The Bechuanaland
Protectorate was a protectorate established on 31 March 1885 by Great Britain
in southern Africa. The protectorate became the Republic of Botswana on 30
September 1966. Bechuanaland meant the country of the Bechuana (now written
Batswana or Tswana). Bechuanaland was divided in two. The southern part, known
as British Bechuanaland, later became part of the Cape Colony and is now in
South Africa. This is the area around Mafikeng (then called Mafeking). The
Bechuanaland Protectorate formed the northern part; its territory was expanded
north in 1890.
The British
government originally expected to turn over administration of the protectorate
to Rhodesia or South Africa, but Tswana opposition left the protectorate under
British rule until Independence in 1966. The Bechuanaland Protectorate was
technically a protectorate rather than a colony, but this was a legal
distinction of little practical significance.
The
protectorate was administered from Mafeking (now Mafikeng), creating a unique
situation of the capital of the territory being located outside of it.
The eastern
part of the colony was originally claimed by Matabeleland, and in 1887 Samuel
Edwards (working for Cecil Rhodes) obtained a mining concession.
In 1891
administration of the protectorate was given to the High Commissioner for South
Africa; in 1895 the British South Africa Company attempted to acquire the area,
but three Tswana chiefs visited London to protest and were successful in
fending off the BSAC. Later attempts to develop also had little effect.
The
Bechuanaland Protectorate was one of the "High Commission
Territories", the others being Basutoland (now Lesotho) and Swaziland. The
official with the authority of a Governor was the High Commissioner. This
office was first held by the Governor of the Cape, then by the Governor-General
of South Africa, by British High Commissioners and Ambassadors to South Africa
until independence. Consequently, administration was headed in each territory
by a Resident Commissioner, who thus had approximately the same functions of a
Governor but somewhat less authority.
Captial: Mafikeng
Government: British
protectorate
Area: 581.730
km²
Population: 600.000
(1966)
Currency: Pound
(20 shillings, 1 shilling = 12 pence), from 1961 Rand (100 cents)
For more stamps see:
Botswana
Links
Bechuanaland
Protectorate in Wikipedia.
Flag of the High
Commissioner for Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland in Flags of the World.
Stamp catalogue
date: 10 October
1949
designer: -
printer: Waterlow
& Sons, London (1 and 4), Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., New Malden (2 and
3)
perforated: 13½:14 (1 and
4), 11:11½ (2 and 3)
1 1½ d Hermes, globe, letter, airplane,
boat, train, text "UNIVERSAL / POSTAL UNION / 1874 1949"
blue
(cat. Michel 124/SG 138/Yvert 88)
2 3 d hemispheres, airplane, steamer,
text "1874 / UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION / 1949"
deep
blue
(cat.
Michel 125/SG 139/Yvert 89)
3 6 d Hermes scattering letters over
globe, text "UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION / 1874 / 1949"
magenta
(cat.
Michel 126/SG 140/Yvert 90)
4 1/- UPU monument, Berne, text "UNIVERSAL
/ POSTAL / UNION / 1874 / 1949" and "UNION
POSTALE UNIVERSELLE"
olive
(cat.
Michel 127/SG 141/Yvert 91)
Freedom
from Hunger Campaign
date: 4 June 1963
designer: Mchael Goaman
printer: Harrison
& Sons, London
perforated: 14¼:14½
5 12½ cts collection of 'protein foods', text
"FREEDOM FROM HUNGER"
bluish
green
(cat.
Michel 169/SG 182/Yvert 133)
date: 17 May 1965
designer: Michael Goaman
printer: Johan Enschede en Zonen, Haarlem
perforated: 11:11½
6 2½ c globe and flash, text on telex tape
"INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION /
+
CENTENARY + 1865 + 1965"
red,
bistre yellow
(cat. Michel 177/SG 190/Yvert 141)
7 12½ c globe and flash, text on telex tape
"INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION /
+
CENTENARY + 1865 + 1965"
mauve,
brown
(cat.
Michel 178/SG 191/Yvert 142)
International Co-operation Year
date: 25 October
1965
designer: Victor
Whiteley
printer: Harrison
& Sons, London
perforated: 14½
8 1 c ICY emblem, text "1965 / INTERNATIONAL
CO-OPERATION YEAR"
reddish
purple, turquoise green
(cat. Michel 179/SG 192/Yvert 143)
9 12½ c ICY emblem, text "1965 /
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION YEAR"
deep
bluish green, lavender
(cat.
Michel 180/SG 193/Yvert 144)
