Philatelic Friends

Philatelic Friends Stamp Dealer and Auctioneer with over 50 years experience in all philatelic and related collectibles.

Over 48 years of Trade Experience in Buying, Selling and Evaluating Stamp Collection and Accumulations, Post-cards, Envelopes, Covers and Correspondences, Revenues and Documents, Cigarette Cards and Cinderella Items, Coins, Bank-notes and most other collectibles.

I wonder if anyone can shed some light on the item below. It appears to be a set of 6 photographic essays submitted for ...
14/07/2026

I wonder if anyone can shed some light on the item below. It appears to be a set of 6 photographic essays submitted for the South African 1925 Airmail issue, with an inscription in German on the reverse to that effect. Any information would be most welcome.

For sale at R300 including local shipping. Nice range of pre-Union KEVII and Union of South Africa KGV issues with the l...
13/07/2026

For sale at R300 including local shipping.
Nice range of pre-Union KEVII and Union of South Africa KGV issues with the latter including some coils and cut-outs from postal stationery, used mostly on piece with some useful postmarks noted.

Philatelic Friends Purely Postal Auction 64 is now active. Online bidding will close on Thursday 2nd July 2026 at 11:00 ...
30/06/2026

Philatelic Friends Purely Postal Auction 64 is now active. Online bidding will close on Thursday 2nd July 2026 at 11:00 (SAST / ACT)

On offer are 754 lots, of mostly single items, sets, smaller collections and covers from across the globe, with starting prices as low as R30 up to R30,000. There should be something to meet most collecting interests and budgets.

To view the catalogue, click this link, or copy and paste it into your browser: https://auction.philatelicfriends.com/public

Please bid now to avoid missing the deadline. You will be advised if you are outbid and can amend your bid/s later if necessary.

Auction catalogues are available as a pdf file for downloading and/or printing. Our Terms, Conditions and Abbreviations can also be found under DOWNLOADS, or click here: https://auction.philatelicfriends.com/public/documents.

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or issues, your feedback is most welcome.

I look forward to your support and participation. Happy hunting!

A nice find today.Anglo-Boer War: 1901 (AUG) Cover posted ex IRENE with IRENE ESTATE cachet at NW sent via PRETORIA/ 15 ...
19/06/2026

A nice find today.

Anglo-Boer War: 1901 (AUG) Cover posted ex IRENE with IRENE ESTATE cachet at NW sent via PRETORIA/ 15 AUG 01 (triangular censor h/s in red) to JOHANNESBURG/ 16 AUG 01 arrival b/s, circular '2D' h/s probably applied in Jhb but no evidence of tax paid, a little roughly opened at top but still very attractive.

11/06/2026

Not many people are aware that, similar to the 1938 Trek Centenary covers that were posted from every village, town and city en-route to Pretoria, there was a similar event held to commemorate the 1952 Van Riebeeck Festival, where specially prepared envelopes were dispatched from numerous places across the country, and carried on Wild West type stagecoaches, which were arranged to arrive in time for the festivities in Cape Town.
The 1952 Van Riebeeck stamp issue had not yet been released, but the illustrated envelope (both English & Afrikaans versions) that were prepared for it were available. These were stamped with a special UNION MAIL COACH cachet in red, again available in either language. Ordinary stamps, in some cases Official issues, were used to pay postage and were cancelled at various places en-route.
However, it seems that the event was not as widely publicised, known or supported as the Trek Centenary, and covers carried by the postal coaches are far scarcer than expected.
This special event was not listed at all by Reisener and it was only subsequent to his passing that the full story was published in the SA Philatelist.
Here is a pair of covers (both languages) from the UNION MAIL COACH tour (cachets in matching languages), one posted at ZEERUST/ 7.II.52 and the other posted at CARNAVON/ 2 MAY 52. I also show some photos from the event.
These covers are well-worth looking for.

Not many people are aware that, similar to the 1938 Trek Centenary covers that were posted from every village, town and ...
11/06/2026

Not many people are aware that, similar to the 1938 Trek Centenary covers that were posted from every village, town and city en-route to Pretoria, there was a similar event held to commemorate the 1952 Van Riebeeck Festival, where specially prepared envelopes were dispatched from numerous places across the country, and carried on Wild West type stagecoaches, which were arranged to arrive in time for the festivities in Cape Town.
The 1952 Van Riebeeck stamp issue had not yet been released, but the illustrated envelope (both English & Afrikaans versions) that were prepared for it were available. These were stamped with a special UNION MAIL COACH cachet in red, again available in either language. Ordinary stamps, in some cases Official issues, were used to pay postage and were cancelled at various places en-route.
However, it seems that the event was not as widely publicised, known or supported as the Trek Centenary, and covers carried by the postal coaches are far scarcer than expected.
This special event was not listed at all by Reisener and it was only subsequent to his passing that the full story was published in the SA Philatelist.
Here is a pair of covers (both languages) from the UNION MAIL COACH tour (cachets in matching languages), one posted at ZEERUST/ 7.II.52 and the other posted at CARNAVON/ 2 MAY 52. I also show some photos from the event.
These covers are well-worth looking for.

13/05/2026

Just a few examples of the many lots on offer

Our LIVE SNAP AUCTION 22 takes place at the Monte Vista Dutch Reformed Church Hall, 63 Buitendag St, Monte Vista, Cape T...
13/05/2026

Our LIVE SNAP AUCTION 22 takes place at the Monte Vista Dutch Reformed Church Hall, 63 Buitendag St, Monte Vista, Cape Town on Saturday Saturday 23rd May. PLEASE NOTE THE SUPERB NEW VENUE, which is very close to N1 City Mall.

Viewing will be available from 08:30 to 11:00 on the morning of the auction. The auction begins at 11:30 and concludes by 13:00. Prior viewing is available by appointment.

Online bidding is now open until 10:00 on the morning of the sale. Bidding by phone during the auction is available by prior arrangement at least 24 hours in advance.

To view the catalogue, click this link, or copy and paste it into your browser: https://auction.philatelicfriends.com/public

The sale consists of 152 lots, including high quality Collections, Accumulations and Mixed lots, Accessories, Literature plus numerous Glory Boxes, with Estimates ranging from only R100 up to R60,000 catering to a wide a range of tastes, interest and budgets.

Due to the nature of the lots on offer, not all have images available. Images will be uploaded upon request.

As this sale is before month end and payday, payment may be deferred for up to 60 days to suit your situation.

We look forward to serving you!

When modern material is still very much postal history.This RSA 11c Postal card from the Fruit series appears to be dama...
08/04/2026

When modern material is still very much postal history.
This RSA 11c Postal card from the Fruit series appears to be damaged, but the inscription says the following:
"Found Burnt in Posting Box, Primrose Hill P.O. 29/8/84".
One wonders if this was due to sheer vandalism.

Here's something very unusual and most interesting. Natal 1895 QV 1d overprinted HALF (SG 125) in se-tenant complete min...
02/04/2026

Here's something very unusual and most interesting. Natal 1895 QV 1d overprinted HALF (SG 125) in se-tenant complete mint upper 2 panes of 60 ex the sheet of 4 panes, with Plate no 3 at NW and NE.
What makes it interesting is that this is from a later printing where the 2 known varieties (Long H and Long A) have been corrected.
I wonder how scarce something like this must be these days?

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