Cape/Griq. East/Natal rarity: 1904 cover Sneezewood/Union Bridge/Umzimkulu/Ixopo/Richmond/Rosebank.

As per scan(s) below.

The Benedictine Order founded by St Benedict in the 6th century was reformed in the 14th century by Armand de Rance of the Monastery of La Trappe in Normandy, from which the Trappists took their name. Between 1887 and 1892 missions were established in the Eastern Cape and Natal including the mission at Lourdes in East Griqualand .

Of all the missions Lourdes was the largest consisting of about 20,000 ha and was part of the land belonging to Donald Strachan, one of the earliest traders in the region and a friend of Adam Kok. After a fire in the mid-1900's, the mission ewas abandoned and left to the elements with only the altar remaining.

On offer is a unique item of postal history: a one Penny Queen Victoria Letter Card from

1.  "Sneezewood / CGH /NO 7 '04" cds - the post office which served the Trappist Mission at Lourdes, 

2.  "UNION BRIDGE / NATAL / 8 NO 1904" transit cds (PO from 1901-1910 very scarce)

3.  "UMZIMKULU / NO 8 '84" transit cds

4.  "IXOPO / NATAL / NO 9 1904" transit cds with time letter, and

5.  "IXOPO / NATAL / NO 9 1904" transit cds without time letter,

6.  "RICHMOND / NATAL / NO 10 '04" transit cds, and arrival cds of

7.  "ROSEBANK / NATAL / NO 11 '04"