title: Postage stamps and postal history of Griqualand West
text: # Postage stamps and postal history of Griqualand West
  
  This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Griqualand West, a former British colony that is now part of South Africa.
  
  ## First stamps
  
  The first stamps used in Griqualand West were stamps of Cape of Good Hope from October 1871 which can be identified by their cancellations.
  
  In September 1877, Cape 4 pence stamps were used hand surcharged by the Kimberley postmaster "1d" in ink.
  
  The first stamps specifically for Griqualand West were issued in March 1877 and consisted of stamps of Cape of Good Hope overprinted G. W. or G.
  
  In 1880, Griqualand West was annexed by the Cape Colony.
  
  