[ Sir Robert Baden-Powell. ] Copy of 'The Mafeking Mail | Special Siege Slip.' ('Issued Daily, Shells Permitting.') including 'Mafeking Garrison. General Orders' by Major F. W. Panzera, and letter from Baden-Powell and report by C. B. Vyvyan.

Printed on one side of a 37.5 x 28 cm piece of aged newsprint. A frail historical survival, archivally preserved, but with slight later loss leaving some holes in the leaf, affecting some of the text. Small oval stamp with unreadable text in purple ink on reverse. In four columns, with first item Panzera's 'General Orders', dated 16 December 1899, with sections headed 'Good Service by Snipers', 'Visiting Justice', 'Board of Officers', 'Settlement of Forage Accounts' and 'Packing Cases for Local Defence'. The next item is Baden-Powell's letter, dated 'Mafeking, Saturday, 16 Dec., 1899.' It begins: 'The enemy opened a heavy fire of guns and rifles on the town before dawn this morning. Our 7-pounder at Cannon Kopje which had been laid overnight, replied to the big gun, and as soon as there was sufficient light, our three guns which had been posted on the east front, all concentrated their fire on the enemy's works in the Brickfields.' There is also a report dated 14 December 1899 headed 'Local Defences', by 'C. B. Vyvyan, Lieut.-Col., Base Commandant.' Other articles headed: 'Summary Court of Jurisdiction.', 'From the "Standard & Diggers News', 'Latest News', Pound Sale' and 'The Polo Tournament'.