This page from the Duke of
Cambridge's visiting or calling
book from 14 February, 1879
bears the bold and confidant
signature of Louis Napoleon, the
Prince Imperial of France.
This entry was made during the
Prince's visit to the Commander
in Chief when he received
permission (27 February) to
journey to South Africa soon
after the reports of the disaster
at Isandlwana reach England.

In a sense this document is the
Prince's self-signed death
warrant.

There are a total of three pages
(six sides) in this collection
which bear an almost who's who
of British society as well as
some noted foreign signatories.
Just above the Prince's
signature is that of the Minister
of the United States and his
party.

Amongst the many members of
the British military who signed
these pages are two officers who
figured quite prominently in the
Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 - Major
General Frederick Marshall
who would command the Cavalry
Brigade of the Second Division
during the second invasion and
that of Major J. C. Russell, 12th
Lancers.

Calling Book Page
Paper
6 1'2 Inches x 15 1/2 Inches
`(6.5cm x 39 cm)
1879
A detail of the Prince Imperial's signature.
The signature of Major General Frederick Marshall who would command the Cavalry Brigade during Chelmsford's second
invasion of Zululand. At the time Marshall was the most junior and the youngest major general in the British Army.
He signe the guest book on 21 February, 1879.
The signature of Major J. C. (John Cecil) Russell, 12th Lancers. His appointment to command all mounted volunteers
during the first invasion raised the ire of the volunteers who wanted to serve under their own officer. He took part in the
first phase of the war and was out on reconnaissance with Chelmsford on 22 January when the camp at Isandlwana was
over run and it's garrison massacred. He was also the first man of Chelmsford's column to enter Rorke's Drift after the
epic siege of 22-23 January, 1879.

Prior to the War Russell served as equerry to the Prince of Wales and a member of the so-called Wolseley Ring, having
accompanied Sir Garnet during the Ashanti Expedition of 1873.