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Watch the auctionIsandlwana interest. A most interesting, and at times poignant, 36 page letter written by Captain Percival Tatham Armitage to his mother. Written from Koppie Allein, Zululand and dated 2-8-1879 the letter begins “Dearest Mother, For many a long day I have been waiting anxiously to hear news from home, in reply to the long letter I wrote you from Cape Town, but, although by every mail, both officers & privates have been receiving letters from England, I have always had to turn away without one..” Armitage then goes on to tell of the journey over difficult terrain before joining up with Capt. Marshall’s Troop of the Frontier Light Horse. He later tried to rejoin his own company under Captain Williams at Rorkes Drift but instead was attached to Capt Harvey’s company and “we received orders the same evening to march next morning to Koppie Allein” “I stayed at Koppie Allein about three weeks and then received orders to join my own company at Rorke’s Drift. First, though, I must tell you, the second day after arriving at Koppie Allein we heard of the Princes death. ...”, “..we ... were, in fact, almost within sight of where the Prince was killed. His body was brought down in an ambulance wagon escorted by a few lancers & we had to furnish an escort half way to Landman’s Drift.....it was very sad.” it goes on “Major Black commanded at Rorke’s Drift...there were 3 companies there. Up to this time the bodies of the poor fellows who were killed at Isandlwhana (sic) were lying unburied but Major Black received permission to go in and bury them. Shortly after I arrived there a force composed of 2 companies 2/24th, 1 squadron of dragoons, half dismounted and about 500 native contingent commanded by Major Black marched in to fulfil the melancholy duty that had been so long delayed. I had command of a burying party, composed of some of our own men & some natives, with picks and shovels. We started at 3 o’clock in the morning & crossed the Buffalo into Zululand. It was bitterly cold & we marched the 11 miles to Isandlwhana getting there about day break. The scene was frightful. Bodies lying about in every direction... This is the dark side of war.”; the following pages give an account of the scene and burial work at Isandlwana, and notes poetically “And the Lion Mountain reared its head majestically over the field, an overlasting monument on the spot where 800 British soldiers died whilst fighting bravely against overwhelming odds. After burying for about 2 or 3 hours we marched back to Rorke’s Drift. It took about 4 days to bury the dead but altogether I have been in 9 times to Isandlwhana with Major Black, bringing out the wagons & other things. We brought out £6,000 worth of wagons and ought to get salvage for them but I am afraid there is no chance of doing so. I found 2 or 3 officers’ bodies, amongst them that of poor Anstey , instead of whom I came out. I found poor Cavaye’s diary on the field...” he then talks of trophies picked up on the battlefield, of regaining some kit, etc. “After I had been about a month at Rorke’s Drift, orders came one day that William’s Company was to proceed to Koppie Allein. Next morning we started & after 3 days marching arrived here, where we are still.” more talk of family life then he gives his address as “Percy T. Armitage 2/24th Regt, Natal, South Africa is the proper address. Of course you will have all heard about the glorious battle of Ulundi...” he then talks more about family life before signing off “your affectionate boy, Percy” Housed in an envelope inscribed “letter from Capt Percy Tatham Armitage 24th Regt on Active Service Zulu Campaign 1879”. Generally in good condition, the pages stitched at the top corner (some now unattached, one or two splits along creases, the last page wit
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POLAROID PHOTOGRAPHS. Are no longer available due to discontinuation of film supplies.
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BUYING PREMIUM = 24% inc VAT.
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LICENSED FIREARMS. Lots marked ** require a Part 1 Firearm Licence. Lots marked * require a Shotgun Licence.
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"UNPROVABILITY CERTIFICATES." For certain obsolete firearms for which cartridges are no longer available we can obtain from the Proof House, a "Certificate of unprovability." These can then be offered as "Collectors items only," but must still be sold to buyers possessing a firearms certificate.
EARLY BREECH LOADING WEAPONS, PINFIRE, NEEDLEFIRE AND RIMFIRE. Due to a change in policy by the Home Office, Wallis and Wallis can now offer certain types of breech-loading antique firearms as collectors pieces without registration as Part I firearms. This applies to pinfire and needlefire weapons also rimfire with cartridges exceeding .23in. calibre (or its metric equivalent). Such weapons taking 9mm ammunition are excluded and continue to be classed as Part I Firearms. However, it must be realised that if the above mentioned weapons were required for firing purposes, they would need to be registered with the Police as with other Part I weapons.
AMMUNITION. We have found that it is not practicable to sell modern ammunition, however, we do accept ammunition for sale over 100 years old. The buyer must collect and be in possession of a collector's certificate.
JAPANESE SWORDS, ETC. A nominal charge of £5.00 (plus VAT) is made to translate the inscription on Japanese weapons. Translations of signatures do not imply warranty of autograph, authorship or authenticity.
ACCEPTANCE OF BIDS. Bids cannot be accepted from persons under the age of 18, for any lots in this Auction.
BIDS BY EMAIL. Please note that we cannot guarentee bids sent in by email. Preferably bids should be sent by POST or FAX and all bids must include full address, telephone and card details.
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CHARITIES. No commission is charged for lots entered on belhalf of charities. Cheques for proceeds must be made payable to organisations stated.
Grades of Condition
Excellent - Virtually original state.
VGC - (Very Good Condition) a fine item.
GC - (Good Condition) a sound item.
QGC - (Quite Good Condition) some wear and/or damage.
FC - (Fair Condition) much wear and/or damage, or parts missing.
POOR - Items seldom catalogued in this state unless rarity or historical value makes them nevertheless worthy of collection.
AF - (At Fault or As Found)
WO - (Working Order) is used to describe functioning items in conjunction with grades of condition, eg VGWO&C - (Very Good Working Order and Condition), GWO&QGC - (Good Working Order and Quite Good Condition), etc..
NOTE: In the catalogue descriptions, these grades may be qualified by additional remarks.
Lots with descriptions below GC are not recommended for the postal bidder, unless previously viewed or advice taken.
"Decorative" indicates an item made up from parts for ornamental purposes; not for the serious collector.
All pictures and prints are offered "by, after or attributed to" the artist named.
The following grades apply to Orders, Decorations, Medals and Coins:
Unc Uncirculated
EF Extremely Fine
NEF Nearly Extremely Fine
VF Very Fine
GF Good Fine
F Fine
VG Very Good
G Good
Bids received through the-saleroom attract a charge of 3% in addition to the W&W buyers premium of 20%. Including VAT, all bids placed through the-saleroom.com will attract a total charge of 27.6% on the hammer price Shipping:
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