Reference souces

Information on Zululand postal history

Printed

• Davis, Tony and Hugh Joseph. The Postmarks of Zululand. Walis Litho Services, 1984, 51p
• Hart, W.R, R.A Kantey and A. Leslie Leon. The Postal Markings of Natal. Creda Press, 1977, 168 p
• Proud, Edward B. The Postal History of Swaziland and Zululand. Postal History Publications, Heathfield East, Sussex, 1996, 182 p
• Putzel, Ralph P. The Encyclopaedia of South African Post Offices and Postal Agencies. 1986, 4 volumes
• Putzel, Ralph P and Alex Visser. The Postmarks of South Africa and Former States and Colonies.1992 - 2003, 10 volumes

Online

• Aab, Fritz. Postal History and Postmarks - Zululand
• Dietz, A.J Zululand, 2017, 81p
• Sergay, Clive Postal Services of Zululand Exhibit, 2021

Postmark types and ratings - other sources

Several of these references include postmark numberings and valuation / rarity ratings. I have included these at the bottom of each post office page.

• Davis and Joseph use a numbering system for all Zululand postmarks from 1 to 23. Rarity ratings range from 1 (common) to 5 (most rare)
• Kantey uses a numbering system for all Zululand postmarks - from Z1 to Z13. Rarity ratings ae not used
• Proud - uses a sequential numbering system for each post office. Valuations are based on a points system commencing in 1996 with 1 point = to 10 Pence and cover postmarks on stamps and on covers
• Putzel - Postmarks. Uses a sequential numbering system for each postmark. Valuations are based on a points system commencing in 1992 with 100 points = to 50 Rand and cover postmarks on stamps and on covers. Thus 100/400 = R50 on piece and R200 on cover
• Putzel - Post offices. Uses a rarity rating scheme for each post office from R = scarcer, RR = very scarce, RRR = extremely scarce, RRRR - rare and then very rare and extremely rare

Postmark types

This page shows the various Zululand postmark types, information about them, and which post offices they were assigned to. Previous authors have used other groupings and at the bottom of each individual post office page I list these. The illustrations shown here are taken from Davis and Joseph.

Type Z1

A double circle postmark with the post office name at top and the date in two lines. Used at Eshowe

Type Z1

Type Z2a

A double circle postmark with the post office name at top and Zululand at bottom with the date in two lines. Used at Eshowe, Melmoth, Nondweni and Nqutu

Type Z2ab

A double circle postmark with the post office name at top and Zululand at bottom with the date in two lines and a code letter A or P in the line above. Used at Eshowe

Type Z2b

A double circle postmark with the post office name at top and Zululand at bottom separated by 2 dots within the circles with the date in two lines. Used at Lower Tugela, Nkandhla, Rorke's Drift and Ulundi

Left to Right, Types Z2a, Z2ab, Z2b

Type Z3a

A single circle postmark with the post office name at top and Zululand at bottom with the date in three lines. Used at Ingwavuma, Lower Umfolosi, Nongoma and Ubombo

Type Z3b

A single circle postmark with the post office name at top and Zululand at bottom separated by 2 dots within the circle with the date in three lines. Used at Ulundi

Type Z3c

A single circle postmark with 'Post Office' at top and the post office name at bottom with the date in three lines. Used at Qudeni

Type Z3d

A single circle postmark with 'R. M. Office' at top and the post office name at bottom with the date in three lines. Used at Hlabisa and Lower Umfolosi

Left to Right, Types Z3a, Z3b, Z3c, Z3d

Type Z4

A single circle postmark with 'Post Office' at top and the post office name at bottom with the date in one line. Used at Entonjaneni

Type Z4

Type Z5a

A single circle postmark with post office name at top and Zululand at bottom with the date in two lines. Used at Eshowe

Type Z5ab

A single circle postmark with post office name at top and Zululand at bottom with the date in two lines and Code A in the line above. Used at Eshowe

Left to Right, Types Z5a, Z5ab

Type Z6a

A triple circle postmark with the post office name at top and Zululand at bottom separated by 2 dots within the circle with the date in one line. Used at Nkandhla

Type Z6b

A triple circle postmark with the post office name at top and Zululand at bottom separated by 2 dots within the circle with the date in one line bordered by two straight lines. Used at Rorke's Drift

Type Z6c

A triple oval postmark with the post office name at top and Zululand at bottom separated by 2 dots within the oval with the date in one line bordered by two stylised lines. Used at Nondweni

Left to Right, Types Z6a, Z6b, Z6c