RARE BOOK GUIDE - THE RUNNERS, THE RIDERS & THE ODDS

01 February 2007

Jock of the Bushveld. Sir Percy Fitzpatrick.


Sir Percy Fitzpatrick. JOCK OF THE BUSHVELD. Longman, Green and Co, London, 1907.

Current Selling Prices
$750-$1200 /£350-£650 Want level 25-50 Highish


CHILDREN'S BOOK / ANIMALS /DOGS
Much loved dog story, based on the real experiences of Percy Fitzpatrick who saved this plucky bull terrier, the runt of the pack, from drowning. Set during the gold rush days in the South African veld at the end of the 19th century. FitzPatrick later recounted these adventures as bedtime stories to his four children. Rudyard Kipling, a good friend of FitzPatrick, occasionally took part in these story-telling evenings and encouraged him to collect these tales in book form. He was also instrumental in getting them published. The memorable illustrations for the book were done by Edmund Caldwell. The gilt spine of the book shows a Kudu cow - this is the animal that kicked Jock causing him to become deaf...I won't spoil the story but that Kudu was Jock's nemesis. A great story. Fitzpatrick (1862-1931) educated at Downside was imprisoned for a few months in 1896 for high treason after a failed raid from Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia) to aid the conspirators for Cecil Rhodes in Johannesburg, shades of that other great imprisoned Irish storyteller Erskine Childers. Fitzpatrick was knighted in 1902.

VALUE? A book you see quite a bit but it's usually a reprint or at best a second edition. The true first in original publisher's green cloth lettered gilt on spine and on front cover is a $1000 book if very clean. 5000 copies were printed, apparently the original Longman's ledgers show no costing for a jacket and it has, to my knowledge, never been seen in one. After the first edition there were some changes made by the artist when inaccuracies in his drawings were bought to his attention e.g. on pages 65, 337 and 457 drawings of a dung beetle pushing his load show him pushing with his front legs rather than his back and on page 316 a horse is shown trying to climb an impossibly high bank. Book went into nearly a 100 editions and was quickly translated into Afrikaans, Dutch, French, Xhosa and Zulu. A decent but not limpid copy turned up recently at auctionexplorer.com and made $950. A great site, by the way, and good luck to any auction site that takes on the bland monolithic monopoly that is ebay. Nothing against ebay, we list there all the time, but being Brits we hate to see people doing too well.

15 comments:

Robync said...

I have the true first edition of this book, in excellent condition -in the publisher's green cloth with gilt on the spine and cover. Could anyone tell me how much this is worth? It is now over 100 years old, and all colour plates are in perfect condition with tissue paper in tact. On reading this, I have checked out the illustrations and the inaccuracies are there, and a little odd!

Anonymous said...

I have no idea what it may be worth, but would be very interested should you wish to sell it to a very good home. Please email me at demorgancg@hotmail.com if you are interested.

Thank you,

Christian

Anonymous said...

Hi Robync

From my research on the internet I found that the first impression of the first edition (provided it is in good condition) will fetch upto R11000 ($1350) on auction. The subsequent impressions of which there were at least two (second and third)will fecth quite a lot less, I'm guessing but I would say about half of the first impression. To check what impression yours is look on the title page. I would also be interested in such a book if you are considering selling it. Richard.C@StandardBank.co.za

Sue Hoppe said...

I have a copy given to my dad in 1928. it is listed as 13th impression 1927. Interestingly, on page 65, the dung beetle has been corrected, but on the other two pages mentioned it is still the wrong one with the beetle pushing forwards, and the horse is still there attempting the impossible! Does anyone know what it might be worth? Not that I am keen to sell but it would be nice to have an idea of its value.

Mugwort the appraiser said...

Not much Sue -- it's a late reprint. Great book however. You may find a similar copy at bookfinder.com or http://used.addall.com/

Liz said...

I have a copy of this book, which belonged to my grandfather. It was printed 1908 and is the fifth impression and in good condition. Is it worth anything?

Anonymous said...

I have a 1907 edition of Jock Of The Bushveld and it is in very good condition any ideas on how much it would be worth?

Anonymous said...

It's fourth impression

Anonymous said...

I have a copy of Jock Of The Bushveld. It is the first edition but fourth impression and in very good condition do yoi know how much it will be wort?

Sarah said...

Hello, I'm looking for a first edition of Jock of the bushveld! Can anyone help me, ?

sarahgraham52@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Good day

I would like to enquire the value of first proof print from "The Ballantyne Press" dated 18.05.07. Its the last two pages from the book.

Im in possession of the above you can contact me via email ce.kriedemann@gmail.com

Thanks

Louise said...

I have an original of this book but the binding is falling apart. I got a quote of around AU $ 300 a few years back to have it rebinded. Would be interested to find out if by rebinding it would in fact be loosing value...Thanx LOuise

Jot101 said...

Louise-- just about worth it. Rebound it seems to go for £300 to £400 but the contents have to be clean and complete. It is much more saleable in the original cloth
binding cos Jock is on the cover… Nigel

Louise said...

Thank you Jot101...

Anonymous said...

Have a 1st edition 3rd impression,good condition for sale. Interested?