January 2019

In May 1965, commemorative stamps printed in photogravure by Harrison
were issued to introduce self- government followed by a new constitution in preparation
for the declaration of the independent kingdom of Lesotho. Again inscribed
jointly “Basutoland” and “Lesotho,” the four stamps, Scott 97-100, feature a Mosotho
mother and child, mountain scenery, a legislative building in the capital,
Maseru, and a border-crossing post.
Although Independence Day was October 4, 1966, it wasn’t until November 1
that Basutoland stamps with provisional “LESOTHO” overprints were placed on
sale, listed under “Lesotho” in the catalog as Scott 5-20. In a curious error on both
watermarks of the 1r stamp, the overprint was misspelled as “LSEOTHO” at position
2 in row 4 (Scott 14a & 20a). In a bizarre coincidence (or was it?) an identical
error occurred on 1c and 5c postage dues at position 7 in row 4 (Scott J1a-J2a).
Figure 8 shows a procession of the high values in the QEII Pictorial definitive
series, beginning on the left with the 10sh Mohair stamp printed in 1954, Scott 56.
Next came the “R1” currency change surcharge issued in 1961, which was printed
in all three fonts;
the one shown is the
common Type III surcharge,
Scott 71. In
1963, these surcharges
were followed by a new
design in which “R1”
replaced “10/,” Basutoland
Scott 82, followed
by the same stamp
overprinted “LESOTHO” for the arrival of Independence in 1966, Lesotho Scott
20.
After only five months these overprints were replaced with new pictorial designs
portraying King Moshoeshoe II in place of Queen Elizabeth.
And can you guess what returned on the next high-value Lesotho postage stamp
in 1967, Lesotho Scott 36? Next to the portrait of the king on the 1R stamp, it’s Lesotho’s
coat of arms. Those feature
Qiloane’s sandstone peak, rearing
horses, antique weapons, the
national motto, and − at the very
center of the design, basking in
the middle of a traditional Basuto
shield − a contented crocodile
Figure 9. Lesotho issue of 1967 (Scott 36) with detail seemingly snoozing on the sand.
of crocodile on the coat of arms.
Figure 7. The low value from the 1959
National Council set, this 3p stamp,
Scott 58, shows Chief Moshoeshoe in his
prime on the throne and commemorates
his laws of 1854. Image courtesy APS
Reference Collection.
Figure 8. Four high values in a dozen
years (left to right): the 1954 QEII 10sh
Mohair Pictorial definitive (Basutoland
Scott 56); the 1961 Type III 1-rand on
10sh currency surcharge (Scott 71); the
1963 QEII R1 Mohair definitive (Scott 82);
and the “LESOTHO” overprint on the QEII
R1 stamp when independence arrived in
1966, Lesotho Scott 20. Image courtesy
APS Reference Collection.
LATIN AMERICA
Small ad HUGE stock
Nieser Stamps & Coins
PO Box 8533
Houston, TX 77249
www.kennieser.com
kennieser@yahoo.com
JANUARY 2019 / AMERICAN PHILATELIST 55