1st Republic Stamps, printed from Otto’s plates

Postage stamps were introduced in May 1870. The first printings of the 1d, 3d, 6d and 1s duties were by Adolph Otto, produced in Germany imperforate or roulette 15½, and were of good quality. The plates were sent to ZAR, but Otto kept copies and continued to produce stamps for the philatelic market for years after ZAR ceased to exist.

M.J. Viljoen was the first local printer, producing stamps in Pretoria between May and July 1870, but his efforts are very poor, typified by blobby or blurred images caused by overinking of the plates. They were issued imperforate, roulette 15½ or more uncommonly 6½, gauges used in most of the subsequent printings. They are easily distinguished.

J.P. Borrius was awarded the contract for printing from 1870-74, producing his stamps in Potchefstroom. His efforts are much more professional than Viljoen’s.

In 1874, the 1d and 6d duties were printed in Pietermaritzburg by Davis & Son. They were issued perf. 12½.

The final printings using the Otto plates were done by the J.F. Celliers on behalf of the Stamp Commission in Pretoria between April 1875 and early 1877 again characterised by clear printings, although the wear on the plates is very apparent, and the varieties of paper used reflect the increasing financial peril in which the ZAR was finding itself.

A typical Goldner forgery of the 6d duty, using re-cut Otto plates and showing the characteristic slightly hooked upper beak of the eagle and the crisp and clear 3-ring numeral cancel, made using originals which Otto had also kept.