History of the Zulu War and its Origin (first edition, with a fine copy of the folding map)

• This is rare complete and not ex-library copy of the first edition with no ownership or other marks

Brown cloth-boards, gilt lettered to the spine, plain endpapers, viii/491 pp + 24 pp of publisher's announcements + large folding colour map at the back

CONDITION. The binding is square and tight; a whiteish rubbing stain (see the first image) covers much of the upper board; the lower board and spine are fine; there are small foxing spots to the foot of the front endpaper and some of the early pages; the contents are complete, although a few pp have been detached from the binding; some early leaves remain unopened; there are two small pencil marks near the front (see images); the text is bright white throughout; unusually, the large folded colour map is in perfect condition, with no tears or foxing or other discolouration front or back

• This landmark book exposed Sir Bartle Frere's warmongering against King Cetswayo Mpande of the Zulus - with no justification other than that it was a popular idea in Whitehall and had the support of the white population of Natal

The author was the daughter of the famous Bishop John Colenso, the noted Bible authority and author, who established his Anglican Bishopric under the protection of the Zulu king and who was later elected the first Bishop of Natal

Frances, who lived in Natal for thirty years, is very clear - especially in her conclusion (see image) - that the instigation of the bad feeling and later actual attacks on the Zulus lay with the 22,000 whites and Governor Frere, and not with the 360,000 Zulus and their king, who were peaceful except when rustlers stole their cattle