Mahyatma Gandhi 1869-1948
South Africa, Pretoria · 1995-10-02
Official first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
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front
info card
info card 2
This official South African First Day Cover was issued on 2 October 1995 in Pretoria, recognising the 125th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth. It carries a set of stamps under SG reference 886 to 887, with SAPO serial number 6.23b, and its cachet features a portrait of Gandhi. The info card depicts the railway station in Pietermaritzburg, a detail with real historical weight, since it was at that very station in 1893 that a young Gandhi was famously thrown off a train for refusing to move from the whites-only carriage, an experience often described as a turning point in his life and one of the sparks behind his lifelong commitment to civil rights and non-violent resistance. Given Gandhi spent over two decades of his life in South Africa developing these ideas before returning to India, this cover connects a global historical figure directly back to South African soil.
Description of the Cachet
The cachet features a striking black and white portrait of a young Gandhi, framed within an ornate gold border patterned with small repeating motifs. Beneath the portrait, the words "Mahatma Gandhi 1869-1948" appear in bold rust coloured lettering, giving the design a formal, almost commemorative plaque like quality.
Information Card
Railway Station, Pietermaritzburg
Theme: Heritage
Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.
Addressed: No
Signed: No
SG reference: 886-887
SAPO serial number: 6.23b
Estimated value: ~US$1.24
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.
