Lower Tugela

Lower Tugela post office (29s11 31e25), south west of Eshowe, opened in 1891

• Postmark type Z4b in black (20 August 1891 - 31 December 1897) rated 4R

Varieties: none

Davis and Joseph discuss (p. 34) a partial violet cancel similar to the Rorke's Drift postmark with the words LOW and speculate it may relate to Lower Tugela. Kantey (p. 76) also mentions its existence but gives no further details. Proud shows a reconstructed illustration but provides no further details. No examples have been seen by me

Z4b on left and Proud's reconstruction of the partial postmark in violet ink

Postmark type Z4b

Lower Tugela postmark type Z4b dated 3 November 1894. Rated 4R. Seen in postmarks.co.za

Lower Tugela postmark type Z4b dated 15 May 1895. Rated 4R. Seen in forpostalhistory.com

Lower Tugela postmark type Z4b dated 14 November 1895. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 15046 lot no 1843

Lower Tugela postmark type Z4b dated 9 December 1896. Rated 4R. Note the Lower-Tugela Natal postmark. This post office was situated on the other (northern) side of the Tugela River in Natal. Seen in postmarks.co.za

Lower Tugela postmark type Z4b dated 30 December 1896. Rated 4R. Note again the Lower-Tugela Natal postmark. Seen in Spink auction no 19015 lot no 2336

Lower Tugela postmark type Z4b dated June 1897. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 20035 lot no 4157

Lower Tugela postmark type Z4b. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Lower Tugela postmark type Z4b. Rated 4R. Seen at Premier Postal auctions

Other Types and Ratings (for more info see here)

• Davis & Joseph - Type 8 rated 2
• Kantey - Type Z. 9
• Proud D2 250/2500; Partial postmark (D1) 1000/10000
• Putzel Not listed - Update no 2: 50/250
• Putzel - Post Office Extremely RARE