South West Africa

under construction

South West Africa was formerly German Southwest Africa, becoming a mandated territory of South Africa after World War I.

Overprinted South African stamps were the norm, the overprints alternating "South West Africa."/"Zuid-West (or Zuidwest) Afrika." in panes, checkerboard style. Therefore, stamps can be collected in bilingual pairs.
 * In 1923, George V designs were overprinted as noted above with "Zuid-West." for the Afrikaans version. "South West." measured 14.5 mm wide, "Zuid-West." measured 13mm wide. The two lines of the overprints are spaced 14mm apart.
 * Later that year, 5/-, 10/- and £1 values were issued with overprint lines spaced 10mm apart.
 * In 1923-24, a set with overprint spacing again 14mm was issued. The Afrikaans version was now Zuidwest. South West. was now 14mm wide.
 * In 1924, the 2/6 stamp was overprinted with "South Africa." 16mm wide, "Zuidwest." 12mm wide, 14mm spacing between lines.
 * In December 1924, a new set was issued with top line lengths as above, but 9.5mm spacing between lines.
 * In 1926, three low values were overprinted with overprints running vertically.
 * Also in 1926, South African triangle commemoratives were overprinted SOUTH WEST / AFRICA or SUIDWES-AFRICA. In 1927, the English overprint was issued with a one-line overprint.
 * In 1927, contemporary bicolor South African pictorials were overprinted reading vertically, the Afrikaans version with "Suidwes".

 File:SWA 3d first ovpt.jpg|1923 3d pair, 14mm spacing File:SWA 5sh KGV 10mm narrow setting.jpg|1923 5/- pair, 10mm spacing File:SWA KGV half d 2nd ovpt.jpg|1923 ½d pair, with unhyphenated "Zuidwest" File:SWA 4d KGV 9.5mm spacing.jpg|1924 pair, 9.5mm spacing File:SWA vert ovpt.jpg|1926 1d pair File:SWA 4d triangle pair.jpg 

 File:SWA 10sh pict.jpg|1931 1/- pictorial pair File:SWA 6d welder.jpg|1943 6d war effort pair File:SWA 6d bantam.jpg|1943 6d war effort "bantam" pair, tremendously enlarged 







File:SWA wildebeest.jpg|1984 wildebeest stamp. 