Author and Title:
Smith (R.C.)
RHODESIA: A POSTAL HISTORY: Its Stamps, Posts and Telegraphs
Smith (R.C.)
RHODESIA: A POSTAL HISTORY: Its Stamps, Posts and Telegraphs
Collation:
First Edition: 454 pages (453 numbered pages plus colophon), monochrome portrait frontispiece of the author, illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs, maps, postmark diagrams, and plates of stamps. Publisher’s original red cloth boards with gilt double rules and gilt lettering to the spine, in the pictorial red dust jacket (now housed in a protective archival plastic sleeve). Signed by the author in blue ink on the title page ("Robert C. Smith").
First Edition: 454 pages (453 numbered pages plus colophon), monochrome portrait frontispiece of the author, illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs, maps, postmark diagrams, and plates of stamps. Publisher’s original red cloth boards with gilt double rules and gilt lettering to the spine, in the pictorial red dust jacket (now housed in a protective archival plastic sleeve). Signed by the author in blue ink on the title page ("Robert C. Smith").
Condition: A very good copy in a fair to good dust jacket. The red cloth boards show light rubbing and minor marks to the upper board, with slight wear at the spine ends and joints. The text block edges are toned. Internally, the binding is tight and the text pages are clean. The endpapers exhibit browning near the margins, with an adhesive or tape stain pattern on one pastedown and edge-taping to the flyleaf, alongside a few small spots; the frontispiece and all plates remain intact. The pictorial dust jacket is worn, showing chipping and creasing along the extremities, minor white paper loss to the red print at the spine ends, and a small tear to the upper flap edge, with two strips of adhesive tape on the rear panel and toning and tape repairs to the inner flaps.
Notes:
Robert C. Smith’s 1967 monograph—printed in Salisbury by Mardon Printers (Rhodesia's official stamp printers) and distributed by Kingstons (Pvt.) Ltd.—remains the foundational reference work on the postal, philatelic, and communications history of Rhodesia. Published shortly after Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), the book chronicles the evolution of mail, telegraph, and transport networks from the pre-1890 pioneer runners, Zeederberg mail coaches, and British South Africa Company (BSAC) administration through the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and the post-1965 definitive issues.
Robert C. Smith’s 1967 monograph—printed in Salisbury by Mardon Printers (Rhodesia's official stamp printers) and distributed by Kingstons (Pvt.) Ltd.—remains the foundational reference work on the postal, philatelic, and communications history of Rhodesia. Published shortly after Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), the book chronicles the evolution of mail, telegraph, and transport networks from the pre-1890 pioneer runners, Zeederberg mail coaches, and British South Africa Company (BSAC) administration through the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and the post-1965 definitive issues.
Beyond technical philatelic data—such as perf varieties, printings, postmarks, and cancellations—Smith provides extensive historical context on early Rhodesian infrastructure, imperial airmail routes, and broadcasting. Smith followed this volume in 1970 with a 62-page Supplement to Rhodesia: A Postal History and later authored Rhodesia in Stamps (1978). Both the trade edition and a small deluxe issue of 50 signed quarter-leather copies were produced.
References:
- Extracted from Knight (R.C.) & Mitchell (D.A.), The Postmarks, Postal Routes and Principal Postage Rates of Southern Rhodesia to 1924 (Harry Hayes Philatelic Study No. 41, Batley, 1984), Introduction, pages 5–7, citing Smith’s 1967 compilation as the essential baseline study for early BSAC postal routes and cancellations.
- Extracted from Rhodesian Study Circle Journal / Monograph Series, e.g., Rhodesian Study Circle - Diamond Jubilee of Southern Rhodesia, page 13, referencing Rhodesia: A Postal History (1967, pages 383–385) for archival printing and perforation records.
- Historical background on Rhodesian postal administration cross-referenced via Postage stamps and postal history of Rhodesia - Wikipedia.
Size:
4to (approx. 255 x 195 mm)
4to (approx. 255 x 195 mm)
Imprint:
Salisbury, Rhodesia, R.C. Smith (Distributed by Kingstons (Pvt.) Ltd.), 1967
Salisbury, Rhodesia, R.C. Smith (Distributed by Kingstons (Pvt.) Ltd.), 1967
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