The Transvaal from Within (Presentation Copy)

xiv+440pp+32(pub ads).

First trade edition. Green cloth boards with gilt titles to spine. Blindstamped device to lower board. Some white flecking to boards. There is a split to the cloth hinge 16cm from the head. Corners slightly bumped and rubbed. Top edge foxed. Foxing to endpapers. Ffep partially detached, likewise signature from half title - xiv.

Taped to the verso of the ffep is a presentation letter, and on the opposite page a presentation inscription by the author. The latter reads: “To the Right Honourable Lord Windsor with the author’s compliments” and is signed and dated 12 Oct 1899.

The letter is headed: 120, Bishopsgate Street Within .E.C. and in Fitzpatrick’s hand it reads:

“Sir J.P. Fitzpatrick presents his compliments to Lord Windsor and begs to forward a copy of his book “The Transvaal from Within” (wishful?) that Lord Windsor will accept the (reverence?) of and grateful feeling from British Subjects in South Africa for his untiring work in the Imperial interest. 13 Oct 1899”

At this time Fitzpatrick was in London, spreading public awareness of the Uitlander position expounded in this work. On 10 October 1899 Fitzpatrick writes to his friend, political operative, Transvaal mining financier and Randlord Lionel Phillips that he is suffering from an “unspeakable cold and general misery and shall stop in bed till I get quit of it.” He remarks that his publisher, Heinemann “says the book goes like hot cakes and he is much pleased.” Fitzpatrick writes that he “asked Bourke to look in about copies for M.P's. I cannot attend to it as I am too stupid for anything…(but) would like to send Lord Windsor one myself or in my name.” (A.H. Duminy & W.R. Guest (eds). Fitzpatrick: South African Politician. Selected Papers, 1888-1906. McGraw Hill. 1976) - this is the present copy, inscribed, from his sickbed the day after war was declared by the Boers on 11 October 1899.

Robert George Windsor-Clive, 1st Earl of Windsor, or Lord Windsor, was a conservative member of the House of Lords, outspoken advocate for British rule and the federation of the colonies in South Africa. See his: “The Settlement in South Africa” (Empire Review, Vol1, pp22-27. MacMillan. 1901) in which he offers the opinion that South Africa must work out a plan for federation “from within”, in line with the recommendations of The South African Vigilance Committee.