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Bophuthatswana was an independant homeland in northern South Africa which became integrated into the S.Africa in 1994. 1977
Of seventeen tribal totem animals, two are reptiles, the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) and the Southern African rock python (Python natalensis). These are attractively designed little stamps. It is assumed that the names Kwena Fokeng means "crocodile" and Nogeng means "python" in Tswana. 1984
This is a really nicely understated, subtly coloured series of four stamps which are so attractive I have framed a set for my hall. The accuracy of the scientific names, even down to the correct way in which they are transcibed a trinomials in two cases, suggests an herpetologist, or at the very least a biologist, was involved in the design and preparation of these stamps. Several names have subsequently changed, ie. no subspecies are recognised for the Yellow-throated plated lizard (Gerrhosaurus flavigularis), , the Ocellated sand lizard is now Pedioplanis lineoocellata lineoocellata and Bibron's thick-toed gecko which is not Chondrodactylus bibroni. View the First Day covers for these stamps
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