I had never heard about Transkei till I stumbled on its postage stamps. This country does not exist today. When it did, except one, none recognised it. Transkei was not alone, there were four that swam and sank together. Together these were TVBC – Transkei, Venda, Bophuthatswana and Ciskei – the four so-called homelands or Bantustans in South Africa. All four of these issued their stamps, Transkei being the most prolific of them all.
Beginning 1948, South Africa had embarked on a path of racial segregation or Apartheid as an official policy. In this process, the Government notified some territories for the natives, and four of these (TVBCs) became independent nations. Blacks were forcibly relocated to these nations, and in the process they lost their South African citizenship. While South Africa was the only country that recognised them, their postage stamps were used to showcase their independence. Thus, Transkei was born in 1976, and was merged back in South Africa with end of Apartheid in 1994. Despite all the turmoil, Transkei continued its philatelic presence on a variety of themes.
Heroes of Medicine first-set in the series
First set in Heroes of Medicine series was issued on 5th October 1982. This, and all subsequent series had four stamps each, all designed and printed in South Africa. The first day cancellation was done on commemorative sheets, as well as covers.
1) Hippocrates was a Greek Physician, and revered as father of medicine,
2) Leeuwenhoek was a dutch merchant who first invented a microscope.
3) Harvey discovered circulation, arteries and veins.
4) Lister recognised importance of asepsis during surgical procedures, and was the first to develop infection control protocols.
The first set on heroes of medicine, does not identify it as a series. Probably, when Transkei post issued the second set, in 1983 this became a series.
Heroes of Medicine 2nd set in the Series
Next year, the set was issued on 17th August 1983. This was again designed by John Meyer, with a combined face value of 95c.
1) Edward Jenner introduced the first ever vaccine, against small-pox.
2) Gregor Mendel was an Austrian Priest who described principles of inheritance.
3) Louis Pasteur was a French Biologist, who perfected techniques like fermentation, pasteurisation and Vaccination. He developed Rabies vaccine, and set up Pasteur institute in Paris, workplace of many other future heroes. He elaborated and proved Germ theory of disease.
4) Florence nightingale was a torchbearer for organisation of nursing care and education.
Heroes of Medicine 3rd set in the Series
Third set came up in October 1984. It has a similar design by John Meyer, with a combined face value of 111c.
1) Nicholas of Cusa a German catholic priest, philosopher and a mathematician. He also worked with optics and developed first spectacles.
2) Morton was an American Dentist, who first popularised use of ether Anesthesia. 3) Wilhelm Rontgen was a German Scientist, who discovered X-rays and introduced Radiodiagnosis.
4) Karl Landsteiner was an Austrian born Scientist, who worked at Pasteur institute. He discovered blood groups. Landsteiner, like Morton had a prominent mouchtache. This stamp, like that of Rontgen, depicts him in a beard.
Heroes of Medicine 4th and 5th sets
While I donot have these sets in my collection, these are listed on the internet. Transkei post issued the fourth set in 1985, and the fifth one in 1990.
Fourth set featured Vesalius, Malphigi, Megandie and Halstead. John Meyer was its designer, and its face-vale was 117c. Fifth set was on discoveries related to Diabetes, and had a new designer as well as a fresh design by A McBride. This one had a face-value of 138c
Heroes of Medicine sets 6, 7 and 8
The next three sets were designed by John Van Nekerk. Transkei post issued one each in every successive year – 1991, 1992, and 1993. The face-value of the stamps was also much higher- 175c, 222c and 300c respectively. Probably inflation was catching on.
1) Emil von Behring from Germany and Kitasato Shibasaburō from Japan, While both were together in discovery of diphtheria anti-toxin, Von Behring alone got the first Nobel Prize in 1901.
2) Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin, French scientists who developed the BCG vaccine. Both worked together at Pasteur institute
3) Jonas Salk, an American virologist who gave the world first injectable polio vaccine.
4) John Enders, an American scientist who won 1954 Nobel Prize for co-development of measles, mumps and Rubella vaccines.
Seventh set in the series 1992
1) First stamp, probably a continuation of the sixth, features Thomas Weller, an American scientist and a co-recipient of the 1954 Nobel Prize in Medicine for Rubella vaccine.
2) Ignaz Semmelweis was an Austrian doctor who introduced hand-washing in medical practice.
3) James Simpson, an English Doctor introduced Anesthesia in Obstetrics.
4) Renne Laennec, a French doctor who invented a first stethoscope.
Eighth and the last one in the series
1) Alexender Flemming (Who discovered Penicillin – our first antibiotic)
2)Alexis Carrel (who first developed technique to suture blood vessels and still maintain a continuity
3) James Lind who discovered that eating Oranges, cured Scurvy. Scurvy is a disease that occurs due to efficiency of Vitamin C, and Oranges are a rich source.
4) Cajal – a scientist who developed staining to visualise our nerves under a microscope.
In 1994 Transkei ceased to exist as an independent nation. As the transient puppet-nation moved from racial segregation to inclusion, we saw the last of the Transkei stamps. While Transkei celebrated medical heroes, this motivation is less clear. These stamps are recognised, and are collected, but their postal use must have been limited. Probably these were a revenue source, and a grim reminder of how Transkei philately was out of touch with its isolation and discrimination.
Postage stamps are often a face, countries want to show. History however may judge it differently.
Good information sir 1
Nice Article sir
Interesting! Read more about Transkei & it’s notable people including Nelson Mandela & its policies. Indeed the philately perhaps did not showcase the anti-apartheid moment the state was very active on.