Four Autograph Letters Signed by Florrie Cockle (one signed 'Florrie Cockle (soon Iggulden)' and another 'Willie and Florrie'); one Autograph Letter Signed ('Birt') by Birt Cockle; all to their sisters Kate and Maggie.

Author: 
Florrie Cockle and Albert ('Birt') Cockle [Willie Iggulden; Boer War; South Africa]
Publication details: 
East London, South Africa; 1898 and 1899.
£150.00
SKU: 6213

Very good, on aged and lightly creased paper. Six long letters to family in England written during a turbulent period in South African history. Affectionate, chatty, and written from a lower-middle-class point of view (Florrie: 'we always have an h[ou]r., when I change my dress for the afternoon after dinner'). Mostly dealing with family matters. Letter One (from 'Florrie', 4 September 1898, 'P.O. East London, South Africa', 4to: 4 pp): tells an amusing story about Birt, a cart and a goat. Letter Two (from 'Florrie', 11 September 1898, address as Letter One, 4to: 2 pp). Letter Three (from 'Florrie Cockle (soon Iggulden)', 29 May 1899, address as Letter One, 12mo: 8 pp): announcing her engagement. 'I want you Kate, or Maggie, please if you will to get a fashion book with some pretty summer dresses in & send me; I think I shall get a pretty white fancy muslin, with lots of nice lace, & make it myself, for my wedding dress'. Letter Four (from 'Florrie Cockle', 3 June 1899, address as Letter One, 4to: 4 pp): 'its just lovely being loved so much, & taken care of by a good man'. 'Letter Five (from 'your loving brother Birt | Al. Cockle', 4 June 1899, 'c/o Messrs Mallett & Co, East London, South Africa', 4to: 4 pp): 'There is some talk of old Paul Kruger the President of the Transvall [sic] going to England of course we shall have to take it for what it is worth. Pipe has gone out shall have to stop to light it. [...] I think the average person deserves so much better than they get here take the poor what hae they done to serve the life that is delt [sic] out to them'. Letter Six (from 'Willie & Florrie' [in Florrie's hand], 23 December 1899, 'St. Johns Rd., E. London, S. Africa', 12mo: 8 pp): 'instead of finishing up quickly, it seems to be getting a bigger affair every news we hear, the Germans are coming in at Delagoa Bay & helping the Dutch, & that wont be like fighting Dutchmen, but a proper war presently I'm afraid; we haven't heard any more from Bert yet, but as there is no fresh news of Brabant's Horse, we still hope he is safe'.