Swaziland stamp – The-Philatelist

3 months, 10,000 miles, the King and Queen and their glamorous daughters, a battle cruiser, a train whistlestop tour. The future Queen turns 21 and makes a speech pledging her whole life to service of the people of the Empire. Why go to the trouble? Well South Africa had just, unlike others, sacrificed greatly in the War, and maybe Britain was trying to return the favor by trying to prevent a mistake they could see about to happen. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.

In the late forties the Royal family must have sensed the interest in their coming of age children in the world of celebrity. So here we have Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret displayed prominently. Unusually though, was the substance behind it. King George VI wasn’t that old but sickly and so he knew Elizabeth would be facing her duty sooner rather then later. Hence the speech she gave on this tour where she promised to be with her subjects through all the changes coming. It can’t be said she did not live up to her pledge even if the trip might have worked against British intentions for this part of the Empire.

Todays stamp is issue A3, a 3 Penny stamp issued by Swaziland on February 17th, 1947. It was a three stamp issue celebrating the Royal visit. The design of the stamp was borrowed from a similar stamp from Basutoland. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents.

South Africa had contributed much of their military to fight for Britain in World War II, especially in the North African theatre. The most successful British fighter ace Sailor Milan with 72 kills was South African. So when South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts invited the Royals, they came. South Africa was grappling on how to deal with the African majority. Mr. Smuts popularity was falling as he was proposing easing off restrictions that kept blacks out of the big cities. This meant tortuous commutes to where the jobs were for blacks. It was hoped that the pomp and circumstance might rub off on Smuts, who was facing a tough election.

As far as the welcome received and getting through what must have been impossible logistics, the Royal visit went off spectacularly well. However it did not have the intended effect on the then white and mostly Boer South African voter. Smuts was seen as too tight with Britain, even to the extent of abandoning his own people. The British Royals would not have to deal with the added crime that would have been the direct result of virtue signaling they were proposing. Smuts failed in his bid to D F Milan who took a much harder line on the question of the Africans. This was not the road Britain had in mind for it’s southern African dominions, protectorates, and colonies. Eventually South Africa and Rhodesia would feel the need to leave the Commonwealth.

All that said, the permanence of 21 year old Elizabeth’s words have lasted and proved more true than anyone could have imagined. You can watch it here https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Princess+Elizabeth+1947+speech&view=detail&mid=D3118D08978E69DF648AD3118D08978E69DF648A&FORM=VIRE Sure there in no more Empire, no more Royal Navy battlecruiser, not even a Royal yacht, But Queen Elizabeth is still working for her subjects, now past 90. (Update RIP Queen Elizabeth, God Save the King).

Well my drink is empty and lets toast recently departed Queen Elizabeth to celebrate so many years of service to the Commonwealth. Come again soon when there will be another story to be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2019.

The key word on this stamp is protectorate. The Swazi tribe and the local King survived the colonial division of Africa in the 19th Century. The still present Protectorate status prevented it from being dragged into Apartheid South Africa and protected it even after independence from Zulu incursions from modern South Africa. As such it shows a unique more traditionally African situation. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.

So if Swaziland was so independent with even it’s own King, why is British King George V on the stamp. In my mind, he shouldn’t be but lets be realistic about who was mailing and receiving letters in Swaziland in 1922. People from Britain and South Africa concerning business and administration. The stamps like the people described above came from London. Today Swazi stamps do a better job of showing the local King, with only an occasional nod to the Commonwealth and Queen Elizabeth.

Todays stamp is issue A2, a half Penny stamp issued by the British Protectorate of Swaziland in 1922. It was part of a 10 stamp issue of various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents.

In the South Africa of the 19th century, the area was divided into English and Boer areas and included several African tribal homelands including Swaziland. The Swazi tribe had their own King, Sobhuza II, who ruled from 1899-1982. This is the longest royal rule ever recorded.

It was intended for Swaziland to transition into South Africa after World War II. This was against the King’s wishes and when South Africa broke ties with Britain to maintain white rule, Britain changed their mind and was now in favor of Swaziland independence under it’s King. Those in London that know better still required a new council that empowered urban educated socialist over the King. Four years after independence the King dissolved the council in favor of traditional tribal leadership. The urbans were a small minority so this worked out. The revenue for Swaziland comes mainly from a Southern Africa Customs Union that dates from colonial times. The population grows almost as fast as the economy so the place is fairly poor.

Current King Mswatti III has been on the thrown since 1986. He has 15 wives and 35 children. The first two wives were picked for him by the tribe and their children are in the line of succession. In Swaziland, a prospective wife is called a bride until she becomes pregnant, then she is a fiancé and the marriage ceremony can go forward. In an effort to curb AIDS, the King decreed that Swazi teenage girls retain virginity until age 18. He then violated his own rule by recruiting a new under age bride. He was duly charged with the violation and paid the fine, a cow. There has been some controversy as to the Kings lifestyle, most notably a Maybach automobile. The King responded to the controversy by making it illegal to photograph the King’s cars. Things are not perfect, but they are much more stable and secure that the rest of Africa with it’s colonial legacy and the local crooks that now man it.

The Japanese First Lady with 6 of the King’s 15 wives. Imagine how impressed Madame Abe would have been with full attendance.

In 2018, the King became concerned that some people may confuse Swaziland with Switzerland. Therefore he renamed his Kingdom Eswatini, which is Swazi for land of the Swazis.

Well my drink is empty and I will pour another to toast the the Dlamini Royal House of the Swazi tribe. No it is not perfect, but a much better reflection of African heritage. Come again for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2019.