British Central Africa Protectorate
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The '''British Central Africa Protectorate''' existed in the area of present-day [[Malawi]] between 1891 and 1907.
The [[Shire Highlands]] south of [[Lake Nyasa]] and the lands west of the lake had been of interest to the [[United Kingdom|British]] since they were first explored by [[David Livingstone]] in the 1850s, and commercial interests began moving in during the 1880s. In 1889, the [[Anglo-Portuguese Crisis]] erupted over control of the area, and Britain declared a '''Shire Highlands Protectorate''', extending it to a '''Nyasaland Districts Protectorate''' in 1891, and renaming to British Central Africa Protectorate in 1893.
Sir [[Henry Hamilton Johnston]] was commissioner from [[1 February]] [[1891]] to [[16 April]] [[1896]]. In addition to establishing the administration and police force, he granted land to [[plantation]] farmers, and mining companies, gradually dispossessing the natives, who were not familiar with the legal process. [[Coffee]] became the chief cash crop.
{{Wikisource1911Enc|British Central Africa}}
[[Blantyre, Malawi|Blantyre]] was the economic and cultural centre of the protectorate, while [[Zomba]] in the Highlands was the governor's residence and administrative centre.
Sir [[Alfred Sharpe]] took over as commissioner in 1896, serving until [[1 April]] [[1910]], with [[Francis Barrow Pearce]] and [[William Henry Manning]] as acting commissioner for a period in 1907 and 1908.
The protectorate was changed to the [[Nyasaland Protectorate]] on [[6 July]] [[1907]].
==Postage stamps and postal history of British Central Africa==
[[Image:Stamp British Central Africa 1891 2p.jpg|left|120px|thumb|1891 overprint]]
The first [[postage stamp]]s of the protectorate were issued in April 1891, produced by [[overprint]] the [[Rhodesia]]n stamps of the [[British South Africa Company]] with <small>'''B.C.A.'''</small>. A number of new [[post office]]s opened during the year, including Blantyre, Zomba, [[Chiromo]], [[Port Herald]], [[Fort Mlange]], [[Fort Johnston]] at the southern end of the lake, and [[Karonga]] at the northern end of the lake.
[[Image:Stamp British Central Africa 1896 2p.jpg|right|120px|thumb|Two pence, 1896]]
[[Surcharge]]d BSAC stamps were necessary in 1892, 1893, and 1895. 1895 also saw the introduction of stamps printed for the protectorate, featuring the protectorate's [[coat of arms]] and inscribed <small>'''BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA'''</small>. The 1895 issue was printed by [[De La Rue]] on unwatermarked paper, but from February 1896 on the paper had either the [[Crown over CC]] or [[Crown over CA]] [[watermark]]s.
[[Image:Stamp British Central Africa 1897 6p.jpg|left|120px|thumb|Six pence, 1897]]
In August 1897 a new design was introduced, still using the coat of arms, but with a clear instead of a lined background.
In 1898 the supply of one-penny stamps ran out. Initially the supply of 3-shilling stamps was surcharged, then on [[11 March]] the government issued embossed [[revenue stamp]]s overprinted with <small>'''INTERNAL / POSTAGE'''</small>.
[[Image:Stamp British Central Africa 1903 1p.jpg|right|120px|thumb|One penny of 1903, cancelled at [[Chiromo]] with a [[squared-circle postmark]]]]
In 1901, the 1d, 4d, and 6d values of the 1897 stamps were printed in different colours. In 1903 a new series of stamps was issued, featuring the profile of King [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|Edward VII]] and inscribed <small>'''BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA / PROTECTORATE'''</small>, with denominations from one penny to ten pounds.
Subsequent stamps were issued by the Nyasaland Protectorate.
==References==
* [[Fred J. Melville]], ''British Central Africa''
* [[De Robeck]], ''A Pictorial Essay of the 1898 Provisional of British Central Africa - Nyasaland''
* [[Henry Hamilton Johnston]], ''British Central Africa: An Attempt to Give Some Account of a Portion of the Territories Under British Influence North of the Zambesi'' (1898)
{{Territories of the British Empire}}
[[Category:1891 establishments]]
[[Category:1907 disestablishments]]
[[Category:Former British protectorates]]
[[Category:History of Malawi]]
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