Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #132 begins on 09 Jul 2026

Rattray (David)

A SOLDIER – ARTIST IN ZULULAND

William Whitelock Lloyd and the Anglo Zulu war of 1879. Foreword by the H.R.H. The Prince of Wales

Published: Rattray Publications, Rorkes Drift, 2007

Edition: First Edition

Reserve: $50

Approximately:

Estimate: $70/80

Bidding opens: 9 Jul 16:30 GMT

Bidding closes: 16 Jul 16:30 GMT

Ships from: South Africa

Lot 74 preview

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First edition: 259 pages, frontispiece, maps, colour and black and white illustrations, beige cloth titled gilt on the spine, a fine copy in the dust jacket.

David Rattray was murdered at his Fugitive's Drift Lodge on 26th January 2007 (http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol141dr.html)

Editor's Note: 'As an officer of the 1st Battalion of the 24th (Second Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot, Lieutenant William Whitelocke Lloyd (1856–1897) saw active service in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. He was also an artist of considerable talent. On his return to civilian life, he became the official artist for the P. & O. and Union Castle Lines, and several books were published of his artwork, depicting scenes from life in the army as well as from his travels. A different fate awaited most of the watercolour paintings and sketches he made during the Anglo-Zulu War, which have remained unpublished and unknown for more than a century. Bound together by the artist into an album, they were kept safe by the family who inherited them in an attic in England, and saw the light of day only in January 2000. Copies were then taken to Fugitives' Drift in South Africa and brought to the attention of Zulu War historian David Rattray. Recognising their significance as a unique pictorial record of the British Army's campaign in Zululand, David Rattray undertook to write Lloyd's story and that of the war, thus providing a meaningful framework for the paintings.

'From the sea voyage to Cape Town in July 1878 and throughout the Zulu War to the time Lloyd left South Africa in September 1879, the paintings give a graphic rendition, as accurate and informative as it is beautiful, of key events in the campaign. They include depictions of the aftermath of the Battles of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift, the site of the death of the Prince Imperial, and the final Battle of Ulundi. In the accompanying text, details are given of the progress of William Lloyd and his companions of the 24th Regiment in parallel with the wider story of the campaign, up to the moment of the capture of the Zulu King Cetshwayo. The use of original diaries and source material brings to life the stories of individuals, and the paintings themselves shed new light on many of the events of the war. Biographical notes give in-depth information on all the personalities mentioned. This will be essential reading for anyone with an interest in the Anglo-Zulu War.'

  • Overall Condition: Fine
  • Size: 4to (310 x 300 mm)


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