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Date	Original Topic
25th April 2004	jock of the transvaal By mhairi ohara about a dog and its master who was a heards man in the transvaal between 1920 -1940
Date	Replies
25th April 2004	AMB Mhairi, I thought that (later, Sir) Percy Fitzpatrick was a transport rider in the eastern Transvaal in the 1880s. Cracking piece of story telling. I found a first edition (with dung beetle facing the wrong way) in a book fare in Farnham some years ago - couldn't believe my luck! Anyway, what's your point? AMB
26th April 2004	Peter Ewart Andy Have you seen the prices at which first editions of "Jock" go these days? (I don't know how many copies containing the dungbeetle the wrong way round were printed but I think there were subsequent impressions of the first edition before the second edition appeared - it would be interesting to know at which stage the illustration was corrected. Does anyone have the biography by Cartwright? Good? Peter
26th April 2004	AMB Peter, Not sure when it was corrected, but my �2 copy makes me smile every time I see it on my shelf! The First South African [not a very PC title] by A P Cartwright was published by Purnell and Sons (SA) (PTY) Ltd in 1971. I must admit to not having read my copy cover to cover, but from what I have read, it does read well and is clearly well researched. Copies can be had on the Net for less than a tenner. Hope this helps. AMB
26th April 2004	AMB Sorry, Peter, was there anything from Cartwright that I might help with now? AMB
26th April 2004	Peter Ewart That's fine, Andy. I'd been prompted to get hold of a copy of the biography by Cartwright & I think I will. After all, Fitzpatrick touched every facet of S African life & packed an awful lot into his 68 years. By the way, I think the description of "The First South African" can be defended against all modern non-pc accusations. Just as a Swazi, Zulu, Fingo, Hottentot, Boer, Kalahari Bushman or Natal Colonist for many years thought of himself as just that first & foremost, so Fitzpatrick was ahead of his times in referring to himself as a South African. Any criticism of that description would miss the point entirely. Peter
29th April 2004	AMB Peter, I quite agree, but some of our fluffy types.... Enjoy Cartwright. AMB