Victorian silver Treasury Inkstand marked for London 1899 presented to Sir James Percy Fitzpatrick (24 July 1862 – 24 January 1931) from his Publishers, Xmas 1899, with engraved inscription ‘To J,P. Fitzpatrick “A tribute of sympathy and admiration” The Transvaal from within. Page 287’, by Charles Stuart Harris.

Victorian silver Treasury Inkstand marked for London 1899 presented to Sir James Percy Fitzpatrick (24 July 1862 – 24 January 1931) from his Publishers, Xmas 1899, with engraved inscription ‘To J,P. Fitzpatrick “A tribute of sympathy and admiration” The Transvaal from within. Page 287’, by Charles Stuart Harris.

A Treasury inkstand in the form of a low oblong casket on four feet, has compartments for ink wells, pounce, sealing wax, seals and pens. Originally named for the first made in 1686 by order of Lord Chamberlain, for the Treasury (one compartment) or the Privy Council (two compartments).

Dimensions: 29 cm wide by 20 cm deep by 9.7 cm high. The inkwells measure 8.3 cm long by 7.5 cm wide by 6.2 cm high.

Weight: 2,889 Kg.

James Percy Fitzpatrick
Sir James Percy Fitzatrick, KCMG, known as Percy Fitzpatrick, was a South African author, politician, mining financier and pioneer of the fruit industry. He authored the classic children’s book, Jock of the Bushveld (published in 1907). As a politician, he defended British Imperial interests before and during the Anglo-Boer War. The Transvaal from Within was written in August 1896, supplemented, and then published in 1899 by William Heinemann in London. It outlined and defended the ‘Uitlanders’ position in the Transvaal Republic and sought to garner support from the British government. The inscription from the book on the inkstand as well as the historical significance of the Treasury inkstand would have sent the message that his endeavours and character were much admired.