1919, near the Prodectorate, used with unusual negative seals,
official post card from AROAB to WINDHOEK, cancelled with negative
seal
1919, near the Prodectorate, used with unusual negative seals,
official post card from AROAB to WINDHOEK, cancelled with negative
seal AROAB/P.C., by typewriter O.H.M.'s.S. at upper left, reverse
with the message head AROAB POST OFFICE and dated with 7.March
1919, dispatched during the British military administration of
former German colonial territory following the capitulation of
Imperial German forces in South West Africa in 1915, AROAB, a
remote desert outpost near the border with Bechuanaland
Protectorate, played a minor yet strategic role as a communications
node during occupation, the negative seal AROAB/P.C. is known in
extremely limited numbers and represents the provisional postal
control exercised by British forces under the mandate system,
WINDHOEK, the administrative capital, served as the Allied military
and civil headquarters, postcard likely linked to transitional
governance under South African forces led by General Louis Botha
and Jan Smuts, key architects of Union of South Africa's military
campaign in the region, this piece captures the rare continuity of
civil service functions amid postwar uncertainty, the O.H.M.'s.S.
(On His Majesty’s Service) marking indicates official military or
governmental correspondence, ex Kugel, very scarce, desirable and
historical referencing, ex Kugel, XF! Estimate 1.200€.
