Northern Rhodesia

1925 Scott 3 1 1/2p carmine 

"King George V"

Quick History
Northern Rhodesia, the lands north of the Zambezi river, became a British protectorate in 1924 when the British South Africa Company (A Cecil Rhodes founded commercial endeavor) gave up administration, in exchange for cash. At the same time, Southern Rhodesia ( or "Rhodesia"), south of the Zambezi, was turned over to the white settlers, who established highly discriminatory laws against the black African majority.

Lets take a look at the changing history through a series of maps...

British South Africa Company 1889 Map

Lands south and north of the Zambezi River

Before 1924, The British South Africa Company (whose lands were known as "Rhodesia", after Cecil Rhodes), operated primarily south of the Zambezi River. White settlers also took the prime agricultural land south of the Zambezi. The lands north of the Zambezi were an afterthought.

Northern Rhodesia 

Northern Rhodesia was put together from the former lands and BSAC administrative districts of  North-Eastern Rhodesia (blue), North-Western Rhodesia (pink), and Barotesland (green).

African Map of Colonialism 1914

One can see the British sphere is mapped in maroon. North of the Zambezi is the Northern Rhodesia lands, with the Nyasaland Protectorate (formally British Central Africa) on the east, and Southern Rhodesia south of the river. 

At this time- and until 1923, Northern and Southern Rhodesia were administered by the British South Africa Company. Stamps were issued for "Rhodesia" beginning in 1890- and was valid throughout the British South Africa Company lands of southern and northern Rhodesia.

Then, in 1924, with the removal of the British South Africa Company as administrators, stamps were produced for the British Colony of Southern Rhodesia and the Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia separately.

The Capital of Northern Rhodesia was Lusaka, and the population, in 1925, was 4,000 white settlers (with voting privileges), and 1,000,000 black Africans. 

The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland

(Central African Federation)

1953-1963

In 1953, a federation of the self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland was formed. This was an unhappy union, as black African  nationalism was rising against the dominant power of the  minority white population.

1966 map showing Zambia, Malawi, and "Rhodesia"

In 1964, Northern Rhodesia  gained independence (Zambia), as did Nyasaland (Malawi), and Southern Rhodesia ( now called just "Rhodesia"). In 1980, "Rhodesia" became known as Zimbabwe.

There- you have it. ;-)

1938 Scott 34 3p ultramarine "George VI"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has, for Northern Rhodesia 1925-1949, 57 regular and postage due major number descriptions. Of those, 35 are CV <$1-$1+, or 61%. Clearly, the WW collector should be able to form a collection, at least of the lower denominations, without much financial stress.

Besides the usual "common design type" productions, the stamps consist mainly of two issues: a 1925-29 seventeen stamp "George V" definitive set, and a 1939-52 twenty one stamp "George VI" definitive set. No pictorials as such, other than an "African motif" design work around the frame.

1925 Scott 2 1p dark brown "George V"

The initial 1925-29 issue consisted of a set of 17 stamps with "a George V" vignette, and a frame showing African elephants and a giraffe. CV is <$1-$2+ for eight stamps. The seven lower values are less expensive used. This reflects a bias (in my opinion), as collectors often prefer unused stamps for their collection. I suspect there are more unused than used stamps around, and with few inhabitants who would use the mails at the time, attractive non philatelic used specimens should be highly collectible.

1935 Scott 19 2p indigo & green 

"Silver Jubilee Issue"

I don't show very often the "common design type" stamps. What's the point? But it doesn't mean they are not attractive- especially the Silver Jubilee Issue.

1937 Scott 23 2p yellow brown

"Coronation Issue"

This "Coronation issue" stamp has a "Luanshya" postmark, and that tells an economic tale. Copper was originally discovered in the "copper belt" in 1895, and Luanshya and the Roan Antelope Copper Mines in 1926 eventually became a big part of the boon. Demand for copper increased significantly with the increase in electrical devices and motors.

1941 Scott 30 1 1/2p brown orange "George VI"

Between 1938-52, a 21 stamp set, almost identical to the former definitive production, save for the replacement of "George VI" in the vignette, was issued. This issue serves as  a particularly good argument for collecting  the "George VI" era stamps through 1952, rather than have an arbitrary cutoff of 1940. Of the 21 stamps in the set, 8 were issued between 1941-52.

Deep Blue

1938-52 "George VI" issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has five pages for Northern Rhodesia. All major numbers have a space.

1948 Scott 48 1 1/2p orange 

"Silver Wedding issue"

Big Blue

The '69 Big Blue has one page with 33 spaces, and is situated just before "Norway".

Observations...

(Some of these observations are repeated in the "comments" section.)

* BB does a fine job of including all of the inexpensive stamps eligible up to 1940. See the next two "observations" though.

* Interestingly, BB includes spaces for two 1941 stamps in the "George VI" issue. But...

* As the "George VI" issue actually was produced between 1938-52, there are several "missing' inexpensive stamps- Scott 26,28,33,35, & 39.  I agree with the Scott Classic Specialized catalogue and the Steiner album, that the "George VI" era through 1952 should remain intact. 

* Two stamp spaces (both blank spaces) require CV $10+-$20 stamps.

* A BB snafu. The 1925 issue spaces....has a  blank space, but a small blank space, and all the "small" A1 stamps in the issue have already been given a space. ! So, one will need to stuff an A2 larger stamp there- I chose the Scott 12 2sh 6p green & black @ CV $10+. ;-)

Checklist

1925

1,2,3,4,5,6,

7,8,(9),(12*),10,(11),

1935

18,19,20,21,

1937

22,23,24,

1938

25,27,29,31,34,36,38,

1938

40,

1941*

30,32,

Postage Due

1929

J1,J2,J3,J4,

End

Comments

A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):

1925 (Scott 11) 2sh ultramarine & brown ($20)

1925 (Scott 12) 2sh 6p green & black ($10+)

B) (   ) between a number indicates a blank space choice.

C) *12- a dilemma of BB's making. A blank space, but a small blank space, and all the "small" A1 stamps in the issue have already been given a space. ! So, one will need to stuff an A2 larger stamp there- I chose the Scott 12 2sh 6p green & black @ CV $10+. ;-)

D) *1941- yes, BB includes two 1941 stamps from the 1938-52 issue. ! I'm not sure I've seen that before in the 1840-1940 BB.

1949 Scott 52 6p gray "UPU Issue"

Out of the Blue

Trying to make sense of the colony/protectorate/country changes in Africa is half the fun of collecting classical era African stamps. ;-)

Note: Maps appear to be in the public domain.

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