This original hand-coloured engraving, published in the Illustrated London News, captures the logistical might and human complexity of the British campaign during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. Titled “The Zulu War: Leaving the Old Camp at Ginghilovo”, the illustration presents the moment British forces prepare to break camp following their hard-fought victory at the Battle of Gingindlovu.
The composition is densely populated and rich with narrative detail: naval troops in straw hats and dark uniforms form ranks in the foreground, while long lines of supply wagons, oxen, artillery, and African drivers stretch into the misty horizon. At right, a muscular African wagon driver—barefoot and commanding—steers his oxen forward, his energy contrasting with the rigid order of the departing troops. The sheer number of wagons and soldiers underscores the scale of imperial operations in Zululand and the dependence on African labour in the British supply train.
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Image size: 20 x 12 inches
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Overall dimensions with matting: 27.5 x 19.5 inches
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Condition: Very good; original hand-colouring remains vivid, with only minor marginal toning. Cleanly matted in cream, ready for framing.
A dynamic and historically revealing scene, ideal for collectors of Anglo-Zulu War ephemera, Victorian military prints, or those interested in colonial campaign logistics.
