Stories Behind Stamps

 

On 28 March 1996 South Africa issued a special stamp to honour the memory of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the City of Bloemfontein. Founded in 1846, it is now an important transportation and agricultural center. In 1854 the area between the Orange and Vaal rivers obtained independence with Bloemfontein as the capital. With the opening of gold mines nearby Bloemfontein has been transformed from a simple agricultural settlement of 1800s into a flourishing commercial and industrial city of the present day. It is now the judicial capital of the Republic is South Africa and the capital of the Orange Free State.

    The special stamp depicts the social and political developments of Bloemfontein since the middle of the 19th century by means of five historical buildings. The present Council Chambers at Bloemfontein ( shown in the middle of the stamp ) is the largest historical building of this city.