Through Mashonaland with Pick & Pen 1892

By Sir James Percy FitzPatrick KCMG (24 July 1862 – 24 January 1931), known as Percy FitzPatrick, was a South African author, politician, mining financier and pioneer of the fruit industry. He authored the classic children's book, Jock of the Bushveld (1907). As a politician, he defended British Imperial interests before and during the Anglo-Boer War. FitzPatrick is responsible for the creation of the two-minute silence observed on Armistice Day.

The first book to be published on the Rand. It was printed by the Argus and Fitzpatrick could not pay the printing bill; consequently copies of the book remained in the Argus warehouse where many were destroyed.
See Godfrey (D )Enchanted Door, page 89.

Dictionary of South African Biography volume 1, page 292, 'Fitzpatrick was invited by Alfred Beit to organise a tour to be made by Lord Randolph Churchill through Bechuanaland and Mashonaland. His letters about this journey, first printed in the Cape Argus and Johannesburg Star, were collected in 1892 in his first book, 'Through Mashonaland with Pick & Pen.'

From the preface, 'A good deal of space is devoted to Lord Randolph and his expedition, much more perhaps than the subject is fairly entitled to; but I have allowed it to pass, because he has worked up an elaborate fabric from his views, opinions and experiences and his version of the facts, and the carefully finished side having been prominently - over prominently - exposed to view, it is time the seamy side had a turn. Without disputing a man's good faith, it is quite clear that there may be two sides to a question, in fact there generally are, - and there are quite a number of men who could have changed the aspect of some of Lord Randolph's "incidents" to a most surprising extent, but habit, accident or circumstances has prompted them to "let it slide." That is why I have in many cases presented a view of things which is not Lord Randolph's'.

Some ink spots and slight foxing
154mm x 235mm

R10,000

Through Mashonaland with Pick & Pen 1892
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