been paid to the Foundation since 1975. Apart from this the Foundation takes independent steps to secure additional funds in order to cover its many financial responsibilities. For years, organised philately had enormous problems to obtain funds in order to promote philately in all its facets. Due to a lack of funds it became more and more difficult to present national exhibitions successfully. The biggest stumbling block was the expenses that had to be incurred annually for the transportation, storage, replacement and purchasing of the display frames. From the start the Foundation assumed responsibility for the manufacture and handling of display frames. Over the past ten years more than R250 000 has been spent on this. The demand for Foundation support increases every year and with the general escalation of prices an intolerable situation developed. To try and find a solution it is planned in cooperation with the Philatelic Federation of SA to centralise the presentation of the annual exhibition. To realise this goal land is necessary for the erection of an exhibition centre, where the frames can be stored and other facilities provided for, which a serious need has been existing for years. The South African Post Office and the postal administrations of South-West Africa, Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei gave the Foundation permission to choose one postage stamp from a special stamp series of each country every year to market as a miniature sheet at a premium. The Foundation does everything in its power to promote organised philately in South Africa. The funds earned by selling these miniature sheets form part of the Foundation's long-term planning for the erection of philatelic headquarters. After that other large projects will be started. DIE FILATELIESTIGTING VAN SUIDER-AFRIKA Die Filateliestigting van Suider-Afrika is op 9 Junie 1975 as 'n maatskappy geregistreer en drie beamptes van die Poskantoor en drie lede van die Filateliese Federasie van Suider-Afrika is by 'n stigtingsvergadering wat op 9 September 1975 in die Paarl gehou is, tot ampsdraers verkies. Die ledetal is in later jare na vier lede van elke instansie verhoog. Ter erkenning van die onderlinge samewerking en afhanklikheid tussen georganiseerde filatelie in Suid-Afrika (soos verteenwoordig deur die Stigting) aan die een kant en die Suid-Afrikaanse Poskantoor aan die ander, word sedert 1975 'n jaarlikse hulptoelae waarvoor daar in die Bedryfsbegroting voorsiening gemaak word, aan die Stigting oorbetaal. Hierbenewens doen die Stigting selfstandige stappe om verdere fondse te verkry ten al sy veelvuldige finansiële verpligtinge na te kom. Die georganiseerde filatelie het jare lank geweldige probleme ondervind om fondse te bekom ten einde filatelie in al sy fasette te bevorder. Die gebrek aan fondse het tot gevolg gehad dat dit al hoe moeiliker geword het om nasionale uitstallings suksesvol aan te bied. Die grootste struikelblok was die koste wat jaarliks aangegaan moes word vir die vervoer, bewaring, vervanging en aanvulling van die uitstalrame. Die Stigting het uit die staanspoor verantwoordelikheid aanvaar vir die vervaardiging en hantering van uitstalrame. Oor die afgelope tien jaar is daar reeds meer as R250 000 in hierdie verband bestee. Die vraag na hulp deur die Stigting neem jaarliks toe en met die eskalasie van pryse in die algemeen het 'n onhoudbare situasie ontwikkel. Ten einde 'n oplossing te probeer vind word in samewerking met die Filateliese Federasie van SA beoog om die aanbieding van die jaarlikse tentoonstelling te sentraliseer. Om dié oogmerk te bereik is grond nodig vir die oprigting van 'n uitstalsentrum, waar die rame geberg en ander fasiliteite voorsien kan word waaraan daar jare lank reeds 'n ernstige behoefte is. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Poskantoor en die posadministrasies van Suidwes-Afrika, Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda en Ciskei het toestemming verleen dat die Stigting elke jaar 'n posseël uit 'n spesiale seëlreeks van elke land mag kies om as 'n miniatuurvelletjie teen 'n premie bemark te word. Die Stigting doen alles in sy vermoë om georganiseerde filatelie in Suid-Afrika te bevorder. Die fondse wat deur middel van die verkope van hierdie miniatuurvelletjies gein word, vorm deel van die Stigting se langtermynbeplanning vir die daarstelling van 'n filateliese hoofkwartier. Daarna sal ander groot projekte aangepak word
Theme: Wildlife
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.
