~ 1 ~

15th WORLD PLOUGHING CONTEST Issued 26th April, 1968

In 1951 the British Ploughing Association convened a meeting that was

attended by other countries, at which it was agreed to form the World

Ploughing Organisation, and to hold international ploughing

competitions. The first annual contest was held in Ontario, Canada in

1953. The criteria for admittance to the Organisation are that each

country needed to have a national association and to hold regular

competitions. Rhodesia has been represented at international

competitions since 1963 and was present when the World Ploughing

Contest was held in Canada (1963), Austria (1964), Norway (1965) and

New Zealand (1966). There was no competition in 1966.1, 2

It was some achievement for Rhodesia to hold the competition in the light of its position in the world

following the Unilateral Declaration of Independence. Although the British Government made protests

about their national organisations participating both Great Britain and Northern Ireland each sent two

representatives. However, following British protests, four Scandinavian countries withdrew at the last

minute.1

The event was held at the Kent Estate, near Norton, where conditions were ideal for holding the

competition. The contest was held on the 26th and 27th April, 1968, with the prize giving held at

Glamis stadium at the Salisbury Showgrounds on the final day. In all there were 18 competitors from

ten countries, including two from Rhodesia.1

The overall winner was M. A. Th. Schooner from The Netherlands who received the Golden Plough

Trophy, with the runner-up being Adolf Preuss of West Germany, who received the Silver Rose Bowl

Trophy. Unfortunately Rhodesia’s two entrants did not do that well with G. J Oliver (12th equal) and F.

J. W. Pistorius Jnr (15th) 1,2

Winner

M. A. Th, Schooner

Golden Plough Trophy

Runner up

Adolf Preuss

Silver Rose bowl

All the above images were found in the Official Handbook of the Competition.2

To commemorate the event the Post Office issued a set of four stamps, designed by Rose Martin. For

the first time the Post Office also inserted a printed stiffener within its first day covers, which gave

information about the stamps. The insert described Rose Martin’s inspirations for the designs of the

four stamps:

3d This stamp shows an early wooden hand-plough, made from the fork of a tree. It is being

pulled by an African female and the male is guiding it. The source of the illustration has been taken from a sketch by Thomas Baines, now held by Rhodesia National Archives, and the style employed is that found in many parts of Rhodesia in the form of rock or cave paintings.

~ 2 ~

9d An early wheel plough is depicted on this stamp. This type of plough was constructed mainly of wood and drawn by two oxen and was introduced to Rhodesia by early settlers and mis-sionaries, about 1860. The one shown on the stamp has been based, once again, on a sketch by the artist and explorer Thomas Baines.

1s6d What was probably the introduction of mechanical power into ploughing in Rhodesia is illustrated on this stamp. Pictured is a steam powered tractor and ploughs, which saw service in the Umtali area of Rhodesia round about 1905.

2s6d. The illustration on this stamp brings us up to date and shows a present day tractor and mould board plough of the type found in modern farming practices and which will take part in the Fifteenth World Ploughing Contest.

In addition to the stamps, the Post Office opened a temporary mobile Post Office at Kent Estate, which

brought with it postmarks and registration labels. The Post Office also produced a special first day of

issue cancellation.

Kent Estate Post Office

Counter No. 3 postmark

(There were four counters

with handstamps

marked 1 to 4)

Kent Estate Registration label

Special first day of issue

cancellation

THE ISSUED STAMPS

Catalogue Listings

SG3 RSC4 Value Description Print colours

422 C86 3d Early wooden hand plough Yellow, magenta & dark brown

423 C87 9d Early wheel plough Yellow, brown, grey and dark brown

424 C88 1s6d Steam powered tractor Magenta, yellow, cyan and black

425 C89 2s6d Modern tractor & plough Yellow, cyan, magenta and black

~ 3 ~

Technical details

Stamp size: All values 42 x 28 mm

Sheet Size: 60 stamps

All values 6 rows of 10 stamps

Artist: Rose Martin

Paper: Type 10 - Chromo, creamy/brown gum

Print colours: 3d Yellow, magenta and dark brown

9d Yellow, brown, grey and dark brown

1s6d & 2s6d Magenta, yellow, cyan and black

Perforations: Comb perf: SG 14½, RSC 14¼

Top margin: Perforated through

Side margins: Two perfs

Bottom margin: Imperforate

Printer’s Imprint: Type 6, bottom margin, below columns 5 & 6

3d & 9d printed in dark brown

1s6d & 2s6d printed in black

Cylinder numbers: Bottom margin – 1A beneath R6/1,

Colours from left to right

3d Dark brown, magenta, yellow

9d Dark brown, grey, brown, yellow

1s6d Black, cyan, yellow, magenta

2s6d Black, magenta, cyan, yellow

Colour register: Type TL 4– round boxed - left margin

All stamps Opposite R6/1

Order reading down:

3d Dark brown, magenta, yellow

9d Dark brown, grey, brown, yellow

1s6d Black, cyan, yellow, magenta

2s6d Black, magenta, cyan, yellow

Sheet Value: Bottom margin,

All values Below R6/10

3d & 9d printed in dark brown

1s6d & 2s6d printed in black

Sheet Number: Type SN 3. Reading up

All values Opposite R6/10

Print numbers: 3d & 9d About 400,000

1s6d & 2s6d About 250,000

(divided by 60 does not give exact number of sheets)

~ 4 ~

Issue date: 26th April, 1968

Withdrawal from sale: 31st July, 1968

Demonetarisation: 1st August, 1971 (post decimalisation)

Listed varieties

3d – Early wooden hand plough

No Col

Multipositive ‘S’ of Rhodesia dented at top. 2/1, 2/6, 5/1, 5/6 (minor)

Red dot on leg of right hand figure. 2/5, 2/10, 5/5,

5/10

1 4 Dot in top right upright of ‘H’ of Rhodesia. (not constant)

3 5 Red dot on arm of woman (not constant)

6 6 Large brown dot under E of Rhodesia and just over shafts of plough (not constant)

Unlisted varieties

R6 C5&6, various vertical

dark brown lines

~ 5 ~

9d – Early wheel plough

No Col

Multipositive First ‘G’ of Ploughing broken at top (minor)–

2/3, 2/8, 5/3, 5/8

1 1 Red dot after Circa

1 3 Greenish smudge on plough (Guide says grey)

1 4 Blotch on horizon on ploughman

1 8 Red dot after 1860

1 9 Red dot below ‘A’ of Rhodesia

2 9 Brown dot after 1860

2 10

Large black mark on bottom stroke of ‘S’ of

Rhodesia

(looks a bit like a ring flaw that may have occurred

when plate was produced)

3 9 Brown dot in front of nose of bullock

4 1 Brown mark over rump

4 2 Largish red mark over rump of left ox

4 7 Brown spot between horns

4 9 Brown dot above whip hand

5 6 Brown mark between legs of left ox

5 8 White mark on ploughman's left leg

5 10 Spattering of white dots

~ 6 ~

6 3 Brown mark on left leg of ploughman.

6 10 Spattering of white dots

Unlisted varieties

R6 C1 & 2, various

vertical dark brown lines

Downward

movement of

perforations – first

day of issue special

cancellation

~ 7 ~

1s6d – Steamed powered tractor

Multipositive Nick in top of circle of ‘6’ of value. 2/2, 5/2, 2/7, 5/7

Top of stamp broken above E of Rhodesia. 3/2, 6/2, 3/7, 6/7

Two white dots on side of engine of tractor and retouch on top right corner.

3/3, 3/8, 6/3, 6/8

1 4 White V at top of stamp to right of ‘A’ of Rhodesia

1 5 Oval white mark in hills approximately under ‘E’ of Rhodesia

Small black dot under ‘6’ of value

1 7 Black dot near top of hills below ‘ES’ of Rhodesia

1 9 White dash on vertical steam pipe near front of tractor

1 10 Small black dot under ‘6’ of value

2 1 Yellow dot under ‘S’ of Contest near bottom of

stamp

2 2 White mark at top of hills halfway between tractor and Postage

2 3 Yellow dash halfway between second G of ploughing

and tractor

2 4 Black ring flaw in S of Rhodesia, also purple ring in centre immediately below tractor.

2 7 White feather mark in hills below ‘S’ of Rhodesia.

Blue line below and attached to ‘I’ of Rhodesia.

3 4 Black dot at top of hill in line with ladder of tractor.

3 5 Broken ‘P’ of Ploughing

3 9 White dot in sky just above front leading edge of canopy of tractor.

4 1

White dot under ‘6’ of value

large white mark on side of engine near bottom

and near radiator

4 2 Brown dot to left of ‘1’ of 1905.

~ 8 ~

4 3 Yellow dot below E" of Contest.

4 4 Red dot below L of World.

4 10 Two black dots below ‘A’ of Rhodesia and below

leading front edge of canopy.

5 6 Broken ‘L’ of World.

6 2 White dot in middle of hills under ‘A’ of Postage.

6 4 White dot to left of 1 of value..

6 5 Red dot on hills above engine of tractor.

6 6 Yellow dot below main wheel of tractor

~ 9 ~

2s6d – Modern tractor & plough

Multipositive Green dot at top arm to second share nearest tractor. 3/1, 3/6, 6/1, 6/6

Broken ‘X’ of XV and green dot above ‘9’ of 1968. 3/4, 3/9, 6/4, 6/9

1 1 Pale green dot above ‘T’ of Postage

1 3 Broken ‘N’ of Contest

1 4 White mark at top of stamp, halfway between ploughman and XV

1 5 Brown dot under and to left of stones

1 8 Brown dot under ‘S’ of Contest

2 1 Four brown dots in left margin halfway down

2 6 Green dot in bottom margin below ‘I’ of Rhodesia

2 7 Red dot in left corner in grass

3 10 Red dot between plough and ‘C’ of Contest

4 1 Green ring flaw between ‘H’ and ‘O’ of Rhodesia.

4 3 Broken ‘N’ of Contest

4 6 Brown dot on blue hill about halfway down slope on left side, ("stone rolling down

hill").

4 8 White mark behind ‘W’ of World

4 9 Black dot to left of ‘C’ of Contest

4 10 Black dot after World

~ 10 ~

First Day Covers

The cover numbering comes from the catalogue produced by Geoff Brakspear.

Cover 38.1

Post Office cover

192 x 127 mm

Cover 38.2.1A

Text in black, black line under last line of text.

196 x 126 mm (smaller envelope)

Cover 38.2.1B

Text in black, black line under last line of text.

228 x 153 mm (larger envelope)

Cover 38.2.2

Text in red, red ornate line under last line of text

228 x 153 mm

Cover 38.2.3

Text in light blue, light blue ornate line under last line of

text

228 x153 mm

Cover 38.2.4

Text in green. Green ornate line under last line of text

228 x 153 mm

Cover 38.2.5

Text in orange. Orange ornate line under last line of text.

228 x 153 mm

Cover 38.3

228 x 150 mm

~ 11 ~

Related Material

First Day cover with Special

First Day cancellation, with

signatures of various

ploughmen who competed in

the contest. (Total 13

signatures)

(downloaded from eBay)

Plain cover with full set

postmarked KENT

ESTATE/3, with signatures

of various ploughmen who

competed in the contest

(Total of 9 signatures)

First day cover signed by artist, Rose Martin

First day cover postmarked Avondale, with various

cachets including portrait of Prime Minister, Ian

Douglas Smith

Bibliography

1. “Supplement to Rhodesia – A Postal History” by R.C Smith, published 1970, pages 15 to 18

2. The Official Handbook entitled “Rhodesia – World Ploughing – April 1968.

3. Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth Stamp Catalogue, Southern & Central Africa, 2nd Edition, 2014

4. The Rhodesia Stamp Catalogue, 1983/84 (last edition), published by Salisbury Stamp Company. 5. “A Guide to the Postage Stamps of Rhodesia, No 4” 1st January, 1968 to 31st August 1972, published by the

Mashonaland Philatelic Study Group, 1968