Youth Day 1996
South Africa, Mamelodi · 1996-06-08
Official first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
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This cover is postmarked on 8 June 1996 in Mamelodi, SAPO reference PT 6.36. It marks Youth Day 1996, an annual commemoration held on 16 June to honour the students killed in the 1976 Soweto uprising. The stamp itself carries a small chain of coloured figures holding hands, including a wheelchair user, echoing the same theme of inclusion found in the cachet illustration. Mamelodi, a township near Pretoria, was itself a site of significant unrest during the same period the day commemorates.
Description of the Cachet
The cachet shows a colourful illustration of four children walking together through a park, silhouetted trees rendered in muted olive tones behind them. Three of the children are on foot, bundled up in bright red, yellow and purple winter clothing, while the fourth child sits in a wheelchair being pushed along by the tallest of the group. The scene reads as playful and inclusive, with the group moving together as equals rather than the wheelchair user being set apart from the others.
Information Card
No info card supplied for this cover.
Theme: National Events
Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.
Addressed: No
Signed: No
SG reference: 911
SAPO serial number: 6.36
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 223 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.
