Ricardo, Percy Ralph (Lieutenant Colonel, b.1855 - d.1907)

Collection relating to the South African War (Boer War) service of Lieutenant Colonel Percy Ralph Ricardo, 1st Queensland Contingent, South Africa, 1873-1900. Collection consists of a number of items relating to, and containing signatures of, some high-ranking South Africans of the time. Autographs include:

S J P Kruger - State President of the South African Republic (1883-1900) and dominant military figure during the second Boer War
F W Reitz - State President of the Orange Free State (1889-1895) and State Secretary of the South African Republic (1898-1902).
C van Boeschoten - State Secretary of the South African Repulic (1897)
Dr W J Leyds - State Secretary of the South African Republic (1888-1897 and 1897-1898)
T F Burgers - State President of the South African Republic (1872-1877)
R Gregorowski - Chief Justice of Transvaal
H Cloete - British Commissioner in Durban
P A Cronje - Leading general in both Boer Wars and commander of the western theatre in the Second Boer War.

The signatures of Kruger, Reitz, van Boeschoten and Leyds (dated 1895) are on signature cards stating their titles. Burgers' signature is written in a similar manner, but on the verso of a book page of legislation, written in Afrikaans and dated 1873. Gregorowski's signature is on a note thanking Lt Col Ricardo for some tobacco dated 7 September 1900. Cronje's signature is on certificate of leave with a Transvaal coat of arms letterhead addressed to a FC Stiemens, dated 23 January 1899. Cloete's signature is on a Pretoria Volunteer Artillery goal detachment form.

Collection also includes a 19th century engraving of the South African Republic coat of arms.