Nqutu

Nqutu post office (28s12 30e39), 109 km north west of Eshowe, opened in 1893 when it replaced the Rorke's Drift post office. 

Nevertheless, the Resident Magistrate at Nqutu was cancelling stamps in manuscript as early as December 1888 using both Nqutu and the earlier name of Enqutu. More information on the manuscript cancellations here with examples below:

• Postmark type Z4a in black (15 January 1893- 5 December 1897) rated 4R. There is a constant break in the circle above the 'N' of 'NQUTU'
• Manuscript cancel (16 December 1888 -16 September 1889) rated 4R

Varieties: transposed day-month-year slugs

This postmark was retained and used on Natal stamps from 1898 onwards and this usage is included in the Natal section

Z4a

Postmark type Z4a

Nqutu postmark type Z4a dated 15 January 1893. Rated 4R. Seen in Dietz, p. 62

Nqutu postmark type Z4a dated 30 April 1894. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 15046 lot no 1856

Nqutu postmark type Z4a dated July 1894. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 19015 lot no 2344

Nqutu postmark type Z4a dated 31 August 1894. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 16034 lot no 2852

Nqutu postmark type Z4a dated 11 February 1895. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 15046 lot no 1856

Nqutu postmark type Z4a dated 12 June 1895. Rated 4R. Seen in Stamps of the World Website

Nqutu postmark type Z4a dated 30 June 1895. Rated 4R. Seen in Stamps of the World Website

Nqutu postmark type Z4a dated 10 October 1895. Rated 4R. Seen in the collection of Morgan Farrell

Nqutu postmark type Z4a dated 28 January 1897. Rated 4R. Seen in Stamps of the World Website

Nqutu postmark type Z4a dated 3 April 1897. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 20035 lot no 4164

Nqutu postmark type Z4a dated 5 December 1897. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 19015 lot no 2345

Manuscript cancel (Enqutu and Nqutu)

Nqutu manuscript cancel dated 16 December 1888. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 15046 lot no 1856

Nqutu manuscript cancels dated 6 January 1889. Rated 4R. Seen in Stamps of the World Website

Nqutu manuscript cancels dated 15 January 1889. Rated 4R. Seen in Stamps of the World Website

Nqutu manuscript cancel dated 24 January 1889. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 15046 lot no 1856

Nqutu manuscript cancel dated 25 January 1889. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 15046 lot no 1856

Nqutu manuscript cancel dated January 1889. Rated 4R. Seen in Stamps of the World Website

Nqutu manuscript cancel dated 14 April 1889. Rated 4R. 

Seen in Spink auction no 15046 lot no 1857

Nqutu manuscript cancel dated 16 July 1889. Rated 4R. Seen in Davis and Joseph p. 32

Nqutu manuscript cancel dated 14 September 1889. Rated 4R. Seen in Sergay p. 122

Other Types and Ratings (for more info see here)

• Davis & Joseph - Type 17 rated 3
• Kantey - Type Z. 9; manuscript cancellation Type Z.13
• Proud D1 300/3000
• Putzel Not listed - Update no 1x: 40/200; 1xa: (day before month) 40/200; 1y: manuscript cancellation 1000/5000
• Putzel - Post Office No rating given

Enqutu / Nqutu Manuscript Cancellations

Here are excerpts from the Postal Services of Zululand exhibit by Clive Sergay detailing the history of the Nqutu manuscript cancellations (p. 121). For examples and rarity ratings see the Nqutu post office page here:

Introductory information regarding the manuscript cancellation

Letter from the Resident Magistrate requesting an obliterating stamp for Nqutu

Nkandhla

Nkandhla post office (28s37 31e05), 53 km north west of Eshowe, opened in July 1888

• Postmark type Z2a in violet (September 1890 - 17 May 1893) rated 4R

Varieties: none

• Postmark type Z4b in violet (23 August 1893 - 25 September 1893) rated 4R
• Postmark type Z4b in black (20 January 1894 - 13 January 1898) rated 3R

This postmark was first used with violet ink and then later  with black ink

Varieties: fugitive ink type where the ink appears to be smudged

Postmark type Z4b was retained and used on Natal stamps from 1898 onwards and this usage is included in the Natal section

Z2a at left and Z4b at right

Postmark type Z2a

Nkandhla postmark type Z2a dated 18 October 1890. Rated 4R. Seen on the Michael Hamilton website

Nkandhla postmark type Z2a dated 25 February 1891. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 15046 lot no 1848

Nkandhla postmark type Z2a dated 7 March 1891. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 15046 lot no 1849

Nkandhla postmark type Z2a dated 25 March 1892. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Nkandhla postmark type Z2a dated 27 April 1892. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 12013 lot no 1552

Nkandhla postmark type Z2a dated 6 August 1892. Rated 4R. Seen in Robson Lowe auction catalog dated 7 May 1992. Ex Robson

Nkandhla postmark type Z2a dated 22 October 1892. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 19015 lot no 2338

Postmark type Z4b - Violet ink

Nkandhla postmark type Z4b on purple ink. Rated 4R. Seen in Sergay p. 126

Nkandhla postmark type Z4b on purple ink dated 25 September 1893. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 19015 lot no 2339

Postmark type Z4b - Black ink

Nkandhla postmark type Z4b dated 27 March 1895. Rated 3R. Seen on the David Morrison website

Nkandhla postmark type Z4b dated 17 April 1895. Rated 3R. Seen on the Stanley Gibbons website

Nkandhla postmark type Z4b dated 20 June 1896. Rated 3R. Seen in Spink auction no 15046 lot no 1850

Nkandhla postmark type Z4b dated 15 July 1896. Rated 3R. Seen in Spink auction no 19015 lot no 2340

Nkandhla postmark type Z4b dated 20 August 1896. Rated 3R. Seen on Ebay

Nkandhla postmark type Z4b dated 8 January 1898. Rated 3R. Seen in Spink auction no 15046 lot no 1851

Nkandhla postmark type Z4b dated 13 January 1898. Rated 3R. Seen in Spink auction no 15046 lot no 1852

Other Types and Ratings (for more info see here)

Postmark type Z2a

• Davis & Joseph - Type 12 rated 4
• Kantey - Type Z. 3
• Proud D1 500/5000
• Putzel 1: 50/250
• Putzel - Post Office Not rated

Postmark type Z4b

• Davis & Joseph - Type 13 rated 2; in violet rated 3; in fugitive ink rated 3
• Kantey - Type Z. 9
• Proud D2 250/2500
• Putzel no 2: 16/80 (reflects ongoing usage into the Natal and Union period)
• Putzel - Post Office Not rated