The interesting and rare Rhodesian stamps were sold yesterday on Ebay. It are Rhodesia SG 146, 161 and 162 with full glue and never hinged. Winning bids: US $3,300.00, $1,197.22 and $2,800.00, respectively. Stanley Gibbons value: £4750, £650 and £2250.
The British South Africa Company (look at the top of the stamps) was established by Cecil Rhodes, receiving a royal charter in 1889. Modelling the British South Africa Company on the British East India Company, Rhodes hoped it would enable colonisation and economic exploitation across much of south-central Africa, as part of the “Scramble for Africa”.
The company was empowered to trade with African rulers such as King Lobengula; to form banks; to own, manage and grant or distribute land, and to raise a police force. In return, the company agreed to develop the territory it controlled; to respect existing African laws; to allow free trade within its territory and to respect all religions. However, Rhodes and the white settlers attracted to the company’s territory set their sights for ever more mineral rights and more territorial concessions from the African peoples, establishing their own governments, and introducing laws with little concern or respect for African law.
In 1914, the royal charter was renewed, on condition that settlers in Rhodesia were given increased political rights. In 1922, the company entered negotiations with the government of the Union of South Africa, which was keen to incorporate Southern Rhodesia – a plan foiled by the colony’s settlers, who voted in favour of self-government.
In 1923, the British government chose not to renew the Company’s charter, and instead accorded ’self-governing’ colony status to Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and protectorate status to Northern Rhodesia (Zambia).