Rare Lot of 3 South Africa OFFICIAL / OFFISIEEL Overprint Covers Exhibition 1954-1964

This highly collectible trio of philatelic covers represents official government-issued stamps used in exhibition contexts. All stamps feature vertical OFFICIAL / OFFISIEEL overprints with the scarce round 'O' type notably distinct from the more common oval.

Includes 3 Covers:

1. Durban Civic Centenary Cover 1954

• Official exhibition cover by the Philatelic Society of Natal

• Stamps:
  Block of 6 × ½d Springbok "OFFICIAL / OFFISIEEL" (blue-green)
  Pair of 1d Sailing Ship "OFFICIAL / OFFISIEEL" (red-pink)

• Postmarked: DURBAN STADSEEUFEES / POSSEEL UITSTALLING / 1954

• Includes red plate arrow and original exhibition cachet with civic population stats

• All stamps clearly show the rare round O vertical overprint

2. Durban Exhibition Cover 1954

• Stamps:
  Block of 4 × 1d Sailing Ship OFFICIAL / OFFISIEEL
  1 × 2d Union Buildings (no overprint)

• Cancelled: 14 JUN 1954 Durban Exhibition

• Clean postmarks and complete cover design

• Ideal combination of overprints and standard definitive on a single exhibition piece

3. PREPEX Cover Pretoria 1964 (Registered)

• Registered cover to Port Elizabeth

• Stamps:
  Pair of 2d Union Buildings OFFICIAL / OFFISIEEL overprints (round 'O')

• Postmarked: PREPEXPREFU Pretoria Exhibition 1217 Oct 1964

• With official red PREPEX cachet and Pretoria registration label

  Philatelic Significance:

  • These overprints fall within the SG O1O7 range (Sets 2930), printed circa 1950-1954

  • The round O vertical overprint is scarcer than the oval type and is highly sought after, especially when used on cover

  • Exhibition use and registration make these covers even more collectible

  • Multiple blocks and matched bilingual usage (Suid-Afrika & South Africa) enhance rarity

    
    

    Condition:

    • All covers are clean and in original presentation sleeves

    • Stamps intact with full perforations

    • Clear cancels and no signs of tampering or modern additions