Although the whole of the O.F.S. was formally annexed to the British Crown and renamed the Orange River Colony on the 28th of May 1900, a guerrilla war continued for a further eighteen months and it was not until the 31st of May 1902 that the war was formally ended by the signing of the Peace Treaty at Vereeniging.
In mid 1900, it was confidently expected that the V.R.I. issues would be superseded by a definitive issue bearing the portrait of Queen Victoria. Plans underway for such an issue however had to be scrapped following the death of the Queen in January 1901. The result was a further group of provisionals produced by overprinting both Republican and Cape issues.
With stocks of ½d and 2½d stamps becoming depleted in mid 1900, shetts of the corresponding values of the current issue of Cape Colony were overprinted with the words "ORANGE RIVER COLONY". Stocks of the 1d value were similarly treated in 1902.
Double print.
Misplaced sideways.
During 1902 the higher values became in short supply. First, the little used VRI 6d's (Third and Fifth settings) were surcharged in red with "4d" and a short bar cancelling the "6d".
In August 1902 a residual stock of the republican 6d without overprint was validated with "E.R.I." and "6d", and the following month 1/- postage stamps were provided with the surcharging of VRI 5/- stamps (Third setting) with "One Shilling" and a star in red.
To provide 6d and 1/- telegraph stamps in 1903 a stock of the 2d (Fifth setting) was surcharge additionally with "T", "Six Pence" and a bar, and the VRI 3d (Fifth setting) was similarly surcharged but with "One Shilling". Both are uncommon.
Note variety "Shiiling"
The Edwardian Postage Stamps
The first Edwardian postage stamp, the 1d value, was issued early in 1903. This was quickly followed by the rest of the postage values and the revenue stamps. These issues have a particularly attractive design and colour scheme. The 4d value includes the spectacular "IOSTAGE" plate flaw.
The paper was watermarked with the Crown CA. Later the values ½d, 1d, 4d and 1/- were reprinted on Multi Crown CA watermarked paper.
In February 1905 a small number of the current Orange River Colony stamps were overprinted with the initials of the Central South African Railways - C.S.A.R. - for their sole use. Values: ½d, 1d, 2d, 3d, 4d and 1/-.
Following their withdrawal the Railway perforated their stamps CSAR. The Natal Government Railways also perforated their stamps which they used with the initials NGR.
The Edwardian Revenue Stamps
The first Edwardian revenue stamps were printed by De La Rue on 20th May 1903 and issued in the Colony during the latter half of 1903. A further five values were issued in 1905. The 2/- value is found in three different colour combinations. Apart from the 1/-, 10/-, £1, £2 and £5, all values were printed on both Crown CC and Crown CA watermarked paper according to the date they were printed originally, or reprinted.