Petticoat in Mafeking. The siege letters of Ada Cock . . . (1974)

Midgley, John F

Description:

". . . with annotations and a vindication of Baden-Powell"

Although it is a mixed bag - diaries, a defence of Baden-Powell and appendixes on various subjects, this rarely found self-published book is a useful addition to the large Mafeking bibliography.

The 57 surviving letters of Ada Cock to her sister cover a period of eight months, from the day before the siege bagan to the arrival of relief wagons nearly four weaks after Mafeking was relieved. The approximately twice-weekly letters offer a blend of domesticity and observation of the military and other events across the town over the period of the siege.

The letters are annotated by the author and accompanied by a large and well-chosen selection of photographs, drawing and maps.

The letters, notes and illustrations take up about half the book's x + 174 pp.

Apart from appendixes, reference and index, much of the rest of the book is devoted to a spirited defence of the commander of the besieged town's garrison, Colonel Baden-Powell, whose achievements had been downplayed in Brian Gardner's "Mafeking - A Victorian Legend", which had been published eight years previously.

The two-colour illustrated dustjacket is essentially complete although rubbed and chipped at the extremities with three unclosed tears, the longest being about 5 cm. The brown paper-board covers, gilt to the spine, have slight shelf wear but are otherwise unblemished. Both endpapers carry a map of Mafeking Town and Mafikeng Stadt. The illustrated text is printed on coated paper and remains unmarked and undiscoloured.

 

Details:

  • Publisher: The author
  • Publisher Place: Kommetjie, Cape
  • Date of Publication: 1974
  • Edition: First
  • Jacket Condition: Fair
  • Binding Condition: Very Good
  • Overall Condition: Very Good
  • Size: 245 x 190
  • Lot No: 274
  • Hammer Price: $35
  • Bids: 1
  • Visits: 67
  • Estimate: $55
  • Reserve: $35

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Seller Details:

  • Name: Fontein Books
  • Address: 27 Voortrekker Street, Philippolis 9970
  • Contact Person: Richard Proctor-Sims
  • Country of Origin: South Africa
  • Email: fontein@wol.co.za
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  • Trade Association: AA Approved
  • Additional Information: Fontein Books has for several years participated in Antiquarian Auctions and its predecessor. It specialises in historical and contemporary books on the Free State and Northern Karoo, and is also an active buyer and seller on commission in these and other fields. Fontein's owner, Richard Proctor-Sims, was an editor, writer and small publisher until 2005, when he moved from Johannesburg to Philippolis, the first settlement (1822) north of the Gariep or Orange River, where he opened his first physical bookshop (to which buyers and sellers are welcome), with reasonable holdings in Africana, both Anglo-Boer wars, biography, history, military history, natural history and travel. He regularly visits Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town and offers to deliver heavy or valuable books or sets to these cities on such visits. Richard Proctor-Sims retains the copyright of Fontein's Antiquarian Auction descriptions and these may not be reproduced without permission and acknowledgment.