FW de Klerk State President First Day Cover 1989
South Africa, Pretoria · 1989-09-20
Official first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
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front
This cover is postmarked on 20-09-1989 in Pretoria. It marks the installation of FW de Klerk as the seventh State President of South Africa, a month after he had been sworn in as acting State President on 15 August 1989. De Klerk trained as a lawyer at Potchefstroom University, graduating cum laude in 1958, before entering Parliament in 1972 and the Cabinet in 1978.
Description of the Cachet
The cachet shows the coat of arms of the office of State President. Two horned antelope support a shield topped by a red lion and the gold initials S and P. The shield itself is divided into four sections carrying a robed figure, a black ox, a fruit tree and an ox wagon. A ribbon beneath reads "Ex Unitate Vires" and protea flowers sit at the base of the design. The cover carries the same "RSA Staatspresident / State President" cachet twice, framing two portrait stamps of FW de Klerk in the 18c and 45c values. Both postmarks are struck in Pretoria on the day he took office.
Information Card
DIE STAATSPRESIDENT, MNR F W DE KLERK, DVD Frederik Willem de Klerk is op 18 Maart 1936 in Johannesburg gebore. Hy het sy skoolopleiding meestal op Krugersdorp ontvang, waar hy aan die Hoërskool Monument gematrikuleer het. In 1958 het mnr De Klerk die BA LLB-graad met lof verwerf aan die Potchefstroomse Universiteit vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys, waar hy ook as studenteleier leiding geneem het. Hy het hom in 1961 by 'n prokureursfirma in Vereeniging aangesluit en het spoedig in talle gemeenskapsaktiwiteite leiding geneem. In Januarie 1973 is 'n professoraat in Administratiefreg aan die Potchefstroomse Universiteit vir CHO aan hom aangebied. Hy kon dit egter nie aanvaar nie weens sy verkiesing tot Volksraadslid vir Vereeniging in November 1972. Sy toetrede tot die Kabinet het in 1978 gevolg, kort na sy 42ste verjaardag, en hy was agtereenvolgens verantwoordelik vir die volgende portefeuljes: Pos- en Telekommunikasiewese en Volkswelsyn en Pensioene; Sport en Ontspanning; Mynwese en Omgewingsbeplanning; Mineraal- en Energiesake; Binnelandse Aangeleenthede, asook die Staatsdiens onder delegasie van die Eerste Minister, en Nasionale Opvoeding. Met ingang van 1 Julie 1985 is hy aangestel as Voorsitter van die Ministersraad van die Volksraad. Hy het op 1 Desember 1986 ook Leier van die Volksraad geword. Mnr De Klerk se verkiesing tot Hoofleier van die Nasionale Party op 2 Februarie 1989 is voorafgegaan deur sy leierskap van die Party in Transvaal, 'n amp wat hy vanaf 6 Maart 1982 beklee het. Op 15 Augustus 1989 is mnr De Klerk verkies en ingesweer as waarnemende Staatspresident van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika. Die Dekorasie vir Voortreflike Diens is in Julie 1981 aan hom toegeken. Mnr en mev De Klerk (gebore Marike Willemse) het twee seuns en 'n dogter. Mnr De Klerk is lief vir lees en die buitelewe en hy speel graag gholf. Frederik Willem de Klerk is op 14 September 1989 tot sewende Staatspresident en tweede Uitvoerende Staatspresident van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika verkies en hy is op 20 September 1989 in die amp bevestig. THE STATE PRESIDENT, MR F W DE KLERK, DMS Frederik Willem de Klerk was born in Johannesburg on 18 March 1936. His schooling took place mainly in Krugersdorp, where he matriculated at the Hoërskool Monument (Monument High School). He attended Potchefstroom University and gained the BA LLB degree (cum laude) in 1958. As a student leader he was actively involved in campus affairs. Mr De Klerk joined a firm of attorneys in Vereeniging in 1961 and soon became prominent in numerous community activities. In January 1973 he was offered a professorship in Administrative Law at the Potchefstroom University. This he had to decline, however, since he had been elected Member of Parliament for Vereeniging in November 1972. His appointment to the Cabinet followed in 1978, shortly after his 42nd birthday, and he was successively responsible for the following portfolios: Posts and Telecommunications and Social Welfare and Pensions; Sport and Recreation; Mining and Environmental Planning; Mineral and Energy Affairs; Internal Affairs, as well as the Public Service, by delegation of the Prime Minister; and National Education. On 1 July 1985 Mr De Klerk was appointed Chairman of the Ministers' Council in the House of Assembly. He became Leader of the House of Assembly on 1 December 1986. Mr De Klerk's election as Leader of the National Party on 2 February 1989 was preceded by his leadership of the National Party in the Transvaal, a post which he had held since 6 March 1982. On 15 August 1989 Mr De Klerk was elected and sworn in as Acting State President of the Republic of South Africa. He was awarded the Decoration for Meritorious Service in July 1981. Mr and Mrs De Klerk (born Marike Willemse) have two sons and a daughter. Mr De Klerk is fond of reading and outdoor life, and he enjoys playing golf. On 14 September 1989 Frederik Willem de Klerk was elected seventh State President and second Executive State President of the Republic of South Africa. He was installed in this office on 20 September 1989.
Theme: Heritage
Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.
Addressed: No
Signed: No
Stamp denomination: R0.63 (ZAR)
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 209 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.
