First Edition: 240 pages, frontispiece and 7 plates, 6 maps – 4 folding, original black cloth titled gilt on the upper cover and spine, some light foxing, a very good copy.
The pseudonym does not refer to a Black or Indigenous South African. During the Second Boer War, British forces frequently organized their light cavalry and infantry into "Mounted Infantry" units. Many of these units wore specific uniform designations, such as the famous Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). Therefore, the "Mounted Black" is a tongue-in-cheek pen name combining his cavalry status with the famous dark-coloured uniform of his regiment.
Hackett (R.G.) South African Boer War Books, An illustrated bibliography of English language publications relating to the Boer War of 1899-1902, Privately Printed, London 1994, page 171, suggests J.A.G. Elliot and a possible author. In another copy which was offered on AntiquarianAuctions.com in 1914 the following annotation appeared, ‘This copy of the book was owned by another Mounted Black who has noted it extensively in pencil decrypting most of the initials and adding occasional comments. On the title page he identifies the author remarking ‘Little Jock Elliott as we called him in the Blacks because he was the reverse of Scott`s Little Jock Elliott.’ Elliott was a member of No. 2 company of mounted infantry of the City of London Imperial Volunteers (C.I.V.).
Printed at the Edinburgh Press.
- Overall Condition: Very good
- Size: 8vo (210 x 145 mm)
