VULNERABLE SPECIES OF WILDLIFE Issued 21 st July, 1976

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VULNERABLE SPECIES OF WILDLIFE Issued 21 st July, 1976 Four species of wildlife found in Rhodesia that are vulnerable are depicted on these stamps.

environmental disturbance continue. Which means in effect that the ultimate security of these species is not yet assured as they are under threat from serious adverse factors throughout their range.

1 VULNERABLE SPECIES OF WILDLIFE Issued 21 st July, 1976 Four species of wildlife found in Rhodesia that are vulnerable are depicted on these stamps. "Vulnerable" is defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being likely soon to become endangered if current trends of over-exploitation, massive depletion of habitat, or other environmental disturbance continue. Which means in effect that the ultimate security of these species is not yet assured as they are under threat from serious adverse factors throughout their range. The four species within this issue are Roan Antelope (4 cents) Habitat: Open or lightly-wooded country, often in rough, broken ground and grassy valleys, never far from water. Habits: Roan live in small herds of up to 20 individuals, and each herd is led by a dominant bull. Bulls in mating condition are solitary but, in season, take females out of herd. During the dry season, herds may join up and constitute large concentrations. They are very pugnacious and aggressive. The voice is a blowing snort. Distribution: Centre belt across North and Central Africa. Threat to survival: Roan are mainly grazers and rarely feed on leaves and fruit. Although adapted particularly to arid conditions, they are susceptible to drought and human disturbance. They move to a variable extent, often to unsuitable habitat. In Rhodesia, disturbance is caused by ranching pressures in habitat, and development. The remaining populations are in isolated, localised pockets. Protective measures: Declared to be Royal Game under the Sixth Schedule to the Parks and Wild Life Act, 1975, and their destruction carries heavy penalties. Brown Hyaena (6 cents) Habitat; Dry savannah. Habits: Very shy and purely nocturnal, lives singly, hiding by day. Like its relatives, it is a scavenger, but occasionally hunts, and is prone to attacking the young of prey. A great wanderer, covering vast distances in search of food. Distribution: South West Africa and western edge of Rhodesia. ~ 1 ~

Protective measures: Fully protected in all National Parks, Recreational Parks, Safari Areas, and Sanctuaries where they occur. Wild Dog (8 cents) Habitat: Open or wooded savannah.

2 Threat to survival: The Brown Hyaena is marginal to Rhodesia, found only in areas bordering on Kalahari sand veld. It has suffered from destruction by ranchers who consider it to be a danger to domestic livestock, and has probably been exterminated in most inhabited areas. Protective measures: Fully protected in all National Parks, Recreational Parks, Safari Areas, and Sanctuaries where they occur. Wild Dog (8 cents) Habitat: Open or wooded savannah. Habits: Gregarious, lives and hunts in packs of 6 to 20 animals, sometimes more. Hunting is organized and very effective. Distribution: Throughout Africa. Threat to survival: Considered to be a danger to domestic livestock, they have been hunted to near extinction in most inhabited areas. Protective measures: Fully protected in all National Parks, Safari Areas and Sanctuaries where they occur. Cheetah (16 cents) Habitat: Open and semi-arid savannah woodland. Habits: Cheetahs live singly or in small groups of up to six, and hunt in daylight, mostly in the morning and evening, but occasionally also on moonlit nights (sight is the most important sense). Success in hunting depends on speed rather than on stealth and speed. Considered to be the fastest animal in the world, with speeds of up to 120 km/h having been recorded. Preys mainly on smaller animals (such as oribi, impala, etc.) and birds, but kills of larger animals such as waterbuck, wildebeest, etc., have been recorded. Cheetahs are rather silent creatures, uttering a "chirruping" sort of cry and growling when angry. They purr like cats. Distribution: Centre belt across North Africa; Eastern and Central Africa; Asia from Turk-mania and Iran to Arabia; formerly in India, where it is now believed extinct. Threat to Survival: Cheetahs are not of a ferocious disposition and have been tamed and used for hunting in Asia for centuries. They are timid creatures, unable to withstand changing conditions and increased disturbance. As a result, they have been exterminated in much of Southern and North Africa and have become extremely localised throughout the remainder of their range. Protective measures: Declared to be Royal Game under the Sixth Schedule to the Parks and Wild Life Act, Their destruction carries heavy penalties. (Source: PTC Bulletin No 2 of 1976) ~ 2 ~

THE ISSUED STAMPS Catalogue listings SG RSC 2 Value Description 529 C153 4c Roan Antelope 530 C154 6c

Broken S of Rhodesia (Cyl 1A R5/2) b. Malformed E of Rhodesia (Cyl 1B R7/2) 532 C156 16c Cheetah a.

Broken A of Rhodesia (Cyl 1B R6/1) Technical details Stamp size: Sheet Size: Artist: Paper: Print

white paper, white/clear gum, non-fluorescent 4c, 8c & 16c cyan, yellow, magenta & black 6c cyan, yellow,

3 THE ISSUED STAMPS Catalogue listings SG RSC 2 Value Description 529 C153 4c Roan Antelope 530 C154 6c Brown Hyena a. Broken D and E of Rhodesia (Cyl 1A R5/2) 531 C155 8c Wild Dog a. Broken S of Rhodesia (Cyl 1A R5/2) b. Malformed E of Rhodesia (Cyl 1B R7/2) 532 C156 16c Cheetah a. Yellow spot in grass (Cyl 1A R3/2) b. Broken A of Rhodesia (Cyl 1B R6/1) Technical details Stamp size: Sheet Size: Artist: Paper: Print colours: 42 x 28 mm 50 stamps (10 rows of 5 stamps), two panes within printed sheet Neil Pedersen Type 11 white paper, white/clear gum, non-fluorescent 4c, 8c & 16c cyan, yellow, magenta & black 6c cyan, yellow, carmine-red & black Perforations: Comb perf: SG 14, RSC 14¼ Top margin: Side and bottom margins: Perforated through Imperforate Printer s Imprint: Type 6a, bottom margin, below columns 2 to 4 black printing ~ 3 ~

colours reading down 4c, 8c & 16c cyan, yellow, magenta & black 6c cyan, yellow, carmine-red & black Bottom margin, below R10/5, black printing Type SN 4 with PTC prefix, right margin opposite R10/5,

4 Cylinder numbers: Colour register: Sheet Value: Sheet Number: Cyls. 1A & 1B bottom margin under R10/1, colours reading across from left 4c, 8c & 16c cyan, yellow, magenta & black 6c cyan, yellow, carmine-red & black Type TL 4 round boxed - left margin opposite R10/1, colours reading down 4c, 8c & 16c cyan, yellow, magenta & black 6c cyan, yellow, carmine-red & black Bottom margin, below R10/5, black printing Type SN 4 with PTC prefix, right margin opposite R10/5, reading downwards. Print numbers: 4c - 4,000,000 stamps (40,000 1A & 1B sheets each) 6c - 800,000 stamps (8,000 1A & 1B sheets each) 8c - 600,000 stamps (6,000 1A & 1B sheets each) 16c - 400,000 stamps (4,000 1A & 1B sheets each) Issue date: 21 st July, 1976 Withdrawal from sale: 24 th April, 1977 Demonetarisation: 20 th April, 1980 Listed varieties Below are varieties documented or seen for each of the values, starting with the listed varieties within the Mashonaland Guide 1, and those listed in the RSC 2, shown in yellow shaded tables. The varieties listed in bold are considered by the authors of the Guide to be more important. Cyl Row Col 4 cents Roan Antelope 1A 5 2 Dot over withers 8 5 Dot in grass behind front leg ~ 4 ~

5 Cyl Row Col 9 5 Dot to right of O of Rhodesia 10 2 Black spot above H of Rhodesia 1B There is a short red guide-line in the right margin level with the bottom frame of Row 9. (This helps to distinguish a B sheet which has had the pane number removed from the left side.) 2 5 Dot over 4, under AN of Roan 6 1 Good batch flaw: S of Rhodesia broken in top curl. (Not constant.) 10 3 Dot in front of upper part of hind leg. 6 cents Brown Hyena 1A Broken D of Rhodesia opposite middle bar of E 5 2 RSC C154a Broken D & E of Rhodesia ~ 5 ~

6 Cyl Row Col 9 4 Dot in upper part of E of Rhodesia 1B 7 5 Dot in lower part of H of Rhodesia 8 cents Wild Dog 1A 5 2 (The dog comes in shades from light reddish-brown to dark brownishred) S of Rhodesia broken off above eye of dog RSC C155a Broken S 7 1 Spur on the left leg of H of Rhodesia 8 4 Magenta dot under belly (Guide describes as brown) 8 5 Blue dot left of shoulder 9 3 Red dot over E of Vulnerable 1B 3 3 Dot in top left corner of frame over A of Rhodesia ~ 6 ~

7 Cyl Row Col 6 1 Top of A of Rhodesia slightly broken 7 2 Large dot on upright of E under dog's jaw RSC 155b Malformed E 8 1 Dot in top of E of Rhodesia 16 cents Cheetah 1A 3 2 Yellow dot in green foliage right of RH of Rhodesia. RSC C156a Yellow spot in grass 1B 1 1 Sometimes blue blobs can be found in the right and left frame lines. (Not constant) (Described as green by the Guide) 6 1 Broken top to A of Rhodesia RSC C156b Broken A ~ 7 ~

Unlisted varieties 4 cents double black, see

download) 16 cents - Missing magenta to the back

(Source: Sotheby s auction Johannesburg May 2009)

the black printing from left to right The cover

8 Unlisted varieties 4 cents double black, see smaller text top right corner (source ebay download) 16 cents - Missing magenta to the back part of the Cheetah s body. (Source: Sotheby s auction Johannesburg May 2009) First Day Cover 16 cents: progressive doubling of the black printing from left to right The cover numbering comes from the catalogue produced by Geoff Brakspear Cover 67.1 PTC 162 x 114 mm ~ 8 ~

9 Bibliography 1. A Guide to the Postage Stamps of Rhodesia, supplement No 5, issued 1978, published by the Mashonaland Philatelic Study Group 2. The Rhodesia Stamp Catalogue, 1983/84, published by Salisbury Stamp Company 3. Post & Telecommunications Corporation Bulletin No 2 of 1976, published by the Philatelic Bureau ~ 9 ~

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