Lower Umfolosi

Lower Umfolosi postal agency (28s29 32e10), north east of Eshowe, opened in late 1894. Two types of cancellers were used. The first one was a rubber one reading R.M.Office (Resident Magistrate's Office) as the agency was operated by this official. A postmaster was then appointed on 1 April 1896 due to increases in the volume of postage. This was followed by the introduction of a new dedicated canceller for the postal agency

• Postmark type Z3a (R.M. Office) in purple (23 October 1894 - 4 December 1895) rated 4R

Varieties: Month is prior to the day and the day is inverted

• Postmark type Z3b in purple (19 October 1895 - 13 September 1898) rated 4R

Varieties: Thicker date slugs and month-day-year (Davis and Joseph). Putzel 1a (in update) shows a month at top example (dated 31 March 1897). Kantey lists an example in bluish purple with the letters having seriffs and the numerals in fancy type (dated 29 May 1897)

Postmark type Z3b was retained and used on Natal stamps from 1898 onwards and this usage is included in the Natal section

Z3a at left and Z3b at right

Postmark type Z3a

Lower Umfolosi postmark type Z3a dated 18 October 1895. Rated 4R. Seen on the Michael Hamilton website

Lower Umfolosi postmark type Z3a dated 19 November 1895. Rated 4R. Seen on the Michael Hamilton website

Lower Umfolosi postmark type Z3a dated 5 October 189-. Rated 4R. Seen on the Michael Hamilton website

Postmark type Z3b

Lower Umfolosi postmark type Z3b dated 14 December 1895. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 20035 lot no 4158

Lower Umfolosi postmark type Z3b dated 24 April 1897. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 20035 lot no 4172

Lower Umfolosi postmark type Z3b dated 24 May 1898. Rated 4R. Seen on the Michael Hamilton website

Lower Umfolosi postmarks type Z3b dated 20 and 26 July 1898. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 1546 lot no 1845

Lower Umfolosi postmark type Z3b dated 6 September 1898. Rated 4R. Seen on the Michael Hamilton website

Lower Umfolosi postmark type Z3b dated 13 September 1898. Rated 4R. Seen on the Michael Hamilton website

Other Types and Ratings (for more info see here)

Postmark type Z3a

• Davis & Joseph - Type 9 rated 4
• Kantey - Type Z. 6
• Proud D1  600/6000
• Putzel Not listed
• Putzel - Post Office RR

Postmark type Z3b

• Davis & Joseph - Type 10 rated 4
• Kantey - Type Z. 7
• Proud D2  300/3000
• Putzel No 1 40/200, 1a 40/200
• Putzel - Post Office RR