Siege of Ladysmith. 1899 (Oct 30) Stampless O.A.S cover to England endorsed from Pte G. Bumby 1st Manchester Regt, with a Ladysmith c.d.s, circular framed "T" and "5c", the latter crossed out with blue crayon but a London Foreign Branch 1d charge mark applied, reverse with Durban c.d.s (Oct 31) and manuscript "last mail out of Ladysmith".

1899-1900 Covers with Ladysmith datestamps including October 5th 1899 stampless cover from a Lt. in the Natal Mounted Rifles posted the week before war was declared with "10c" and 2d charge marks; October 28th stampless cover to Pietermaritzburg sent five days before the siege; stampless covers to G.B posted during the siege and held until it was over with 10c charge marks obliterated F.B, datestamps of Jan. 18th (from a Lt. in the Natal Mounted Rifles, to Ireland) or Jan. 20th (from a Lt. Digby-Jones, killed at the Battle of Wagon Hill on Jan 5th whilst commanding the naval guns), etc. Also picture postcards (3), one sent to President Kruger on November 1st congratulating him on the siege, another of March 1st ("Ladysmith Relieved"); and two printed lists showing prices of food and tobacco sold at auction during the siege. (10).

1899 (Oct 29) Cover with enclosed letter to Mabel Walker at the Soldiers Institute in Pietermaritzburg posted on November 2nd (the day the final train left and the siege commenced) franked 1d, detained in Ladysmith during the entire siege, backstamped at Pietermaritzburg on March 3rd 1900. Very unusual.

1900 Covers posted within Ladysmith with Natal or G.B 1d stamps cancelled "LADYSMITH SIEGE POST OFFICE" two line datestamp in blue, dated Feb 16th (with Feb 22 c.d.s alongside), Feb 20th with error of spelling "SEIGE" (this error only known Feb. 19-21) or Feb 23rd with inverted "r" in date. (3). Photo on Page 78. (Image1)

Long Tom Siege Postcards comprising types 1-3, 5 and 6 unused, type 3 with blue "LADYSMITH SIEGE POST OFFICE / Feb 28th 1900", type 4 with Ladysmith c.d.s (Feb 24) addressed to "A. Sims, Cycle Dispatch Rider, Supply Office A.S.C, Divis Troop, Ladysmith", type 6 with fake Ladysmith c.d.s, a few faults. (8).

Long Tom Postcards, type 3A postcard to England, Feb. 10th Ladysmith c.d.s and "10c" charge mark obliterated "FB", message includes "we have been besieged 99 days today. I was wounded in taking Gun Hill but am all right now" from a member of the Guides Corps, light crease and edge tear but attractive; and type 3 card with March 9th c.d.s and unusual large "2d" charge mark crossed out by blue crayon, sent to Pietermaritzburg by a Lt. in the Natal Carabineers. (2).

1900 (Feb 23) Ladysmith siege postcard type 3c with the heading printed in red on the front but the usual printing omitted from the reverse, which has a violet cyclostyled picture of "my camp Ladysmith 1900" and a message written and signed by the distinguished artist and war correspondent Melton Prior. Addressed to "Ernest W. Smith Esquire, "Morning Leader", Ladysmith, Natal" with Ladysmith c.d.s and blue straight line "LADYSMITH SIEGE POST OFFICE" with the date line omitted, presumably in error. An exceptional card, one of just three recorded siege postcards with differing cyclostyled pictures by Melton Prior, and one of just two recorded examples of the Siege Post Office handstamp with the date omitted. Photo on Page 78. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image1)