{"title":"Naval \u0026 Military History","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"ww2-d-day-dwight-d-eisenhower-order-of-the-day-6th-june-1944","title":"WW2 D-Day Dwight D. Eisenhower ‘Order Of The Day’ - 6th June 1944","description":"\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:377\"\u003eThe famous D-Day Order of the Day, issued by General Dwight D. Eisenhower to the soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force on the eve of the Normandy landings. This historic document, a tangible link to the pivotal moment of World War II, is a powerful testament to the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for freedom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"11:1-11:533\"\u003eAddressed to the \"soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force... about to embark upon the Great Crusade,\" this order captures the gravity and importance of the D-Day invasion. Eisenhower's stirring words, \"the eyes of the world are upon you,\" and \"the hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you,\" resonated with the troops and continue to inspire today. The order acknowledges the contributions of those fighting the Germans on other fronts, recognising the global scale of the conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"13:1-13:484\"\u003eEisenhower's D-Day message acknowledges the anticipated fierce resistance from the enemy, stating they \"will fight savagely.\" However, he emphasises the strength and superiority of the Allied forces, highlighting their victories against German armies elsewhere, the devastating impact of the Allied air offensive, and the overwhelming advantage in manpower, weaponry, and munitions. He concludes with a call to prayer, asking for God's blessing on \"this great and noble undertaking.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"15:1-15:532\"\u003eThis original printed leaflet, distributed to 175,000 members of the Allied forces on June 5, 1944, served to galvanize their resolve for the monumental task ahead. The order's significance extended beyond the battlefield; it was widely disseminated, even being read aloud to 50,000 people in New York's Central Park on June 6th. It has since been immortalized in books and films about World War II, solidifying its place in history. Eisenhower himself later adapted the phrase \"Great Crusade\" for his memoir, \u003cem\u003eCrusade in Europe\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"17:1-17:233\"\u003eThis is not a reproduction. This is an \u003cem\u003eoriginal\u003c\/em\u003e D-Day Order of the Day, a rare and valuable World War II artifact. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arch Rare Books \u0026 Antique Prints","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46528090472715,"sku":"","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/IMG_1157.jpg?v=1738237750"},{"product_id":"original-smyth-report-atomic-bomb-development-1940-1945","title":"Original Smyth Report: Atomic Bomb Development 1940-1945","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis exceptionally rare first British edition of A General Account of the Development of Methods of Using Atomic Energy for Military Purposes Under the Auspices of the United States Government 1940-1945, more commonly known as The Smyth Report.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis historical document details the top-secret Manhattan Project, the Allied effort during World War II to develop the atomic bomb. Written by physicist Henry DeWolf Smyth, the report provides a comprehensive account of the scientific breakthroughs, engineering challenges, and secret laboratories (including Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, and Hanford) that led to the creation of the world's first nuclear weapons.   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis specific edition is a small 4to (245 x 153 mm) and is presented in its original buff paper wrappers, reprinted from the very scarce U.S. Government Printing Office edition.  It includes numerous formulas and diagrams, providing a fascinating glimpse into the science behind nuclear fission and the nuclear chain reaction.  The wrappers show only minor spotting, and the text remains near pristine, a remarkable condition for such a fragile and important document.  It is now housed in an attractive fold-over case of tan buckram with a black morocco label gilt ruled and lettered, ensuring its preservation for future generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Smyth Report is not just a scientific record; it's a pivotal document that announced the dawn of the atomic age and a new world order.  As PMM (Printing and the Mind of Man) notes, it's a \"remarkably full and candid account\" of the Manhattan Project.  The report was initially released to the press on August 12, 1945, after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and served to inform the American public about this groundbreaking technology.   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis first British issue is exceptionally scarce.  The mimeographed prepublication issue, from which this was reprinted, was produced in the War Department and is exceedingly rare, often found in poor condition.  This British reprint offers collectors a chance to own a piece of this crucial historical narrative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the Smyth Report was intended to inform the public, it also inadvertently provided valuable information to the Soviet Union, aiding their own atomic bomb project.  This edition, like the original U.S.G.P.O. printing, includes the detail about the \"poisoning\" effect in the production reactors, later removed from the Princeton edition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arch Rare Books \u0026 Antique Prints","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46528114196747,"sku":"","price":300.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250318_085000463_iOS.jpg?v=1742295456"},{"product_id":"a-fleet-in-being-by-rudyard-kipling","title":"A Fleet in Being by Rudyard Kipling","description":"\u003cp\u003eFirst edition, \u003cspan class=\"opt-published-by\"\u003ePublished by\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"opt-publisher\"\u003eLondon : Macmillan and Co,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"opt-publish-date\"\u003e1898\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDescription: Kipling, granted access to the Royal Navy fleet at sea in 1898, provides a fascinating, firsthand account of the ships and their crews during a period of naval expansion at the turn of the 20th century. This collection offers a unique glimpse into Kipling's perspective on the Royal Navy and its vital role in the British Empire.  A near-fine copy of this scarce publication.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rudyard Kipling","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46598112706827,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250211_083807479_iOS.jpg?v=1739278133"},{"product_id":"churchill-winston-s-beating-the-invader-a-message-from-the-prime-minister-together-with-if-the-invader-comes","title":"CHURCHILL, Winston S. Beating the Invader. A message from the Prime Minister. [together with] If The Invader Comes.","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLondon: Issued by the Ministry of Information in co-operation with the War Office and the Ministry of Home Security, 1940-41\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChurchill's Stirring Calls to Resistance: Beating the Invader and If the Invader Comes. First editions of these two pivotal leaflets, distributed to British households during the Second World War's darkest hours. These powerful pronouncements from Winston Churchill, Prime Minister during this critical period, aimed to prepare the civilian population for a potential German invasion and instill a spirit of unwavering resistance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBeating the Invader:\u003c\/strong\u003e Issued in May 1941, this leaflet (These were printed and distributed nationwide) urged citizens to \"STAND FIRM\" in the face of attack and, where fighting was not immediate, to \"CARRY ON\" with their daily lives. Churchill's message emphasized the importance of resilience and maintaining normalcy amidst the threat of invasion. While the large print run might suggest commonality, surprisingly few copies have survived, making this a sought-after piece of wartime ephemera (Cohen).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIf the Invader Comes:\u003c\/strong\u003e This earlier leaflet, distributed in June 1940 following the Dunkirk evacuations and the fall of France, addressed the very real fear of imminent invasion.  Its primary aim was to prevent panic and the chaotic flight of civilians that had hampered military efforts in Holland and Belgium.  Churchill's government implored citizens to remain calm, avoid spreading or believing rumors, and follow official instructions.  The leaflet detailed practical steps such as disabling vehicles, hiding fuel, and establishing resistance systems in workplaces.  Its concluding message, \"Think always of your country before you think of yourself,\" encapsulated the spirit of selflessness and national unity that Churchill sought to inspire.  This leaflet, a tangible reminder of Britain's perilous position in 1940, is a poignant historical document.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTogether, these two leaflets represent a powerful testament to Churchill's leadership and the unwavering resolve of the British people during the Second World War.  They are rare and significant artifacts of a nation facing its greatest challenge. Two quarto single-sheet flyers (280 x 210 mm) beautifully framed by Kings Court Galleries, London\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arch Rare Books \u0026 Antique Prints","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46598818300171,"sku":"","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250211_090408311_iOS.jpg?v=1739283536"},{"product_id":"a-british-rifle-man-the-journals-and-correspondence-of-major-george-simmons-rifle-brigade-during-the-peninsular-war-and-the-campaign-of-waterloo-the-peninsular-war-campaign-of-waterloo","title":"A British Rifle Man: The Journals and Correspondence of Major George Simmons, Rifle Brigade during the Peninsular War and the Campaign of Waterloo","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"opt-published-by\"\u003eby Lieut. Colonel Willoughby Verner \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePublished by\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"opt-publisher\"\u003eLondon: A. \u0026amp; C. Black, 1899\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"opt-publisher\"\u003eFirst Edition, First Printing. The book compiles the personal journals and letters of Major George Simmons, offering firsthand, unvarnished accounts of his time fighting in Spain and Portugal during the Peninsular War, and later, the decisive campaign of Waterloo.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeorge Simmons, a member of the Rifle Brigade, provides a unique perspective on these conflicts. As a light infantry unit specialising in skirmishing and marksmanship, the Rifle Brigade operated differently from the standard line infantry. Simmons' writings detail this specialised approach, offering insights into tactics, challenges, and the distinct role of riflemen in the Napoleonic battles.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe journals and letters within \"A British Rifle Man\" encompass a broad range of topics, painting a vivid picture of military life. Simmons describes battles and skirmishes in detail, offers observations on the landscapes and local populations, and reflects on military strategy and tactics. Crucially, he also shares his personal experiences and emotions, providing a ground-level view of the war's realities. This combination of tactical observation and personal reflection makes the work exceptionally valuable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLieutenant Colonel Willoughby Verner's editorial work in compiling and introducing the book is essential. His contributions provide critical context and background information, enhancing the historical value of Simmons' writings. The book is considered a significant historical document, offering crucial insights into the Peninsular War, the Waterloo campaign, and the specific role of the Rifle Brigade within these conflicts. It remains a key resource for historians and military enthusiasts seeking an authentic glimpse into the Napoleonic era.\u003cspan class=\"opt-publisher\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"opt-publisher\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arch Rare Books \u0026 Antique Prints","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49676389777675,"sku":"","price":120.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250312_104610271_iOS.jpg?v=1741861005"},{"product_id":"liberalism-and-the-social-problem-by-winston-s-churchill","title":"Liberalism and the Social Problem by Winston S. Churchill","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLondon: Hodder and Stoughton, 1909\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst edition, First printing of Winston S. Churchill's 'Liberalism and the Social Problem,' published in London by Hodder and Stoughton in 1909. This is Churchill's third book of speeches, following 'Mr. Brodrick's Army' and 'For Free Trade,' and captures a pivotal moment in his early political career. This edition includes a loose publishers pamphlet advertising 'The People's Budget Explained by the then MP and soon to be Prime Minister, David Lloyd George.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePublished during Churchill's fervent period as a progressive force within the Liberal Party, 'Liberalism and the Social Problem' showcases his attempts to navigate the complex social issues of the day. Within these pages, you'll find 21 speeches that reflect Churchill's vision for a balanced approach between traditional conservatism and radical socialism—a vision that resonates even today. This book marks a crucial juncture in Churchill's political evolution, just as he entered a Cabinet position in his mid-30s.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis offers a fascinating glimpse into Churchill's political ideology during a transformative period. In 1904, his bold move to join the Liberal Party marked a significant shift, earning him both admiration and accusations of betrayal. 'Liberalism and the Social Problem' encapsulates his efforts to champion progressive causes and shape a more equitable society. While the Liberal Party struggled to maintain the balance he sought, leading to their eventual decline and Churchill's return to the Conservatives in 1924, this book remains a vital historical document. It offers invaluable insights into the early political thought of one of the 20th century's most influential figures.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winston S. Churchill","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51100167274763,"sku":"","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250318_080619104_iOS.jpg?v=1742306355"},{"product_id":"the-mint-by-t-e-lawrence","title":"The Mint by T. E. Lawrence","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLondon: Jonathan Cape, 1955\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA Rare Glimpse into Lawrence's RAF Experience\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst UK edition, First impression, trade issue of T.E. Lawrence's \"The Mint.\" This compelling day-book offers an unprecedented insider account of Lawrence's time in the Royal Air Force depot between August and December 1922, enriched with later notes by 352087 A\/c Ross. Delayed for nearly three decades in Britain, this publication provides a raw and authentic portrayal of life in the ranks, as seen through the eyes of the legendary Lawrence of Arabia.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLawrence's ambition to document the lives of ordinary servicemen drove him to enlist in the RAF in 1922. He meticulously recorded his experiences, but his dismissal in 1923, due to unwanted publicity, halted the project. It wasn't until his posting to India in 1927 that he resumed work on \"The Mint.\" In 1928, he shared a refined manuscript with Edward Garnett, who circulated copies among a select group, including Air Marshal Trenchard. Trenchard's response led Lawrence to impose a publication embargo until at least 1950, ensuring sensitive content remained private.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo secure copyright, a limited edition of 50 copies was published in America in 1936. This 1955 UK edition, based on Lawrence's final revisions, was prepared by Jonathan Cape in 1948 but held back until after the death of an officer mentioned critically in the text. This trade issue was released simultaneously with a limited edition, marking the long-awaited public availability of Lawrence's candid and revealing work.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"T.E. Lawrence","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51100320203019,"sku":"","price":120.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250318_081744099_iOS.jpg?v=1742308505"},{"product_id":"cetywayo-his-white-neighbours-by-h-rider-haggard-with-authors-letter-to-lord-avebury","title":"Cetywayo \u0026 His White Neighbours by H. Rider Haggard with Author's Letter to Lord Avebury","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublished by Trübner, 1882\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst Edition, First Impression. One of only 750 copies printed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a remarkably well-preserved first edition of H. Rider Haggard's \"Cetywayo and His White Neighbours; or, Recent Events in Zululand, Natal, and the Transvaal,\" published by Trübner \u0026amp; Co. in 1882. This is one of only 750 copies printed, a venture for which Haggard himself paid £50, largely funded by his father. The book is presented in its original green cloth, retaining its unrestored condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAccompanying this rare edition is an original letter from H. Rider Haggard to Sir John Lubbock, Lord Avebury, dated 28th May 1903. The letter, penned from Haggard’s residence at 27 Norfolk Square, Hyde Park, London, W., expresses gratitude for a pleasant breakfast. Haggard writes, \"I trust you won't think me a great bore for trying to propagate my views. The question is really important,\" presumably highlighting the book's critical commentary on the colonial situation in South Africa. Sir John Lubbock, Lord Avebury (1834-1913), was a prominent polymath: a banker, politician, scientist, and writer. He was particularly well-known for his contributions to archaeology and his advocacy for public holidays. His wide-ranging interests and influence made him a significant figure in Victorian society, and Haggard clearly valued his opinion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCetywayo and His White Neighbours\" is Haggard's first book, a critical analysis of the complex political dynamics in South Africa during a pivotal period. Haggard's personal experiences in the region, initially sent there by his father to escape an ill-fated romance, provided the foundation for this work. Despite his initial successes in South Africa, the heartbreak of his failed romance led him to a period of instability, including a foray into ostrich farming, before his return to England in 1879. Upon his return he quickly married Louisa Margitson, and after a further spell in South Africa, he returned to England with new responsibilities. With his marriage and growing family, Haggard sought stability, leading him to pursue a career at the bar and to embark on his literary journey with this publication.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite its importance as a historical document and Haggard's first published work, \"Cetywayo and His White Neighbours\" initially met with limited success. Trübner \u0026amp; Co. agreed to publish the 750-copy edition, with the financial risk largely borne by Haggard's father. Haggard later lamented the book's \"total failure\" at the time, with only 154 copies sold nearly two years after its release. It was only after the phenomenal success of \"King Solomon's Mines\" in 1885 that public interest in his earlier work was rekindled, leading to the eventual sale of the remaining copies and subsequent editions. This presentation copy, with its accompanying letter, offers a unique glimpse into the early career of one of Victorian England's most celebrated authors and provides valuable context for understanding his later literary achievements.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"H. Rider Haggard","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51100870279435,"sku":"","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250318_083911462_iOS.jpg?v=1742315987"},{"product_id":"captain-cooks-three-voyages-first-edition-set-1773-1784-with-atlas","title":"Captain Cook - The Three Voyages, First Editions with Folio Atlas - Uniform Richly Gilt Spines, 1773-1784","description":"\u003cp data-end=\"1307\" data-start=\"1132\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1202\" data-start=\"1132\"\u003eCOOK, Captain James; HAWKESWORTH, John; KING, James; WEBBER, John.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"1205\" data-start=\"1202\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1307\" data-start=\"1205\"\u003eThe Three Voyages of Captain James Cook. First Editions, with the Folio Atlas to the Third Voyage.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1432\" data-start=\"1309\"\u003eLondon: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1773; W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1777; W. and A. Strahan for G. Nicol and T. Cadell, 1784.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1663\" data-start=\"1434\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1663\" data-start=\"1434\"\u003eFirst editions of the three official published accounts of Captain James Cook’s voyages, complete with the large folio atlas to the third and final voyage. Nine volumes in total: eight quarto text volumes and one folio atlas.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1961\" data-start=\"1665\"\u003eAn imposing first edition set of Captain James Cook’s three voyages, bringing together the official published narratives of the expeditions that transformed eighteenth-century European understanding of the Pacific, Australasia, the Antarctic seas, Hawaii and the northwest coast of North America.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2727\" data-start=\"1963\"\u003eThe first voyage, published under the editorship of John Hawkesworth, records Cook’s expedition in HMS \u003cem data-end=\"2077\" data-start=\"2066\"\u003eEndeavour\u003c\/em\u003e, including the observation of the Transit of Venus at Tahiti, the circumnavigation and charting of New Zealand, and the survey of the eastern coast of Australia. The second voyage, written by Cook himself, follows HMS \u003cem data-end=\"2308\" data-start=\"2296\"\u003eResolution\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-end=\"2324\" data-start=\"2313\"\u003eAdventure\u003c\/em\u003e through the southern oceans, during which Cook crossed the Antarctic Circle and decisively altered contemporary ideas concerning the supposed southern continent. The third voyage, completed by Captain James King after Cook’s death, records the search for a northern passage between the Pacific and Atlantic, the exploration of the northwest coast of America and the expedition’s encounters with Hawaii.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2952\" data-start=\"2729\"\u003eTogether with the folio atlas to the third voyage, containing the large-format engraved visual record after John Webber, this is one of the foundational works of Pacific exploration and eighteenth-century voyage literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"2975\" data-start=\"2954\" data-section-id=\"1ol2rfw\"\u003eFormat and Binding\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3048\" data-start=\"2977\"\u003eNine volumes, comprising eight quarto text volumes and one folio atlas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3377\" data-start=\"3050\"\u003eThe set is unified by a particularly handsome series of uniform, richly gilt spines, expertly restored and finished in an eighteenth-century style, with raised bands, contrasting morocco lettering pieces, gilt numbered labels and elaborate ornamental tooling. Arranged together, the volumes have exceptional shelf presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3831\" data-start=\"3379\"\u003eThe three volumes of the First Voyage and the two volumes of the Second Voyage retain their earlier boards. The three text volumes of the Third Voyage, together with the folio atlas, are in sympathetic later boards bound in keeping with the period style of the set. The restoration has been carried out with considerable care, producing a visually coherent collection while retaining the earlier boards of the first two voyage accounts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"3848\" data-start=\"3833\" data-section-id=\"1q0q14s\"\u003eFirst Voyage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"4155\" data-start=\"3850\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"3880\" data-start=\"3850\"\u003eHAWKESWORTH, John, editor.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"3883\" data-start=\"3880\"\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"4155\" data-start=\"3883\"\u003eAn Account of the Voyages undertaken by the Order of His Present Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere, and successively performed by Commodore Byron, Captain Wallis, Captain Carteret, and Captain Cook, in the Dolphin, the Swallow, and the Endeavour.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"4208\" data-start=\"4157\"\u003eLondon: Printed for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1773.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"4251\" data-start=\"4210\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"4251\" data-start=\"4210\"\u003eFirst edition. Three volumes, quarto.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"4563\" data-start=\"4253\"\u003eThe official published account incorporating Cook’s first voyage aboard HMS \u003cem data-end=\"4340\" data-start=\"4329\"\u003eEndeavour\u003c\/em\u003e, undertaken between 1768 and 1771. After observing the Transit of Venus at Tahiti, Cook proceeded to New Zealand and the eastern coastline of Australia, producing charts and observations of lasting geographical importance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"4815\" data-start=\"4565\"\u003eIllustrated with the engraved frontispiece portrait of Captain Cook by J. K. Sherwin after Nathaniel Dance-Holland, together with engraved maps, charts and folding plates. This copy includes the frequently absent Chart of the Straits of Magellan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"4943\" data-start=\"4817\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"4832\" data-start=\"4817\"\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Castle Goring; with the pictured armorial bookplate of John Belts and ownership inscription of John F. Bullar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"5323\" data-start=\"4945\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"4959\" data-start=\"4945\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e The three volumes retain their earlier boards, with uniformly restored and richly gilt spines matching the remainder of the set. Some foxing throughout, more evident in Volumes II and III, with occasional offsetting, minor staining and light marginal worming in Volume II. The boards show light spotting and age-related wear, remaining attractive in presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-end=\"5341\" data-start=\"5325\" data-section-id=\"cioh6e\"\u003eSecond Voyage\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"5529\" data-start=\"5343\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"5367\" data-start=\"5343\"\u003eCOOK, Captain James.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"5370\" data-start=\"5367\"\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"5529\" data-start=\"5370\"\u003eA Voyage Towards the South Pole, and Round the World. Performed in His Majesty’s Ships the Resolution and Adventure, in the Years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"5582\" data-start=\"5531\"\u003eLondon: Printed for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1777.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"5623\" data-start=\"5584\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"5623\" data-start=\"5584\"\u003eFirst edition. Two volumes, quarto.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"6011\" data-start=\"5625\"\u003eCook’s own account of his second voyage, undertaken in HMS \u003cem data-end=\"5696\" data-start=\"5684\"\u003eResolution\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-end=\"5712\" data-start=\"5701\"\u003eAdventure\u003c\/em\u003e in search of the supposed southern continent. During the expedition Cook became the first recorded navigator to cross the Antarctic Circle, while also visiting and recording Easter Island, Tahiti, the Marquesas, New Caledonia, South Georgia and numerous other islands and coastlines of the Pacific.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"6317\" data-start=\"6013\"\u003eIllustrated with the engraved portrait of Cook and the celebrated series of maps, charts, views and portraits associated with the voyage, including the pictured engravings of the Man of Easter Island and the Man of the Island of Tanna, after drawings made during the expedition by William Hodges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"6705\" data-start=\"6319\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"6333\" data-start=\"6319\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e The two volumes retain their earlier boards, with expertly restored and elaborately gilt uniform spines. Internally especially appealing, with the engraved plates and maps notably clean. Previous owner’s signature and bookplate to the pastedowns, together with minor pencil notes. The folding map and frontispiece have received professional repairs at the original folds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"6722\" data-start=\"6707\" data-section-id=\"1nk29j9\"\u003eThird Voyage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"7054\" data-start=\"6724\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"6773\" data-start=\"6724\"\u003eCOOK, Captain James, and KING, Captain James.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"6776\" data-start=\"6773\"\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"7054\" data-start=\"6776\"\u003eA Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Undertaken, by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere; to Determine the Position and Extent of the West Side of North America, its Distance from Asia, and the Practicability of a Northern Passage to Europe.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"7126\" data-start=\"7056\"\u003eLondon: Printed by W. and A. Strahan for G. Nicol and T. Cadell, 1784.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"7169\" data-start=\"7128\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"7169\" data-start=\"7128\"\u003eFirst edition. Three volumes, quarto.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"7641\" data-start=\"7171\"\u003eThe official account of Cook’s third and final voyage, undertaken in HMS \u003cem data-end=\"7256\" data-start=\"7244\"\u003eResolution\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-end=\"7272\" data-start=\"7261\"\u003eDiscovery\u003c\/em\u003e between 1776 and 1780. The expedition sought a navigable northern passage between the Pacific and Atlantic, exploring the northwest coast of North America and advancing into the northern Pacific and Arctic waters. It was during this voyage that Cook reached Hawaii, where he was killed in 1779; the published narrative was subsequently completed by Captain James King.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"7766\" data-start=\"7643\"\u003eThe text volumes contain the engraved maps and plans documenting the geographical course and discoveries of the expedition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"8063\" data-start=\"7768\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"7782\" data-start=\"7768\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e In sympathetic later boards bound in a period style to complement the earlier volumes, with richly gilt restored spines uniform with the First and Second Voyages and the atlas. Some offsetting within the text, otherwise a clean and strongly presented set of the narrative volumes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"8099\" data-start=\"8065\" data-section-id=\"mti227\"\u003eFolio Atlas to the Third Voyage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"8174\" data-start=\"8101\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"8130\" data-start=\"8101\"\u003eWEBBER, John, and others.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"8133\" data-start=\"8130\"\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"8174\" data-start=\"8133\"\u003eAtlas to A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"8189\" data-start=\"8176\"\u003eLondon: 1784.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"8229\" data-start=\"8191\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"8229\" data-start=\"8191\"\u003eFirst edition. Folio atlas volume.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"8604\" data-start=\"8231\"\u003eThe large-format atlas accompanying Cook’s third voyage, containing the engraved visual record of the expedition after drawings by John Webber, the official artist aboard HMS \u003cem data-end=\"8418\" data-start=\"8406\"\u003eResolution\u003c\/em\u003e. Its plates record the landscapes, coastal views, portraits and material cultures encountered during the voyage, giving visual form to the final and most dramatic of Cook’s expeditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"8784\" data-start=\"8606\"\u003eThe atlas contains the engraved plates and maps issued to accompany the three quarto narrative volumes of the Third Voyage, and is essential to the full presentation of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"9163\" data-start=\"8786\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"8800\" data-start=\"8786\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e In sympathetic later boards bound in keeping with the period style of the set, with a richly gilt restored spine matching the eight quarto volumes. Some foxing and damp staining, with wear towards the edges of the final section. Despite these imperfections, the folio plates remain imposing and the atlas gives the set its full visual and historical scope.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"9200\" data-start=\"9165\" data-section-id=\"1fnqfpi\"\u003eOverall Condition and Importance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"9746\" data-start=\"9202\"\u003eA highly decorative and substantial first edition set of the official accounts of Captain James Cook’s three voyages, complete with the folio atlas to the Third Voyage. The nine volumes are distinguished by their uniform, elaborately gilt and expertly restored spines, giving the collection considerable presence when shelved together. The earlier boards of the First and Second Voyages have been retained, while the Third Voyage and atlas are sympathetically bound in later boards in keeping with the eighteenth-century style of the group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"10059\" data-start=\"9748\"\u003eFrom the exploration and charting of New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia, through the southern voyages beyond the Antarctic Circle, to Hawaii and the search for a northern passage along the northwest coast of America, Cook’s published voyages stand among the defining records of maritime exploration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"10226\" data-start=\"10061\"\u003eA commanding first edition set for a collection of Pacific voyages, exploration, cartography, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii or eighteenth-century travel literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"10394\" data-start=\"10228\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"10243\" data-start=\"10228\"\u003eReferences:\u003c\/strong\u003e Beddie, \u003cem data-end=\"10288\" data-start=\"10252\"\u003eBibliography of Captain James Cook\u003c\/em\u003e, 648, 1216 and 1543; Holmes, 5, 24 and 47; Sabin 30934 and related entries; Hill 782 and related entries.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Captain James Cook","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51140047110411,"sku":"","price":37500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250325_103113002_iOS_4108ce00-ffbb-44f3-b76d-b47f8aca8f48.jpg?v=1742904793"},{"product_id":"william-bligh-voyage-south-sea-mutiny-bounty-first-edition-1792","title":"William Bligh - A Voyage to the South Sea: The Mutiny on the Bounty - First Edition, 1792","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"2214\" data-end=\"2555\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2214\" data-end=\"2233\"\u003eBLIGH, William.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2233\" data-end=\"2236\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2236\" data-end=\"2555\"\u003eA Voyage to the South Sea, Undertaken by Command of His Majesty, for the Purpose of Conveying the Bread-Fruit Tree to the West Indies, in His Majesty’s Ship the Bounty; Including an Account of the Mutiny on Board the Said Ship, and the Subsequent Voyage of Part of the Crew, in the Ship’s Boat, from Tofoa to Timor.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2557\" data-end=\"2634\"\u003eLondon: Printed for George Nicol, Bookseller to His Majesty, Pall-Mall, 1792.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2636\" data-end=\"2923\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2636\" data-end=\"2923\"\u003eFirst edition of the full official account of the voyage of HMS \u003cem data-start=\"2702\" data-end=\"2710\"\u003eBounty\u003c\/em\u003e, the mutiny led by Fletcher Christian, and William Bligh’s extraordinary open-boat voyage to Timor. With an additional eighteenth-century engraved chart of Pitcairn Island, the eventual refuge of the mutineers.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2925\" data-end=\"3320\"\u003eQuarto. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Captain William Bligh by J. Condé after John Russell; illustrated with seven further engraved plates, charts and plans, including folding material: the plan and section of the \u003cem data-start=\"3143\" data-end=\"3151\"\u003eBounty\u003c\/em\u003e showing the arrangements made for transporting breadfruit plants, the plan of the ship’s launch, the plate of the breadfruit tree and the charts relating to the voyage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3322\" data-end=\"3860\"\u003eBligh’s \u003cem data-start=\"3330\" data-end=\"3357\"\u003eA Voyage to the South Sea\u003c\/em\u003e is the first full published account of the expedition that gave rise to the most celebrated mutiny in maritime history. HMS \u003cem data-start=\"3482\" data-end=\"3490\"\u003eBounty\u003c\/em\u003e sailed for Tahiti with the Admiralty-backed purpose of gathering breadfruit plants for transplantation to the West Indies. After months spent at Tahiti, the ship departed with its living cargo; on 28 April 1789, near the Friendly Islands, Fletcher Christian and his supporters seized control of the vessel and forced Bligh and eighteen loyal men into the ship’s launch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3862\" data-end=\"4246\"\u003eThe ordeal that followed established Bligh’s reputation as a navigator. With severely limited provisions and no chart adequate to the whole journey, he brought the crowded open boat across thousands of miles of ocean to Timor. His account is at once an official defence of his command, a major Pacific voyage narrative and one of the central books in the history of maritime survival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4248\" data-end=\"4611\"\u003eThe work had been preceded in 1790 by Bligh’s shorter \u003cem data-start=\"4302\" data-end=\"4327\"\u003eNarrative of the Mutiny\u003c\/em\u003e. The present volume gives the full account of the expedition, incorporating a revised version of the mutiny narrative. The text was prepared from Bligh’s journal by Captain James Burney under the supervision of Sir Joseph Banks while Bligh was absent on his second breadfruit voyage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4613\" data-end=\"5189\"\u003eOf particular appeal in this copy is the accompanying loose engraved plate, “A Chart and Views of Pitcairn’s Island,” originally issued with Hawkesworth’s account of Captain Philip Carteret’s discovery of the island in 1767. Pitcairn later became inseparable from the \u003cem data-start=\"4885\" data-end=\"4893\"\u003eBounty\u003c\/em\u003e story: in 1790 Fletcher Christian and the remaining mutineers reached the island and established the remote settlement in which they hoped to evade discovery. The presence of this contemporary chart gives the volume a compelling visual connection with the final chapter of the mutineers’ flight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"7p0o7w\" data-start=\"5191\" data-end=\"5215\"\u003eBinding and Condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5217\" data-end=\"5456\"\u003eBound in period half calf over marbled boards, the spine simply ruled in gilt and lettered “Bligh’s Voyage” in gilt. Housed in a later fitted brown leather solander box, the spine lettered in gilt “Bligh’s Voyage to the South Sea.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5458\" data-end=\"6003\"\u003eBinding rubbed and worn, with scuffing to the marbled boards and wear at the spine ends and joints, but remaining sound and attractive in character. Internally with foxing and some staining, particularly to the portrait frontispiece and title-page opening, together with occasional offsetting and age-toning to the folding plates and charts. The engraved material remains striking, especially the plan of the \u003cem data-start=\"5867\" data-end=\"5875\"\u003eBounty\u003c\/em\u003e fitted for the breadfruit plants. The accompanying Pitcairn chart shows some staining and handling wear, but presents strongly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"6005\" data-end=\"6365\"\u003eA highly desirable first edition of Bligh’s complete account of the \u003cem data-start=\"6073\" data-end=\"6081\"\u003eBounty\u003c\/em\u003e expedition and mutiny, enhanced by the additional contemporary engraved chart of Pitcairn Island and preserved in a fitted leather box. An important book for a collection of maritime history, Pacific exploration, naval voyages, Tahiti, Pitcairn Island or the history of HMS \u003cem data-start=\"6356\" data-end=\"6364\"\u003eBounty\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"6367\" data-end=\"6431\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"6367\" data-end=\"6382\"\u003eReferences:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ferguson 125; Hill 135; Sabin 5910; Wantrup 62a.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"William Bligh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51141296554251,"sku":"","price":10000.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250325_104151898_iOS.jpg?v=1742913603"},{"product_id":"david-collins-new-south-wales-1798-1804-complete-tree-calf-set","title":"David Collins - An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales - 1798 and 1804 - The Earliest Substantial History of Australian Settlement","description":"\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"j85q8d\" data-start=\"1421\" data-end=\"1687\"\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003eCOLLINS, DAVID. \u003cem data-start=\"1440\" data-end=\"1494\"\u003eAn Account of the English Colony in New South Wales.\u003c\/em\u003e The Earliest Substantial Historical Account of Australian Settlement. 1798 First Edition and 1804 Expanded Second Edition, Complete with All Maps and Plates, Finely Bound in Uniform Tree Calf.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1689\" data-end=\"2053\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOLLINS, Lieutenant-Colonel David\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1689\" data-end=\"1708\"\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem data-start=\"1709\" data-end=\"1983\"\u003eAn Account of the English Colony in New South Wales: with Remarks on the Dispositions, Customs, Manners, \u0026amp;c. of the Native Inhabitants of that Country. To which are added, some Particulars of New Zealand; compiled, by permission, from the MSS. of Lieutenant-Governor King.\u003c\/em\u003e London: Printed by A. Strahan for T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies, 1798.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2055\" data-end=\"2069\"\u003eTogether with:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2071\" data-end=\"2735\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2071\" data-end=\"2109\"\u003eCOLLINS, Lieutenant-Colonel David.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem data-start=\"2110\" data-end=\"2670\"\u003eAn Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, from its First Settlement in January 1788, to August 1801: with Remarks on the Dispositions, Customs, Manners, \u0026amp;c. of the Native Inhabitants of that Country. To which are added, some Particulars of New Zealand; compiled, by permission, from the MSS. of Lieutenant-Governor King; and an Account of a Voyage performed by Captain Flinders and Mr. Bass; by which the Existence of a Strait separating Van Diemen's Land from the Continent of New Holland was ascertained. Abstracted from the Journal of Mr. Bass.\u003c\/em\u003e London: Printed by A. Strahan for T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1804.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2737\" data-end=\"2938\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2737\" data-end=\"2938\"\u003eThe 1798 first edition paired with the revised and expanded second edition of 1804. Ferguson 263 and 390; Wantrup 19 and 21. Complete with all maps and plates called for in the respective editions.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2940\" data-end=\"3330\"\u003eTwo quarto volumes. Finely bound as a uniform set in full tree calf, the richly mottled boards enclosed within elaborate gilt foliate borders. The spines are densely gilt in compartments with repeated scallop and star tooling, red morocco title labels and dark green morocco volume labels lettered in gilt; marbled endpapers and speckled edges complete a handsome and imposing presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3332\" data-end=\"3948\"\u003eAn exceptional pairing of David Collins's foundational account of New South Wales, the earliest substantial historical account of Australian settlement. Collins sailed with the First Fleet and served as Judge-Advocate and Secretary to Governor Arthur Phillip, positions that placed him at the centre of the colony's civil administration and gave him unusual access to its official life, hardships, developing institutions and earliest relations with Aboriginal communities. His account was the fullest and most detailed history of the new colony to have appeared by the time of its publication in London in 1798.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3950\" data-end=\"4612\"\u003eThe particular significance of this set lies in the presence of two distinct and complementary forms of Collins's work. The first book is the original first edition of 1798, preserving Collins's earliest published account of the settlement during its formative First Fleet years. Alongside it is the expanded second edition of 1804, a revised account extending the narrative to August 1801 and incorporating additional exploration and natural history material. Bound together in matching tree calf, the two volumes allow the collector to place the original appearance of Collins's history beside its later, expanded and more richly illustrated recension.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4614\" data-end=\"5339\"\u003eThe 1798 first edition is one of the fundamental printed sources for early Australia. It records the establishment of the colony, the practical struggles of settlement and administration, questions of punishment and governance, the natural environment, and Collins's observations of Aboriginal people, their customs and ceremonies. Its engraved illustrations include early views of the colony and significant visual records of Indigenous Australian subjects, associated with drawings by the convict artist Thomas Watling. Present in this volume are the engraved portrait of Collins, maps and views including the Governor's House at Rose Hill, Parramatta, together with all other plates and maps called for by the edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5341\" data-end=\"6014\"\u003eThe 1804 second edition greatly enriches the pairing. Published after the original first-edition sequence of 1798 and 1802, it presents Collins's account in revised and expanded form, with the important narrative of the voyage undertaken by Matthew Flinders and George Bass, by which the strait separating Van Diemen's Land from mainland Australia was established. It is also particularly desirable for its illustrated natural history content, including the striking hand-coloured plate of the Menura, or lyrebird, shown here, together with the further coloured and engraved material present as issued. All maps and plates required for the 1804 edition are present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"6016\" data-end=\"6588\"\u003eHaving both books together is of considerable historical and collecting interest. The 1798 first edition presents Collins's earliest and most immediate printed account of the settlement; the 1804 edition shows how that foundational narrative developed, bringing the story forward, adding the Bass and Flinders exploration material and enriching the visual record with hand-coloured natural history plates absent from the 1798 volume in this form. The set therefore brings together the origins of Collins's work with its expanded and more visually compelling later edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"6590\" data-end=\"7194\"\u003eCollins's account remains important across several fields: as an early history of British settlement in Australia; as a primary source for the administration and daily struggles of the colony; as a record, shaped by the colonial perspective of its period, of encounters with Aboriginal communities; and as a major publication in the history of Australian exploration, cartography and natural history. Its incorporation of material relating to New Zealand and, in the 1804 edition, the voyage of Bass and Flinders, extends its significance across the wider history of the Pacific and southern exploration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"7196\" data-end=\"7619\"\u003eThe volumes are magnificently presented in uniform full tree calf, with densely gilt spines and contrasting morocco labels creating exceptional shelf presence. Internally, there is scattered foxing, browning and light offsetting in places, consistent with an illustrated work of this date. The maps and engraved plates retain good definition, while the hand-coloured natural history plates provide particular visual appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"7621\" data-end=\"7979\"\u003eA superbly bound and complete pairing of Collins's earliest substantial historical account of Australian settlement: the first edition of 1798 accompanied by the expanded and illustrated second edition of 1804, together preserving the earliest form of the text and its later development in a set of exceptional historical, cartographical and visual interest.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"David Collins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51141597724939,"sku":"","price":7500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250325_104523449_iOS.jpg?v=1742918634"},{"product_id":"john-barrow-voyage-to-cochinchina-1806-first-edition-vietnam","title":"John Barrow - The First Illustrated English Book on Vietnam - A Voyage to Cochinchina, 1806 - First Edition","description":"\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"x54o38\" data-start=\"1301\" data-end=\"1459\"\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003eBARROW, JOHN. \u003cem data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1344\"\u003eA Voyage to Cochinchina.\u003c\/em\u003e First Edition, 1806. The First Illustrated English Work on Vietnam, with Hand-Coloured Aquatints and Folding Maps.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1461\" data-end=\"2004\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1461\" data-end=\"1483\"\u003eBARROW, John, Sir.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem data-start=\"1484\" data-end=\"1938\"\u003eA Voyage to Cochinchina, in the Years 1792 and 1793: Containing a General View of the Valuable Productions and the Political Importance of this Flourishing Kingdom; and also of such European Settlements as were Visited on the Voyage: with Sketches of the Manners, Character, and Condition of their Several Inhabitants. To which is Annexed, An Account of a Journey, Made in the Years 1801 and 1802, to the Residence of the Chief of the Booshuana Nation.\u003c\/em\u003e London: Printed for T. Cadell and W. Davies, in the Strand, 1806.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2006\" data-end=\"2478\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2006\" data-end=\"2478\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression. Quarto. Illustrated with 19 hand-coloured aquatint plates after William Alexander and Samuel Daniell, engraved by Thomas Medland, including a folding panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro, together with two folding engraved maps: a hand-coloured plan of the harbour and town of Rio de Janeiro, and a chart of the southern extremity of Africa with the route marked in red. Abbey, Travel 514; Cordier, Sinica 2390-2391; Mendelssohn I, p.89; Tooley 86; Hill 66.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2480\" data-end=\"2916\"\u003eAn exceptionally attractive copy of a major early illustrated account of Vietnam, described by Hill as the first illustrated English work on the country. Barrow's narrative arose from the outward voyage of Lord Macartney's embassy to China, during which he travelled by way of Madeira, the Canary Islands, Rio de Janeiro, Tristan da Cunha, the Cape of Good Hope and Batavia before reaching Cochinchina, now southern and central Vietnam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2918\" data-end=\"3476\"\u003eThe book's importance lies equally in its text and its remarkable suite of illustrations. Its hand-coloured aquatints record landscapes, buildings, maritime scenes, natural history and local life encountered across a voyage spanning the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea. Among the most striking are the folding panoramic views of the land surrounding the harbour of Rio de Janeiro, the finely detailed plan of the town and harbour, and the richly coloured scenes including a wounded shark beside a fishing canoe and the Calvinist Church at Batavia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3478\" data-end=\"3924\"\u003eBarrow's account of Cochinchina draws substantially upon the manuscript memoir of Captain Barissy, a French naval officer who had served the King of Cochinchina and had acquired detailed knowledge of the region. At a time when English readers had access to very little reliable visual or descriptive material concerning Vietnam, the publication offered a significant early account of its geography, products, political importance and inhabitants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3926\" data-end=\"4590\"\u003eThe work is also of considerable interest for Brazil and southern Africa. Barrow's description of Rio de Janeiro is accompanied by some of the most appealing images in the volume, including the folding harbour panorama and hand-coloured plan. Annexed to the voyage is an account of an expedition made in 1801 and 1802 to the residence of the chief of the Booshuana nation, now more commonly referred to in relation to the Tswana peoples. This appended section includes the folding chart of southern Africa and further aquatints after Samuel Daniell, extending the book's significance beyond Southeast Asian travel into African exploration and ethnographic history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4592\" data-end=\"4938\"\u003eThe volume is bound in contemporary calf boards, sympathetically rebacked in matching calf, the spine gilt in compartments with black morocco labels lettered in gilt “Voyage to Cochinchina” and “Barrow.” The boards retain their period gilt-ruled borders and display the mellow patina of a substantial early nineteenth-century travel book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4940\" data-end=\"5364\"\u003eThe binding shows rubbing, scratching and surface wear to the boards, with heavier wear near the joints and upper edges, entirely consistent with age and use. Internally, the title page shows light offsetting from the adjacent folding map and occasional age-related toning and spotting are present. The folding maps and hand-coloured aquatints remain visually impressive, with the colouring retaining considerable freshness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5366\" data-end=\"5729\"\u003eA highly desirable first edition of one of the earliest and most important English illustrated books concerning Vietnam, further enriched by its fine hand-coloured views of Rio de Janeiro, Batavia and southern Africa. A compelling volume for collections of Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Brazil, African exploration, maritime travel, cartography and colour-plate books.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"John Barrow","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51141669880075,"sku":"","price":3900.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20240808_152217232_iOS_cee522c9-e1b5-46f5-bff7-0bf4214a2e41.jpg?v=1779862222"},{"product_id":"a-handbook-on-anti-mau-mau-operations-a-fascinating-insight-into-the-mau-mau-uprising-in-kenya","title":"A Handbook on Anti-Mau Mau Operations | A Fascinating Insight into the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Handbook on Anti-Mau Mau Operations\" is a historically significant, albeit controversial, document providing a primary source perspective on British military strategies during the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya during the 1950s. This handbook, compiled under the direction of George Erskine, Commander-in-Chief of the East Africa Command, details the operational procedures and tactics employed to suppress the Kenyan liberation movement. This particular copy is especially unique, bearing annotations throughout that offer practical, often stark, medical and tactical advice. For example, notes such as \"do not give morphia for head wounds, inject into biceps\" reveal the harsh realities of the conflict and the on-the-ground medical practices of the time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdding to the book's intrigue is the inclusion of Stanley \"Davo\" Davidson's \"Ten Commandments,\" a set of tactical guidelines likely used by British forces during the operations. Stanley \"Davo\" Davidson was a remarkable figure in East Africa, serving as a Sergeant Major in the Kenya Regiment and the King's African Rifles (KAR). Renowned for his exceptional firearms expertise and small arms tactical knowledge, he played a crucial role in the counter-insurgency efforts. Despite his formidable military reputation, he was known as a non-drinker and non-swearing individual, adding an unexpected layer of complexity to his character. His inclusion in this annotated handbook provides a direct link to the practical, often brutal, realities faced by those involved in the Mau Mau Uprising. This annotated copy of the handbook offers a rare and compelling glimpse into the operational realities and personal insights of those involved in this pivotal period of Kenyan and British colonial history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"George Erskine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51141786861835,"sku":"","price":395.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250325_105445950_iOS.jpg?v=1742922727"},{"product_id":"t-e-lawrence-contributor-a-brief-record-of-the-advance-of-the-egyptian-expeditionary-force-under-the-command-of-general-sir-edmund-h-h-allenby-july-1917-to-october-1918","title":"T.E. Lawrence (Contributor). A Brief Record of The Advance of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force under the Command of General Sir Edmund H.H. Allenby. July 1917 to October 1918","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduced by the Government Press and Survey of Egypt, 1919, Cairo\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eFirst edition, original buff card wrappers with red cloth spine. A Brief Record of the Advance of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force\" stands as a crucial historical document, meticulously detailing the British campaign in Palestine and Syria during the tumultuous years of World War I. Under the command of General Edmund Allenby, the book chronicles the period between July 1917 and October 1918, a time marked by significant military operations and complex political maneuvers within the Middle Eastern theater. It serves as a primary source for understanding the strategic complexities and pivotal events of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, a period that ultimately led to the conquest of these strategically important regions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA particularly noteworthy aspect of this publication is the inclusion of two articles penned by the enigmatic T.E. Lawrence: \"Sherifian Co-operation in September\" and \"Story of the Arab Movement.\" These contributions are significant as they represent some of Lawrence's earliest published accounts of the Arab Revolt. Offering firsthand perspectives, they provide invaluable insights into the role of the Arab forces, particularly their innovative guerrilla warfare tactics employed against the Ottoman Empire. Lawrence's writings, derived from his notes for the Arab Bureau, predate his later, more widely known works, making them essential for understanding his evolving perspective on the campaign.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompiled from official sources and published by the Palestine News, the book was produced by the Government Press and Survey of Egypt in Cairo in 1919. Beyond the textual accounts, the publication is distinguished by its detailed color maps, which vividly illustrate the military advances and the geographical context of the campaign. Additionally, a frontispiece featuring General Allenby adds a personal touch to the official record. Consequently, this publication holds significant interest for historians, collectors, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of World War I and its ramifications in the Middle East. It serves as a testament to a pivotal period in history, combining official military documentation with the unique perspective of a key figure in the Arab Revolt.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"T.E. Lawrence","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51142049136907,"sku":"","price":300.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250325_110048884_iOS.jpg?v=1742924415"},{"product_id":"my-african-journey-winston-churchill-first-edition-1908","title":"My African Journey - Winston Spencer Churchill, 1908","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"583\" data-end=\"601\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMY AFRICAN JOURNEY, Winston S. Churchill\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"583\" data-end=\"601\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLondon: Hodder and Stoughton, 1908.First edition, first impression.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"696\" data-end=\"909\"\u003eOctavo. Photographic frontispiece, 46 photographic plates and 3 maps. Bound in the original red cloth, with the spine lettered and ruled in gilt, and the front cover lettered and decorated in black, blue and grey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"911\" data-end=\"1207\"\u003eA bright and highly desirable copy of Winston Churchill’s account of his 1907 journey through British East Africa, written at a moment when the young statesman was already transforming himself from soldier, journalist and adventurer into one of the most recognisable political figures of the age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1209\" data-end=\"1781\"\u003eChurchill travelled through what is now Kenya and Uganda while serving as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. The journey gave him material for one of his most energetic early books: a work of travel, politics, hunting and imperial observation, first serialised in the Strand Magazine before appearing in book form in 1908. It is Churchill in a particularly revealing phase - still full of youthful appetite for danger and spectacle, but already thinking like a minister about railways, administration, public health, commerce and the future of British East Africa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1783\" data-end=\"2245\"\u003eThe book is especially prized for its breadth. Churchill writes of the Uganda Railway, District Officers, the landscapes of East Africa, the promise and contradictions of colonial development, the problem of sleeping sickness, and the drama of big game hunting, including rhinoceros. Few of his early books combine so naturally the public and private Churchill: the sportsman, the traveller, the journalist and the politician all appearing in the same narrative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2247\" data-end=\"2554\"\u003eThis copy is particularly attractive in the original decorated cloth, the red boards remaining unusually bright. The endpapers are clean, with no inscriptions. Sourced from a private collection in South Africa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2556\" data-end=\"2663\"\u003eBibliographical references: Cohen A27.1; Czech, African Big Game Hunting, p. 37; Woods, Artillery of Words.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2665\" data-end=\"2885\"\u003eA handsome copy of one of Churchill’s most engaging pre-war works, and an important title for collectors of Churchill, African travel, British East Africa, Kenya, Uganda, colonial history and big game hunting literature.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winston S. Churchill","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51403532468491,"sku":"","price":2200.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250513_160208181_iOS.jpg?v=1747245051"},{"product_id":"london-to-ladysmith-via-pretoria-by-winston-s-churchill","title":"London to Ladysmith via Pretoria by Winston S. Churchill","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLondon: Longmans, Green and Co., 1900.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst Edition, First Impression. London to Ladysmith via Pretoria is a pivotal work in the early career of Winston S. Churchill, offering a thrilling and immediate account of his experiences as a war correspondent during the tumultuous Second Boer War (1899-1902). Published in 1900, this first edition captures Churchill's daring adventures and astute observations, solidifying his reputation as a man of action and a formidable literary talent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe volume is primarily composed of 27 letters and telegrams dispatched by Churchill to the Morning Post between October 26, 1899, and March 10, 1900. As Churchill himself noted in his introductory remarks, the book is \"mainly a personal record of my adventures and impressions during the first five months of the African War. It may also be found to give a tolerably coherent account of the operations conducted by Sir Redvers Buller for the Relief of Ladysmith.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, what truly captivated readers then, and continues to do so today, is Churchill's dramatic capture by Boer forces, his subsequent imprisonment in a prisoner-of-war camp in Pretoria, and his audacious escape. This daring feat of ingenuity and courage, which saw him travel hundreds of miles through enemy territory, became a sensation and played a significant role in cementing his public image as a heroic figure. His escape garnered international headlines and marked him as a man of extraordinary character and resilience, qualities that would define his later political career.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDescription:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOctavo (20.5 cm x 14 cm). Original light brown cloth, spine lettered in red and gilt with a gilt flagstaff motif, front cover lettered in red and black with a striking black line-drawing of the armoured train. Black endpapers. Features a vibrant colour folding map frontispiece and two additional folding maps. Complete with the 32-page publisher's catalogue at the rear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA well-preserved copy of this sought-after first edition. Original light brown cloth shows some minor foxing, as is common with age. An expert and discreet repair has been made to the top edge of the spine, ensuring the book's structural integrity while maintaining its aesthetic appeal. The gilt lettering and motif on the spine remain bright. Internally clean and tight; maps are crisp and without tears.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winston S. Churchill","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51536276881675,"sku":"","price":950.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250604_064013345_iOS.jpg?v=1749035475"},{"product_id":"ian-hamiltons-march-a-first-edition-by-winston-churchill","title":"Ian Hamilton's March: A First Edition by Winston Churchill","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"opt-published-by\"\u003ePublished by\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"opt-publisher\"\u003eLongmans, Green, \u0026amp; Co., London, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"opt-publish-date\"\u003e1900\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"opt-publish-date\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst edition, first printing. \u003c\/span\u003eThis is an exceptionally bright and tight example of the British first edition, first printing, first issue of Churchill's fifth published book. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn October 1899, the second Boer War erupted between the descendants of Dutch settlers in South Africa and the British. Churchill, an adventure-seeking young cavalry officer and war correspondent, swiftly found himself in South Africa with the 21st Lancers and an assignment as press correspondent to the Morning Post. Not long thereafter, on 15 November 1899, Churchill was captured during a Boer ambush of an armored train. His daring escape less than a month later rendered him a celebrity and helped launch his political career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChurchill's first book of Boer War dispatches, London to Ladysmith via Pretoria, was published in England in mid-May 1900 and sold well. Ian Hamilton's March completes Churchill's coverage of the Boer War, publishing 17 letters to the Morning Post, spanning 31 March through 14 June 1900. The narrative in Ian Hamilton's March includes the liberation of the Pretoria prison camp where Churchill had been held.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThough a companion and sequel to London to Ladysmith, it is notably different in appearance, content, and scarcity. The first printing saw only 5,000 copies – half as many copies as London to Ladysmith. Where Ladysmith bore a lavishly illustrated binding, Ian Hamilton's March was bound in red cloth matching the style of Churchill's first published book, The Story of the Malakand Field Force – fitting, as these were the first and last Churchill first editions published by Longmans, Green, and Co.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile London to Ladysmith via Pretoria had swiftly published Churchill's dispatches in the wake of his capture and escape, for Ian Hamilton's March \"the texts of the originally published letters were more extensively revised and four letters were included which had never appeared in periodical form\" (Cohen, A8.1.a, Vol. I, p.105). Churchill effected these revisions while on board the passenger and cargo steamer Dunottar Castle, which was requisitioned as a troop ship, en route home to England. Arriving home from South Africa in July 1900, Churchill spent the summer campaigning hard in Oldham, where he won his first seat in Parliament on 1 October 1900 in the so-called \"khaki election\". The British first edition of Ian Hamilton's March was published just a few weeks later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"opt-publish-date\"\u003eWhile the front board shows a water stain, this copy of Ian Hamilton's March is otherwise in very good condition. The contents are unusually bright with a pleasingly crisp, unread feel. The original black endpapers, frontispiece, tissue guard, and all maps and plans remain intact, with no reportable wear, soiling, fading, or blemishes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"opt-publish-date\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winston S. Churchill","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51536721314059,"sku":"","price":950.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250604_065453830_iOS.jpg?v=1749041015"},{"product_id":"the-war-that-will-end-war-by-h-g-wells","title":"The War That Will End War by H.G. Wells.","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublished by Frank \u0026amp; Cecil Palmer, \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLondon, 1914\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst Edition, First Impression. A scarce first edition of H.G. Wells' influential collection of essays, The War That Will End War. Published in 1914, at the very outset of World War I, this seminal work captures the initial shock and grim hope of the era. Wells, a prominent social commentator and visionary, compiles his immediate reactions and analyses of the conflict, advocating for a fundamental shift in international relations to prevent future global conflagrations. The titular phrase, while now seen with tragic irony, was coined by Wells himself and reflects a then-widespread, if naive, belief that the immense scale of the war would necessitate a complete overhaul of the global political order, leading to permanent peace. This volume offers a crucial contemporary perspective on the early days of one of history's most devastating conflicts.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWells, like many at the time, was deeply affected by the sudden eruption of such a large-scale conflict. His essays in this volume reflect a mix of shock, analysis, and a rather idealistic hope that the sheer destructive power of the war would force humanity to evolve beyond traditional power politics. He argued for the necessity of a new world order, a more rational and collaborative international system, to prevent such a catastrophe from ever happening again. While his vision of a lasting peace was not realised, the book remains a powerful historical document, offering insight into the contemporary intellectual and emotional responses to the initial stages of World War I. It also showcases Wells's enduring belief in human progress and the potential for reason to overcome conflict, even in the face of unprecedented violence.\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"H.G. 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Single folded sheet forming six printed pages in triptych format. Includes cover portrait of Kipling by John Collier and an interior illustration of “A Gentleman in Kharki” by R. Caton Woodville. The poem is printed in facsimile of Kipling’s manuscript.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn excellent copy of this ephemeral item, with only light foxing to the upper panel, uncommon in such condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rudyard Kipling","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51974835994891,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/TheAbsentMindedBeggar_2.jpg?v=1753166170"},{"product_id":"soldier-tales-by-rudyard-kipling","title":"Soldier Tales by Rudyard Kipling","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLondon: Macmillan and Co., 1896.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"317\" data-end=\"765\"\u003eA fine copy of in first edition of Kipling’s evocative collection of short stories drawn from the ranks of the British Army at the height of Empire. Octavo, original publisher’s blue cloth, gilt titles to spine and front panel, with elaborate pictorial gilt tooling of military motifs. Triple gilt rules to upper board, all edges gilt. Frontispiece with tissue guard; illustrated throughout with fine engravings by A. S. Hartrick. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"767\" data-end=\"1028\"\u003eContains seven tales including “The Courting of Dinah Shadd,” “The Drums of the Fore and Aft,” and “The Man Who Was,” showcasing Kipling’s masterful depiction of soldierly life, duty, and honor. Published the same year as the American edition, but preceding it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1030\" data-end=\"1316\"\u003eA fine copy. Bright and unfaded, with sharp corners and strong gilt. Internally clean and crisp throughout, free of foxing or ownership marks. A remarkably well-preserved example of this visually striking volume, seldom found in such condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1471\"\u003eA cornerstone Kipling title, and a superb addition to any collection of Victorian literature, military fiction, or finely illustrated 19th-century books.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rudyard Kipling","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51993975554315,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250725_143704070_iOS.jpg?v=1753613137"},{"product_id":"scott-s-last-expedition-first-edition-1913-with-admiral-edward-evans-autograph-a-direct-link-to-the-terra-nova","title":"Scott’s Last Expedition – First Edition (1913), with Admiral Edward Evans Autograph – A Direct Link to the Terra Nova","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLondon: Smith, Elder \u0026amp; Co., 1913. First Edition, two volumes in original cloth.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1913, Scott’s Last Expedition stands as one of the greatest works of exploration literature - the journals and scientific records brought back from the fateful Terra Nova voyage, and the last words of Captain Robert Falcon Scott himself. When news reached Britain that Scott and his companions had perished within sight of their supply depot, the nation mourned, and this two–volume set became the monument to their courage, sacrifice, and tragedy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVolume I contains Scott’s own journals, ending with his now–immortal words, “for God’s sake look after our people.” Volume II offers the scientific reports, the hard–won fruit of years spent in the world’s harshest climate - geology, zoology, and studies from Dr. Edward Wilson and the other survivors. Together, they form not only a memorial to Scott but also a triumph of discovery, capturing both the human drama and the scientific purpose of the expedition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis set is made all the more evocative by the inclusion of an autograph card signed by Admiral Edward Evans, second–in–command of the expedition and captain of the Terra Nova. Evans - later Admiral Lord Mountevans - marched with Scott toward the Pole until stricken by scurvy. Near death, he was dragged back to base by his men, his survival a narrow escape. It was Evans who later commanded the ship home, carried the news of Scott’s fate to the world, and remained one of the expedition’s most vocal chroniclers. His signature alongside these volumes provides a tangible and deeply personal link to the inner circle of Scott’s party.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBound in the original publisher’s navy cloth, gilt–lettered, with photogravure frontispieces, panoramas, folding maps, and plates after Herbert Ponting’s haunting photographs. The set shows the usual darkening to the spines and some scattered foxing, but the contents are generally clean, the plates sharp and vivid. Evans’ signed compliments card is loose, well preserved, and presented with the books.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Robert Falcon Scott","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52117062517003,"sku":null,"price":600.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20250823_140924959_iOS.jpg?v=1756047810"},{"product_id":"call-for-the-dead-john-le-carre-first-edition-gollancz-1961","title":"Call for the Dead - John le Carré - First Edition, Gollancz 1961","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"206\" data-end=\"611\"\u003eThe first edition of John le Carré’s celebrated debut novel, published in 1961 by Victor Gollancz. \u003cem data-start=\"310\" data-end=\"329\"\u003eCall for the Dead\u003c\/em\u003e introduces George Smiley, the character who would become one of the most distinctive figures in espionage literature. Le Carré’s debut is not only a remarkable spy story in its own right but also the foundation stone of a body of work that redefined the genre for the modern age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"613\" data-end=\"1138\"\u003eThis copy is bound in the publisher’s vivid red cloth, a hallmark of Gollancz firsts. The boards remain square and clean, the spine lettering legible with only light age-toning. Internally, the book is sound, with slight spotting to end-papers and page edges, entirely consistent with age. Lacking the dust jacket, as is common, yet still a well-preserved and highly desirable example of this elusive first printing. This copy belonged to le Carré’s agent at the time, though it bears no signature or ownership inscription.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"John le Carré","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52452288725259,"sku":null,"price":1250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20251021_075956401_iOS.jpg?v=1761064089"},{"product_id":"the-mint-by-t-e-lawrence-1","title":"The Mint by T. E. Lawrence","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLondon: Jonathan Cape, 1955\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA Rare Glimpse into Lawrence's RAF Experience\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst UK edition, First impression, trade issue of T.E. Lawrence's \"The Mint.\" This compelling day-book offers an unprecedented insider account of Lawrence's time in the Royal Air Force depot between August and December 1922, enriched with later notes by 352087 A\/c Ross. Delayed for nearly three decades in Britain, this publication provides a raw and authentic portrayal of life in the ranks, as seen through the eyes of the legendary Lawrence of Arabia.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLawrence's ambition to document the lives of ordinary servicemen drove him to enlist in the RAF in 1922. He meticulously recorded his experiences, but his dismissal in 1923, due to unwanted publicity, halted the project. It wasn't until his posting to India in 1927 that he resumed work on \"The Mint.\" In 1928, he shared a refined manuscript with Edward Garnett, who circulated copies among a select group, including Air Marshal Trenchard. Trenchard's response led Lawrence to impose a publication embargo until at least 1950, ensuring sensitive content remained private.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo secure copyright, a limited edition of 50 copies was published in America in 1936. This 1955 UK edition, based on Lawrence's final revisions, was prepared by Jonathan Cape in 1948 but held back until after the death of an officer mentioned critically in the text. This trade issue was released simultaneously with a limited edition, marking the long-awaited public availability of Lawrence's candid and revealing work.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"T.E. Lawrence","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52821082341643,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260113_132732662_iOS.jpg?v=1768329341"},{"product_id":"sir-walter-raleigh-the-history-of-the-world-in-five-books-1677","title":"Sir Walter Raleigh - The History of the World, in Five Books (1677)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLondon: Printed for Robert White, T. Basset, R. Chiswell, G. Dawes, and T. Sawbridge, 1677. Folio.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA substantial and handsome seventeenth-century edition of Sir Walter Raleigh’s History of the World, written during his imprisonment in the Tower of London between 1603 and 1616. This edition includes, as issued, “The Life of Sir Walter Raleigh,” “The Arraignment of Sir Walter Raleigh,” and related documentary material appended to the main text \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIllustrated with an engraved frontispiece portrait, decorative black-and-red title page, eight folding double-page maps and battle plans, and two charts within the text. Text printed in double columns throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe work traces universal history from the Creation to the Roman conquest of Asia and Macedon, structured in five books covering Biblical history, the ancient Near East, Greece, and the Hellenistic world. Although ostensibly a universal history, Raleigh’s narrative has long been understood as containing veiled commentary on kingship, tyranny, and the conduct of princes - an interpretation that led King James I to suppress the book shortly after publication, ordering unsold copies confiscated for being “too saucy in censuring Princes” \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRaleigh, the famed Elizabethan explorer and courtier, dedicated the work to Prince Henry, whose early death in 1612 contributed to the unfinished nature of the project; the history breaks off earlier than Raleigh originally intended. Shortly after his release from imprisonment in 1616, Raleigh undertook a final expedition to South America, was accused of violating a peace treaty with Spain, and was executed in 1618.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinding: \u003c\/strong\u003eRebound in later quarter leather with marbled paper boards, spine gilt.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"253\" data-end=\"267\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"267\" data-end=\"270\"\u003eVery good overall. Rebound in later quarter leather with marbled paper boards, spine gilt. The text block is sound and complete. There is evidence of early water damage to the lower margins of the opening leaves, which has been professionally stabilised and sympathetically repaired by a skilled conservator. The repairs are neat and unobtrusive, with no loss of text or impact to legibility. Elsewhere, expected age-toning and light staining consistent with a seventeenth-century folio. Folding maps and plans present and in good condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA cornerstone of early modern English historiography and political thought, and one of the most significant books produced by an English author in the seventeenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sir Walter Raleigh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52821097513227,"sku":null,"price":800.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260113_125958066_iOS_2ca7f4ea-45df-440c-b9c9-92b1c74780b9.jpg?v=1768331386"},{"product_id":"signals-for-the-royal-navy-and-ships-under-convoy","title":"SIGNALS for the ROYAL NAVY and SHIPS Under CONVOY…","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJ. Millan, facing ye Admiralty [London], undated [but 1746].\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst Edition.\u003c\/strong\u003e A rare survival of the second “Signal Book proper” for use in the Royal Navy, following Greenwood’s 1714 issue. This compact and practical manual, titled in full:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cem\u003eSIGNALS for the ROYAL NAVY and SHIPS Under CONVOY, Sailing \u0026amp; Fighting Instructions, ARTICLES OF WARR, REGULATIONS for Duty of Every Officer in His Majesty’s SEA SERVICE. Given by ye Lords of ye Admiralty, to the Flag \u0026amp; other Officers. With ye Additional Signals of Adm. Vernon \u0026amp;c., \u0026amp; ye FLAGS of all NATIONS.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis small but richly detailed handbook provided the British fleet with standardised sailing and fighting instructions, articles of war, and signalling codes, together with the flags of all nations and the latest signals attributed to Admiral Vernon. It marks a decisive moment in the codification of naval communication during Britain’s emergence as a global maritime power.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e12mo (7 x 4 in \/ 18 x 10 cm). 22 pp., thumb-indexed. All flags finely and vividly hand-coloured throughout, a feature that brings exceptional visual richness to this mid-eighteenth-century naval manual. Bound in contemporary mottled calf, sympathetically preserved with expert repairs to the raised bands, ensuring the integrity of the original spine structure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis copy bears the armorial bookplate of Sir William Abdy, 6th Baronet (c.1732–1803), and is signed and dated by him “April 2ᵈ 1759” to the front pastedown. Abdy began his seafaring career with the Honourable East India Company in 1750 aboard the True Briton and later the Stafford, before transferring into the Royal Navy, where he commanded H.M.S. Beaver (1761–1766). He was promoted to post captain shortly thereafter.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA handsome and historically resonant example, notable both for its complete suite of hand-coloured signal plates and its distinguished naval provenance. The thumb indexing remains intact, the plates retain strong early pigment, and the text is clean for its age.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA significant rarity - seldom encountered in commerce - representing one of the earliest and most authoritative printed codifications of British naval signals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"J. Millan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52822161555723,"sku":null,"price":3500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260401_153043507_iOS.jpg?v=1775058309"},{"product_id":"roald-amundsen-s-signed-expedition-carried-copy-of-nansen-s-fram-over-polhavet-1897","title":"Roald Amundsen’s Signed, Expedition-Carried Copy of Nansen’s Fram over Polhavet (1897)","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"268\" data-end=\"470\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"268\" data-end=\"289\"\u003eNANSEN, Fridtjof.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem data-start=\"290\" data-end=\"343\"\u003eFram over Polhavet. Den Norske Polarfærd 1893–1896.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"343\" data-end=\"346\"\u003eKristiania: H. Aschehoug \u0026amp; Co., 1897.\u003cbr data-start=\"383\" data-end=\"386\"\u003eTwo volumes, 8vo. First edition in Norwegian. Original publisher’s green gilt cloth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"472\" data-end=\"627\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"472\" data-end=\"557\"\u003eRoald Amundsen’s personal, signed, and expedition-carried copy, with both volumes signed and inscribed by him:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"557\" data-end=\"560\"\u003e“Medfulgt på alle mine reiser” - \u003cem data-start=\"593\" data-end=\"627\"\u003e“Accompanied on all my travels.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"629\" data-end=\"1137\"\u003eFridtjof Nansen was \u003cem\u003ethe\u003c\/em\u003e central figure of nineteenth-century polar exploration: the first man to cross the Greenland ice cap, the architect of the \u003cem data-start=\"776\" data-end=\"782\"\u003eFram\u003c\/em\u003e expedition of 1893–1896, and the originator of the drifting-ice strategy that carried exploration closer to the North Pole than ever before. \u003cem data-start=\"924\" data-end=\"944\"\u003eFram over Polhavet\u003c\/em\u003e is the foundational text of modern polar travel, recording not only the narrative of the expedition but the methods, discipline, and scientific philosophy that reshaped exploration thereafter. The work was published in English shortly thereafter as Farthest North, the title under which it became internationally known.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1139\" data-end=\"1542\"\u003eRoald Amundsen built his own achievements directly upon Nansen’s work. He adopted Nansen’s techniques, planning, and polar systems, and ultimately sailed Nansen’s ship \u003cem data-start=\"1307\" data-end=\"1313\"\u003eFram\u003c\/em\u003e itself — first with the intention of a North Pole expedition, and later, famously, to Antarctica. This set represents the direct intellectual and practical inheritance between the two greatest figures in Norwegian polar history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1544\" data-end=\"2339\"\u003eThis is Amundsen’s own working copy, signed and inscribed by him with the extraordinary declaration that it “accompanied [him] on all [his] travels.” Among the very few books Amundsen chose to carry repeatedly, this set travelled with him on his major expeditions, including the Northwest Passage voyage in \u003cem data-start=\"1851\" data-end=\"1857\"\u003eGjøa\u003c\/em\u003e and the expedition that culminated in his attainment of the South Pole. The present state of the volumes - including structural wear, loosened hinges, and stressed bindings - is wholly consistent with repeated packing, handling, and consultation under expedition conditions, and provides compelling physical corroboration of Amundsen’s inscription. Few books in the history of exploration can claim such sustained and intimate association with the achievements they helped inspire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2341\" data-end=\"2761\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2341\" data-end=\"2356\"\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Roald Amundsen (1872–1928), signed and inscribed by him; thereafter retained within the Amundsen family; Christie’s, Polar Exploration \u0026amp; Travel sale, 27 September 2006; subsequently held in the Odfjell Collection, one of the most important Norwegian polar libraries of the modern era. The provenance is complete, uninterrupted, and entirely consistent with the historical importance of the object itself.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nansen, Fridtjof","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52848683417867,"sku":null,"price":24500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260113_123819220_iOS.jpg?v=1769522219"},{"product_id":"u-s-foreign-policy-shield-of-the-republic-walter-lippmann-presentation-copy-to-air-chief-marshal-lord-portal","title":"U. S. Foreign Policy: Shield of the Republic - Walter Lippmann - Presentation Copy to Air Chief Marshal Lord Portal","description":"\u003cp\u003eLIPPMANN, Walter. U. S. Foreign Policy: Shield of the Republic. Boston: Little, Brown and Company \/ Atlantic Monthly Press, 1943.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst edition, published June 1943. Inscribed by Walter Lippmann on the front free endpaper: “Sir Charles Portal with best regards Walter Lippmann, Washington, May 18, 1943.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA remarkable wartime association copy, presented by one of the defining American public intellectuals of the twentieth century to one of Britain’s most important wartime commanders. Lippmann was not merely a journalist, but a political thinker of international consequence: a founding editor of The New Republic, the long-serving author of the syndicated column “Today and Tomorrow,” a confidant of presidents, and one of the writers whose ideas helped shape the language of modern political debate. His work on public opinion, democracy, policy, and international order gave him unusual influence in American political life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe recipient, Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, later Lord Portal of Hungerford, was Chief of the Air Staff and one of Churchill’s principal military advisers. He stood at the centre of Allied air strategy, the bomber offensive, RAF expansion, and the developing Anglo-American military partnership. In May 1943, when this copy was inscribed in Washington, questions of American power, post-war settlement, Atlantic security, and the direction of Allied strategy were immediate matters of war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe association is therefore unusually strong. U. S. Foreign Policy: Shield of the Republic was Lippmann’s argument for a realistic American foreign policy suited to a new global role. Portal was one of the men helping to determine how that power would be applied in practice. This copy links the intellectual framing of American policy with the operational command of the Allied air war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginal blue cloth with gilt spine titles. Very good condition, binding firm, cloth clean with light rubbing to extremities and slight wear at spine ends. Contents clean and lightly toned, with the inscription clear and well preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Walter Lippmann","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53073293869323,"sku":null,"price":2000.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260512_072054701_iOS_f89f1339-dee8-4549-abfd-690e39ac2cdf.jpg?v=1778576856"},{"product_id":"r-a-f-occasions-by-h-g-first-edition-inscribed-to-air-chief-marshal-sir-charles-portal","title":"R.A.F. Occasions by Hubert Griffith - First Edition Presentation Copy to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, with Portal’s Own Wartime Annotations","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"258\" data-end=\"330\"\u003eGRIFFITH, Hubert. \u003cstrong data-start=\"276\" data-end=\"297\"\u003eR.A.F. Occasions.\u003c\/strong\u003e London: The Cresset Press, 1941.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"332\" data-end=\"673\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression. Original cream cloth, lettered in red to the spine. A distinguished wartime association copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper: \u003cstrong data-start=\"497\" data-end=\"600\"\u003e“To Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, with respect, from a former member of an R.E.8 Squadron…”\u003c\/strong\u003e signed by the author and dated \u003cstrong data-start=\"632\" data-end=\"672\"\u003eR.A.F. Station, Blackpool, June 1941\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"675\" data-end=\"1060\"\u003eFrom the personal collection of Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, later Lord Portal of Hungerford, wartime Chief of the Air Staff and one of the most important British military figures of the Second World War. Portal directed the RAF through the critical middle years of the conflict, shaping bomber strategy, air defence, operational expansion, and Anglo-American air cooperation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1062\" data-end=\"1278\"\u003eOf particular interest, this copy includes notes made by Portal in the text, apparently relating to his own service and experience, giving the volume a direct personal association beyond the presentation inscription.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1280\" data-end=\"1432\"\u003eThe contents cover squadron life, Cambrai, Coastal Command, the B.E.F. in France, evacuation, recruiting, bomber crews, and the philosophy of air crews.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1434\" data-end=\"1638\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eVery good condition. Binding firm, cloth lightly toned and marked, spine slightly darkened, with small spots and minor rubbing. Internally clean and sound, with inscription and annotations well preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GRIFFITH, Hubert","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53073295474955,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260512_072225172_iOS.jpg?v=1778578743"},{"product_id":"one-marine-s-tale-leslie-hollis-first-edition-presentation-copy-to-air-chief-marshal-portal","title":"One Marine’s Tale - Leslie Hollis - First Edition Presentation Copy to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal","description":"\u003cp\u003eHOLLIS, Leslie. One Marine’s Tale. London: Andre Deutsch, 1956.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst edition, first impression. Original blue cloth in the publisher’s dust jacket, priced 15s net. With a foreword by General Lord Ismay. A highly significant presentation copy, inscribed by Hollis on the front free endpaper: “With the author’s regards, To Hollis, June 1956.” From the personal collection of Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, later Lord Portal of Hungerford, wartime Chief of the Air Staff.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHollis was far more than a military memoirist. As staff officer to Winston Churchill, he served at the heart of Britain’s wartime command structure, acting as a vital liaison between the Prime Minister and the Chiefs of Staff. He accompanied Churchill to major foreign conferences and was closely involved in the machinery of high command. Before the war, from 1936, Hollis helped establish Britain’s Central Defence Organisation and was one of the architects of the Cabinet War Rooms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe association with Portal is especially strong. Portal, as Chief of the Air Staff, was one of Churchill’s most important military advisers and a central figure in Allied air strategy, Bomber Command policy, RAF expansion, and Anglo-American coordination. Hollis and Portal belonged to the small circle of men through whom Churchill’s strategic direction was translated into military action. A presentation copy from Hollis, preserved in Portal’s library, is therefore a direct link between two figures embedded in the highest operational and political levels of the British war effort.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe memoir ranges from Hollis’s First World War service as a Royal Marine to his Second World War role beside Churchill, with valuable recollections of Churchill’s working habits, conferences, and command style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery good condition. Jacket with rubbing, toning, and a chip to the upper front panel; book firm and clean, with inscription clearly preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Leslie Hollis","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53073346003211,"sku":null,"price":1000.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260424_142640925_iOS.jpg?v=1777106439"},{"product_id":"sixty-years-of-power-earl-of-swinton-air-chief-marshal-lord-portal-association-copy","title":"Sixty Years of Power - Earl of Swinton - Air Chief Marshal Lord Portal Association Copy","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"151\"\u003eSWINTON, The Earl of, in collaboration with James Margach. \u003cstrong data-start=\"59\" data-end=\"125\"\u003eSixty Years of Power: Some Memories of the Men Who Wielded It.\u003c\/strong\u003e London: Hutchinson, 1966.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"153\" data-end=\"514\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression. Original red cloth with gilt spine lettering on a black title panel, in the publisher’s dust jacket, priced 35s net. From the personal collection of \u003cstrong data-start=\"335\" data-end=\"368\"\u003eAir Chief Marshal Lord Portal\u003c\/strong\u003e, with his ownership inscription \u003cstrong data-start=\"401\" data-end=\"427\"\u003e“Portal of Hungerford”\u003c\/strong\u003e to the front free endpaper, and with the West Ashling House, Chichester stamp beneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"516\" data-end=\"974\"\u003eA compelling association copy. Swinton, formerly Philip Cunliffe-Lister, was Secretary of State for Air from 1935 to 1938, during the vital pre-war period of RAF expansion and rearmament. Portal, later Chief of the Air Staff, became one of the central architects of British air strategy during the Second World War. Their careers meet at one of the most important points in modern British history: the political creation of air power and its wartime command.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"976\" data-end=\"1615\"\u003eThe book itself surveys many of the statesmen who shaped Britain across six decades, including Baldwin, Chamberlain, Churchill, Attlee, Macmillan and Douglas-Home. Portal knew many of these figures not as distant political names, but as colleagues, ministers and strategic decision-makers. Swinton’s memoir is concerned with the exercise of power at cabinet level, while Portal’s career embodied the military application of that power in wartime. This copy therefore links three layers of authority: Swinton the political insider, Portal the wartime air commander, and the prime ministers whose decisions formed the world they both served.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1617\" data-end=\"1795\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eVery good condition. Binding firm and clean, with light handling only. Dust jacket very good, lightly toned and rubbed, with small chips and short closed tears to the upper edge.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Earl of Swinton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53073747968267,"sku":null,"price":300.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260424_143604387_iOS.jpg?v=1777129724"},{"product_id":"no-7-squadron-r-f-c-peter-wilson-air-chief-marshal-lord-portal-association-copy","title":"No. 7 Squadron R.F.C. - Peter Wilson - Air Chief Marshal Lord Portal Association Copy","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"149\" data-end=\"293\"\u003eWILSON, Peter. \u003cstrong data-start=\"164\" data-end=\"210\"\u003eNo. 7 Squadron R.F.C.: The Diary of A.G.W.\u003c\/strong\u003e Aylesbury: Hunt, Barnard \u0026amp; Co., privately printed, n.d. [c. post-First World War].\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"295\" data-end=\"693\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression. A privately printed account of No. 7 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, in original blue cloth, lettered in dark blue to the upper board. Illustrated with a group photograph of the officers of No. 7 Squadron R.F.C., dated May 1918. From the personal collection of \u003cstrong data-start=\"587\" data-end=\"620\"\u003eAir Chief Marshal Lord Portal\u003c\/strong\u003e, with his ownership inscription \u003cstrong data-start=\"653\" data-end=\"665\"\u003e“Portal”\u003c\/strong\u003e to the front free endpaper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"695\" data-end=\"1103\"\u003eA highly evocative association copy. The diary was written by \u003cstrong data-start=\"757\" data-end=\"773\"\u003ePeter Wilson\u003c\/strong\u003e, whose personal record forms the basis of the volume. It captures the daily texture of an RFC corps squadron at war: artillery observation, counter-battery work, reconnaissance, contact patrols, wireless telephony, bombing duties, and the mixture of danger, routine, humour and improvisation that defined early military aviation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1105\" data-end=\"1471\"\u003eThe Portal association is especially resonant. Portal’s own military career began in the First World War, first in the Royal Engineers and then in the Royal Flying Corps, where he became a pilot and flight commander. Those early experiences shaped the whole course of his later life, culminating in his position as Chief of the Air Staff during the Second World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1473\" data-end=\"1958\"\u003eThis privately printed squadron record would have spoken directly to Portal’s memories of early air warfare. It belongs to the same formative world from which Portal emerged: fragile machines, artillery cooperation, observation flights, improvised tactics, and the gradual creation of air power as a serious arm of war. In Portal’s library, Wilson’s diary becomes more than a scarce squadron history. It is a personal bridge between the RFC of 1918 and the RAF high command of 1939-45.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1960\" data-end=\"2135\"\u003eGood condition. Cloth rubbed and marked, spine dulled, corners worn. Inner hinges tender with some exposed binding and age-toning to endpapers, but complete and sound overall.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Peter Wilson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53073751179531,"sku":null,"price":750.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260424_144019752_iOS.jpg?v=1777130732"},{"product_id":"the-royal-kalendar-and-rider-s-british-merlin-for-1803-wellesley-nelson-cornwallis","title":"The Royal Kalendar and Rider’s British Merlin for 1803 - Wellesley, Nelson, Cornwallis","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"92\" data-end=\"434\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"92\" data-end=\"111\"\u003eROYAL KALENDAR.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem data-start=\"112\" data-end=\"239\"\u003eThe Royal Kalendar: or, Complete and Correct Annual Register, for England, Scotland, Ireland, and America, for the Year 1803.\u003c\/em\u003e London: printed for J. Debrett and others, 1803. Bound with \u003cstrong data-start=\"300\" data-end=\"320\"\u003eRIDER, Cardanus.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem data-start=\"321\" data-end=\"381\"\u003eRider’s British Merlin: For the Year of Our Lord God 1803.\u003c\/em\u003e London: printed for the Company of Stationers, 1803.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"436\" data-end=\"701\"\u003eThe 1803 Royal Kalendar and Rider’s British Merlin, in contemporary red morocco, with early military ownership. Small octavo, approx. 6.5 x 4 inches, contemporary red morocco, gilt floral border to boards, gilt spine compartments, marbled endpapers, gilt edges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"703\" data-end=\"1594\"\u003eA richly informative Georgian pocket reference, combining \u003cem data-start=\"761\" data-end=\"781\"\u003eThe Royal Kalendar\u003c\/em\u003e with \u003cem data-start=\"787\" data-end=\"811\"\u003eRider’s British Merlin\u003c\/em\u003e. These annuals were practical working books, giving a ready guide to government, Parliament, the peerage, army and navy lists, public offices, courts, markets, chronology, coinage, heraldry, roads, fairs and useful tables. Rider’s \u003cem data-start=\"1043\" data-end=\"1059\"\u003eBritish Merlin\u003c\/em\u003e also preserves the older almanac tradition, including seasonal and astrological material, with advice on diet, health and temperament, alongside dates of markets and practical information for daily life. Cardanus Rider is often said, though probably wrongly, to have been the pseudonym of Richard Saunders, medical practitioner and astrologer, a member of the circle of William Lilly. Rider’s \u003cem data-start=\"1453\" data-end=\"1469\"\u003eBritish Merlin\u003c\/em\u003e first appeared in 1653 and continued annually into the nineteenth century. \u003cem data-start=\"1545\" data-end=\"1565\"\u003eThe Royal Kalendar\u003c\/em\u003e was first published in 1767.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1596\" data-end=\"2399\"\u003eThis 1803 volume is especially evocative for its moment. Arthur Wellesley appears here before he was the Duke of Wellington, then a rising Major-General in India. In that same year he won the Battle of Assaye during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, the victory which first made his military reputation. Viscount Nelson is listed in the House of Peers, already Britain’s greatest naval hero after Cape St Vincent, the Nile and Copenhagen; in 1803, as war with Napoleonic France resumed, he returned to Mediterranean command, beginning the campaign that would culminate at Trafalgar. Charles Cornwallis appears among the Marquises, a major imperial figure, remembered for Yorktown but later Governor-General of India, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and recent negotiator of the Peace of Amiens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2401\" data-end=\"2623\"\u003eEarly ownership inscription “Lieutenant Grosvenor,” likely Thomas Grosvenor, officer in the Coldstream Guards, later General and MP, linking this copy directly to the military and parliamentary world recorded in its pages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2625\" data-end=\"2886\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eCondition: in its original contemporary red morocco binding, rubbed and worn at extremities, with joints and spine showing age, but attractive and sound. Contents age-toned with occasional marks; early pencil and ink inscriptions to front blanks. A compact, handsome and historically resonant Regency annual.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Royal Kalendar; Rider, Cardanus","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53076770816267,"sku":null,"price":600.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260426_073139050_iOS.jpg?v=1777307895"},{"product_id":"a-history-of-warfare-montgomery-sir-george-edwards-to-lord-portal-presentation-copy","title":"A History of Warfare - Montgomery - Sir George Edwards to Lord Portal Presentation Copy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN, Field-Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. A History of Warfare. \u003c\/strong\u003eLondon: Collins, St James’s Place, 1968.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst edition. Presentation copy from Sir George Edwards to Lord Portal.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA notable presentation copy, inscribed by Sir George Edwards to Lord Portal: “Lord Portal from George Edwards. Christmas 1968. with best wishes and gratitude for a wonderful nine years together.” The wording is especially significant. Portal was wartime Chief of the Air Staff and, after the war, became the first Chairman of the British Aircraft Corporation. Edwards, one of the defining figures of post-war British aviation, was closely associated with Vickers, the Viscount, VC10, BAC One-Eleven and Concorde. He served at BAC under Portal’s chairmanship and later became one of the principal British industrial champions of Concorde.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst edition, first impression. Quarto. Original red cloth, pictorial endpapers, in the original pictorial dust-wrapper. Profusely illustrated throughout with colour plates, maps, plans, diagrams and black-and-white illustrations. A large, ambitious and highly visual survey of warfare from the ancient world to the nuclear age, written by one of Britain’s most celebrated twentieth-century soldiers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inscription’s phrase, “a wonderful nine years together,” points directly to the Portal-Edwards relationship at BAC: Portal as the senior airman and chairman, Edwards as the aircraft designer, executive and industrial driving force. Their connection was therefore not casual, but one of close professional collaboration at the highest level of British aviation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Montgomery association is also apposite. Portal and Montgomery occupied different but closely connected levels of wartime command: Portal as Chief of the Air Staff and member of the Chiefs of Staff, Montgomery as the leading British field commander whose campaigns in North Africa, Normandy and north-west Europe depended heavily upon Allied air power. Portal and Montgomery knew one another well and were on first name terms, through wartime high command and post-war military circles. This gives the copy a layered association, bringing together Montgomery’s authorship, Portal’s wartime air command, and Edwards’s post-war leadership of British aircraft production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublished by Collins in 1968, the book extends to 584 pages and represents Montgomery’s late summation of military history and doctrine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: a very good copy in a good to very good dust-wrapper. The red cloth binding appears sound and bright. Internally clean and well-preserved, with the presentation inscription clear in blue ink. An excellent military and aviation association copy, linking Montgomery’s history of war with Portal’s wartime air command and Edwards’s post-war leadership of British aviation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Field-Marshal Montgomery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53077396390155,"sku":null,"price":700.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260426_075559086_iOS_d209595e-330e-422e-a7d0-bfc7f74f2a15.jpg?v=1777356917"},{"product_id":"bolo-whistler-montgomery-to-lord-portal-presentation-copy-cigs-to-wartime-air-chief","title":"Bolo Whistler - Montgomery to Lord Portal Presentation Copy, CIGS to Wartime Air Chief","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSMYTH, Brigadier The Rt Hon Sir John Smyth, Bt, VC, MC.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBolo Whistler: The Life of General Sir Lashmer Whistler, GCB, KBE, DSO, DL. A Study in Leadership.\u003c\/strong\u003e London: Frederick Muller, 1967.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst edition. Field-Marshal Montgomery presentation copy to Lord Portal.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst edition, first impression. A superb presentation copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper: “To Peter from Bernard.” The recipient was Lord Portal, known privately as Peter, wartime Chief of the Air Staff and later Marshal of the Royal Air Force. The presenter was Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, who contributes one of the forewords to this volume and was Chief of the Imperial General Staff from 1946 to 1948. This is therefore a remarkable written link from the post-war professional head of the British Army to the wartime professional head of the Royal Air Force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book was written by Brigadier Sir John Smyth, Bt, VC, MC, soldier, politician and military author. Smyth’s own decorations were hard-won: he received the VC in 1915 after carrying bombs forward under intense fire with most of his party killed or wounded, and later received the MC for gallantry in Waziristan. He was well placed to write a study of leadership, and here writes about General Sir Lashmer “Bolo” Whistler, one of Montgomery’s most admired fighting commanders. Montgomery’s printed tribute appears on the dust-wrapper: “He was about the best infantry brigade commander I knew.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe association is exceptional. Montgomery and Portal stood at the summit of Britain’s wartime command structure: Portal as the air strategist and Chief of the Air Staff, Montgomery as the leading British field commander and later head of the Army. Presentation inscriptions between figures of this rank are rarely encountered, and the use of Portal’s familiar name, “Peter”, gives this copy a personal immediacy far beyond a formal ownership association.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA distinguished military biography transformed by a remarkable high-command presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: octavo, original black cloth, red spine label lettered in gilt, red top edge, in the original red dust-wrapper. With photographic plates throughout. A very good copy in a good to very good dust-wrapper. The jacket shows rubbing, handling wear and edge wear, with wear to the spine ends and corners, together with noticeable sunning and fading to the spine panel. The binding is sound and clean, the contents well-preserved, and Montgomery’s presentation inscription is clear and legible.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sir John Smyth","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53077451407627,"sku":null,"price":2500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260426_072547417_iOS.jpg?v=1777359862"},{"product_id":"ian-fleming-octopussy-and-the-living-daylights-first-edition-lord-portal-copy","title":"Ian Fleming Octopussy and The Living Daylights - First Edition - Lord Portal Copy","description":"\u003cp data-end=\"395\" data-start=\"342\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"395\" data-start=\"342\"\u003eFLEMING, Ian. Octopussy and The Living Daylights.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"425\" data-start=\"397\"\u003eLondon: Jonathan Cape, 1966.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"555\" data-start=\"427\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"555\" data-start=\"427\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression, in the first issue dust jacket, from the personal library of Air Chief Marshal Lord Portal.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"779\" data-start=\"557\"\u003eOctavo. Publisher’s dark brown\/black cloth boards, lettered in silver to the upper board and spine, grey marbled endpapers, original Richard Chopping dust jacket, correctly priced \u003cstrong data-end=\"753\" data-start=\"737\"\u003e10s. 6d. net\u003c\/strong\u003e to the front flap. 95 pp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1356\" data-start=\"781\"\u003eA particularly attractive first edition of Fleming’s final James Bond book, published posthumously by Jonathan Cape in 1966 and collecting the two title stories only: \u003cem data-end=\"959\" data-start=\"948\"\u003eOctopussy\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-end=\"986\" data-start=\"964\"\u003eThe Living Daylights\u003c\/em\u003e. Later editions would absorb further Bond stories, but the true first presents Fleming’s last Bond material in its original, spare Cape form. The jacket is one of Richard Chopping’s most memorable late designs for the series, with the shell, fish and flies set against a pale wood-grain background, a macabre and faintly tropical visual conclusion to the Bond sequence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1909\" data-start=\"1358\"\u003eThis copy has excellent provenance, coming from the personal library of Air Chief Marshal Lord Portal, one of the most important British air commanders of the Second World War. A direct personal association between Fleming and Portal is not claimed here, but the wartime context is highly appropriate: Fleming served in Naval Intelligence, while Portal stood at the summit of British air strategy, and surviving records show their worlds could overlap in matters of intelligence and weapons policy during the war. \u003cspan data-state=\"closed\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2413\" data-start=\"1911\"\u003eCondition: a very good to near fine copy. The binding is clean and bright, with the silver lettering still fresh. Contents clean, with light natural toning and a few small spots visible to the text block and occasional leaves. The unclipped first issue jacket presents very well indeed, with strong colour, only light toning to the pale panels, minor rubbing and small nicks to extremities, and slight wear at spine tips and corners. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FLEMING, Ian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53082712506635,"sku":null,"price":550.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260428_074615133_iOS.jpg?v=1777541518"},{"product_id":"donald-mccullough-question-mark-presentation-copy-to-lord-and-lady-portal","title":"Donald McCullough Question Mark - Presentation Copy to Lord and Lady Portal","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"134\" data-end=\"199\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"134\" data-end=\"199\"\u003eMcCULLOUGH, Donald. Question Mark: A Journey Round the World.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"201\" data-end=\"225\"\u003eLondon: Paul Elek, 1949.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"227\" data-end=\"337\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"227\" data-end=\"337\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression, presentation copy from Donald and Nan McCullough to Lord and Lady Portal.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"339\" data-end=\"818\"\u003eOctavo. Original blue cloth, gilt aircraft device to upper board, gilt titles to spine, illustrated throughout by Fougasse, folding route map, original yellow pictorial dust jacket, priced 7\/6 net to the front flap. 164 pp. Presentation inscription to the front free endpaper: \u003cstrong data-start=\"616\" data-end=\"700\"\u003e“Peter - Joan, with love from Nan and Donald McCullough. Park House, June 1952.”\u003c\/strong\u003e “Peter” was the familiar name of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Portal, and Joan was his wife, Lady Joan Portal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"820\" data-end=\"1346\"\u003eA charming and highly personal presentation copy of McCullough’s round-the-world travel book, written after his journey to Japan for the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces. Donald McCullough was already one of Britain’s best-known broadcasting voices as the original question-master of the BBC’s wartime \u003cem data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1142\"\u003eBrains Trust\u003c\/em\u003e, a programme that made him a familiar figure to wartime listeners. The inscription, from Donald and Nan McCullough to “Peter - Joan,” gives this copy a warm private association with the Portal household.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1348\" data-end=\"1993\"\u003eThe subject matter is especially apt. McCullough’s journey takes him through Ceylon, Karachi, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, Honolulu and America, with chapters including “Atomic Economy,” “Problems of Victory,” “Point of No Return” and “Freedom from Work.” Lord Portal’s own wartime and post-war career was deeply bound up with air power and the atomic age: he served as Chief of the Air Staff during the Second World War and later as Controller of Production, Atomic Energy. This is therefore not merely a social presentation copy, but one whose themes of global air travel, post-war Japan and atomic modernity touch closely on Portal’s world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1995\" data-end=\"2228\"\u003eIllustrations are by Fougasse, the pen-name of Cyril Kenneth Bird, celebrated \u003cem data-start=\"2073\" data-end=\"2080\"\u003ePunch\u003c\/em\u003e artist and creator of the famous wartime “Careless Talk Costs Lives” poster campaign. His humorous drawings give the book much of its period charm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2230\" data-end=\"2564\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eCondition: very good in a good to very good dust jacket. Cloth bright, spine gently faded, gilt still present, contents clean and fresh. Jacket bright and attractive, with some rubbing, creasing, small chips and short tears to the extremities, especially at the spine head and corners, but retaining strong colour and presenting well.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"McCULLOUGH, Donald.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53082912162059,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260428_142656962_iOS.jpg?v=1777543207"},{"product_id":"sgt-hugh-owen-raf-flying-log-book-shot-down-on-genoa-raid-lord-portal-copy","title":"Sgt Hugh Owen RAF Log Book - Shot Down, POW Stalag Luft III - Lord Portal Copy","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"146\" data-end=\"228\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"146\" data-end=\"228\"\u003eOWEN, Sgt Hugh W. Royal Air Force Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"230\" data-end=\"262\"\u003eRoyal Air Force Form 1767, 1942.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"264\" data-end=\"586\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"264\" data-end=\"586\"\u003eOriginal Second World War RAF flying log book of Sgt Hugh W. Owen, Flight Engineer with 76 Squadron, recording Halifax training, combat operations, the Genoa raid on which he was shot down, capture in occupied France, and later POW imprisonment at Stalag Luft III. From the collection of Air Chief Marshal Lord Portal.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"588\" data-end=\"1073\"\u003eOriginal RAF blue cloth log book, upper cover titled \u003cstrong data-start=\"641\" data-end=\"706\"\u003e“Royal Air Force Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book”\u003c\/strong\u003e, with \u003cstrong data-start=\"713\" data-end=\"726\"\u003e“Owen H.”\u003c\/strong\u003e to the cover and \u003cstrong data-start=\"744\" data-end=\"758\"\u003e“Red Owen”\u003c\/strong\u003e boldly written along the fore-edge. Certificate page completed for \u003cstrong data-start=\"826\" data-end=\"848\"\u003e572232 Sgt Owen H.\u003c\/strong\u003e, qualified as \u003cstrong data-start=\"863\" data-end=\"895\"\u003eFlight Engineer, Lancaster I\u003c\/strong\u003e from 27 June 1942 at No. 4 School of Technical Training, St Athan, and then as \u003cstrong data-start=\"975\" data-end=\"1012\"\u003eFlight Engineer, Halifax I and II\u003c\/strong\u003e from 11 July 1942 with \u003cstrong data-start=\"1036\" data-end=\"1072\"\u003e76 Squadron, Middleton St George\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1075\" data-end=\"1961\"\u003eAn exceptionally important Bomber Command flying log book, moving from training to front-line operations and ending with one of the most dramatic possible entries: \u003cstrong data-start=\"1239\" data-end=\"1271\"\u003e“Operation Genoa - Missing.”\u003c\/strong\u003e The early pages record Halifax conversion and operational preparation, including local flights, cross-country work, air-to-sea firing, gunnery, fighter co-operation, three-engine flying, night flying and searchlight co-operation. Several entries have striking immediacy, including \u003cstrong data-start=\"1553\" data-end=\"1592\"\u003e“Climb to 12,500 - Evasive action,”\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong data-start=\"1593\" data-end=\"1610\"\u003e“Brakes u\/s,”\u003c\/strong\u003e and, in red ink, a searchlight co-operation flight noting the port engine feathered, oil leak and \u003cstrong data-start=\"1709\" data-end=\"1743\"\u003e“two con-rods thro crankcase.”\u003c\/strong\u003e The use of blue and black ink for routine flying, set against the red operational and incident entries, gives the log a powerful visual distinction: the danger gradually moves from training exercise to combat reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1963\" data-end=\"2273\"\u003eThe operational section is especially strong. On 23 October 1942 Owen records his first operation to \u003cstrong data-start=\"2064\" data-end=\"2073\"\u003eGenoa\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cstrong data-start=\"2075\" data-end=\"2124\"\u003e“1st Op. Genoa. 1 x 1000, 6 cans, 2 bundles,”\u003c\/strong\u003e with 9 hours 30 minutes of night operational flying. The later entry for 7 November 1942 is starkly entered in red: \u003cstrong data-start=\"2241\" data-end=\"2273\"\u003e“Operation Genoa - Missing.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2275\" data-end=\"2842\"\u003eThis refers to Halifax Mk II \u003cstrong data-start=\"2304\" data-end=\"2313\"\u003eDT515\u003c\/strong\u003e of \u003cstrong data-start=\"2317\" data-end=\"2336\"\u003eNo. 76 Squadron\u003c\/strong\u003e, part of a force of 175 RAF bombers sent against Genoa on 7 November 1942. The International Bomber Command Centre archive identifies the crew as: George Thom, Flying Sergeant, RCAF, pilot; D. J. McBride, Sergeant, RNZAF, wireless operator; Norman H. Gorfunkle, Sergeant, RAF, navigator; Larry W. Horne, Sergeant, RAF, mid-upper gunner; \u003cstrong data-start=\"2674\" data-end=\"2715\"\u003eHugh W. Owen, Sergeant, RAF, engineer\u003c\/strong\u003e; Derek L. Reed, Sergeant, RAF, rear gunner; and J. R. White, Sergeant, RCAF, bomb aimer. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2844\" data-end=\"3415\"\u003eThe IBCC account, based on pilot George Thom’s narrative and a gendarmerie report, gives a vivid account of the loss. DT515 crossed the French coast between Dunkirk and Ostend, avoiding searchlights, but was damaged by flak. Near Reims, engine trouble became severe; the aircraft could not cross the Alps on three engines with a full bomb load, the bombs were jettisoned safe, and when further engine trouble developed Thom ordered the crew to bale out. The Halifax crashed and exploded near Sexfontaines \/ Juzennecourt, Haute-Marne. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3417\" data-end=\"4115\"\u003eThe aftermath makes this log book still more important. Five of the seven crew were captured. Norman Gorfunkle was badly injured and later died in hospital at Chaumont. A gendarmerie report records that \u003cstrong data-start=\"3620\" data-end=\"3672\"\u003eHugh Owen was arrested at daybreak on 9 November\u003c\/strong\u003e, described as badly shocked, after parachuting from the aircraft. Pilot George Thom made an attempted escape route towards Switzerland, was later captured by the Gestapo near Perpignan, and was sent to a POW camp in Germany. Larry Horne, the mid-upper gunner, successfully evaded capture and returned to Britain via the Resistance and Switzerland. Reed, Owen, White and McBride were released in May 1945. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4117\" data-end=\"4627\"\u003eOwen was later held at \u003cstrong data-start=\"4140\" data-end=\"4159\"\u003eStalag Luft III\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Luftwaffe prisoner-of-war camp later famous as the site of \u003cstrong data-start=\"4224\" data-end=\"4244\"\u003ethe Great Escape\u003c\/strong\u003e. No evidence has been found that Owen himself was one of the Great Escape participants, and none of the DT515 crew names appear in the standard list of the 76 Allied airmen who escaped through tunnel “Harry” in March 1944. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The Stalag Luft III association should therefore be stated carefully, but it remains a highly significant POW connection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4629\" data-end=\"5042\"\u003eProvenance: from the collection of Air Chief Marshal Lord Portal, Chief of the Air Staff during the Second World War and the central RAF figure of Britain’s strategic air war. The association is exceptionally resonant: a front-line Halifax flight engineer’s operational log, recording training, combat, loss, capture and captivity, preserved in the collection of the man who directed the RAF at the highest level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5044\" data-end=\"5303\"\u003eCondition: very good for an operational wartime log book. The blue boards show expected service wear, light rubbing and handling, with toning to the leaves, but the binding remains sound and the manuscript entries are clear, legible and compelling throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5044\" data-end=\"5303\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCrew of Halifax Mk II DT515 - 76 Squadron - Genoa raid, 7 November 1942:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5381\" data-end=\"5970\"\u003eGeorge Thom - Flying Sergeant, RCAF - pilot - captured after attempted escape\u003cbr data-start=\"5458\" data-end=\"5461\"\u003eD. J. McBride - Sergeant, RNZAF - wireless operator - captured, released May 1945\u003cbr data-start=\"5542\" data-end=\"5545\"\u003eNorman H. Gorfunkle - Sergeant, RAF - navigator - captured, badly injured, died in hospital\u003cbr data-start=\"5636\" data-end=\"5639\"\u003eLarry W. Horne - Sergeant, RAF - mid-upper gunner - evaded capture, returned to Britain\u003cbr data-start=\"5726\" data-end=\"5729\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"5729\" data-end=\"5818\"\u003eHugh W. Owen - Sergeant, RAF - flight engineer - captured, POW, later Stalag Luft III\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"5818\" data-end=\"5821\"\u003eDerek L. Reed - Sergeant, RAF - rear gunner - captured, released May 1945\u003cbr data-start=\"5894\" data-end=\"5897\"\u003eJ. R. White - Sergeant, RCAF - bomb aimer - captured, released May 1945\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Royal Air Force","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53082934870283,"sku":null,"price":1250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260426_073731057_iOS.jpg?v=1777545520"},{"product_id":"paul-provencher-i-live-in-the-woods-presentation-copy-to-lord-portal","title":"Paul Provencher I Live in the Woods - Presentation Copy to Lord Portal","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"138\" data-end=\"232\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"138\" data-end=\"232\"\u003ePROVENCHER, Paul. I Live in the Woods: A Book of Personal Recollections and Woodland Lore.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"234\" data-end=\"292\"\u003eFredericton, New Brunswick: Brunswick Press Limited, 1953.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"294\" data-end=\"451\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"294\" data-end=\"451\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression, presentation copy from Paul Provencher to Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Portal, in a remarkably fresh dust jacket.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"453\" data-end=\"885\"\u003eOctavo. Original green cloth, gilt titles to upper board and spine, original pictorial dust jacket priced $4.00, illustrated by the author. Foreword by Colonel R. R. McCormick. Inscribed on the half-title: \u003cstrong data-start=\"659\" data-end=\"885\"\u003e“To Lord Portal. Perhaps you will have the opportunity of applying some of the ideas during your visits here. I would very much like to be with you on some such occasions. Paul Provencher. Baie Comeau Que. April 2nd 1955.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"887\" data-end=\"1387\"\u003eA superb presentation copy of Provencher’s Canadian woodland classic, linking \u003cstrong data-start=\"965\" data-end=\"1049\"\u003eMarshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford\u003c\/strong\u003e, not to wartime aviation directly, but to the post-war industrial and resource world of northern Quebec. Provencher was a Laval-trained forest engineer, woodsman, explorer and survival expert, hired in 1929 by the Quebec North Shore Paper Company at Baie-Comeau, where he became one of the defining figures of the region’s forestry life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1389\" data-end=\"2281\"\u003eThe inscription is the key. Provencher writes to Portal from \u003cstrong data-start=\"1450\" data-end=\"1465\"\u003eBaie-Comeau\u003c\/strong\u003e, hoping that he might apply the book’s ideas “during your visits here” and adding that he would like to accompany him “on some such occasions.” This strongly suggests a real personal and practical connection formed around Lord Portal’s visits to the Canadian North Shore. By the mid-1950s, \u003cstrong data-start=\"1756\" data-end=\"1802\"\u003eMarshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Portal\u003c\/strong\u003e had moved from supreme wartime air command into major industrial leadership: he was chairman of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1899\" data-end=\"1920\"\u003eBritish Aluminium\u003c\/strong\u003e from 1953 to 1958, and later chairman of the \u003cstrong data-start=\"1966\" data-end=\"1998\"\u003eBritish Aircraft Corporation\u003c\/strong\u003e. British Aluminium’s Canadian interests make the association especially resonant: Baie-Comeau became the site of a major aluminium smelter developed by Canadian British Aluminium, connecting Provencher’s forested Quebec landscape with Portal’s post-war aluminium and aircraft world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2283\" data-end=\"2772\"\u003eThe copy therefore joins three distinct histories: Provencher’s practical knowledge of the woods, Lord Portal’s transition from Chief of the Air Staff to post-war industrial statesman, and the industrial opening of remote Canadian resource country. The book itself is both memoir and manual, covering maps, compass work, winter and summer travel, shelters, tents, cooking equipment, trapping, bow and arrow, fishing, preserving food, edible and medicinal plants, and survival in the woods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2774\" data-end=\"3120\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eCondition: near fine in a very good to near fine dust jacket. The cloth is exceptionally bright and clean, gilt fresh, contents crisp. The jacket is striking, with strong colour, only light rubbing, small nicks and minor creasing at the spine head and corners. A remarkable survival in this condition, and a fine presentation copy to Lord Portal.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Provencher, Paul","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53083204124939,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260428_084458694_iOS.jpg?v=1777551938"},{"product_id":"donald-armstrong-the-reluctant-warriors-signed-copy-from-lord-portal-s-library","title":"Donald Armstrong The Reluctant Warriors - Signed Copy from Lord Portal’s Library","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"140\" data-end=\"235\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"140\" data-end=\"235\"\u003eARMSTRONG, Donald. The Reluctant Warriors: The Decline and Fall of the Carthaginian Empire.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"237\" data-end=\"279\"\u003eNew York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1966.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"281\" data-end=\"403\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"281\" data-end=\"403\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression, signed by the author, from the library of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Portal.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"405\" data-end=\"638\"\u003eOctavo. Original tan cloth, spine lettered in red and black, map, original pictorial dust jacket priced $5.95. Foreword by Admiral Arleigh Burke. Signed by the author to the front free endpaper: \u003cstrong data-start=\"600\" data-end=\"638\"\u003e“Donald Armstrong, April 9, 1967.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"640\" data-end=\"1387\"\u003eAn attractive signed copy of Armstrong’s military study of the Third Punic War, preserved in the library of \u003cstrong data-start=\"748\" data-end=\"832\"\u003eMarshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford\u003c\/strong\u003e. The exact circumstances of the association remain to be explored, but it is a highly fitting Portal provenance copy: Armstrong was a retired U.S. Army brigadier general whose wartime career lay in ordnance, industrial mobilisation, tank-automotive procurement and military education, while Lord Portal had stood at the summit of British air strategy during the Second World War and later occupied major post-war industrial roles. The shared terrain is not Carthage itself, but the larger problem of how states organise power, industry, war and survival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1389\" data-end=\"2018\"\u003eArmstrong treats the final Punic struggle not simply as ancient history, but as a study in strategic failure. His preface presents the destruction of Carthage as a contest between a militaristic Rome and a commercially minded Carthage which had abandoned war as an instrument of policy, surrendered unconditionally, and disarmed itself. The jacket is explicit in its modern analogy, describing the book as a study of cold war, propaganda, subversion, terror, blackmail, unilateral disarmament and wars of attrition. This gives the volume a distinctly 1960s strategic edge, particularly interesting in a copy owned by Lord Portal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2020\" data-end=\"2478\"\u003eArmstrong himself brought unusually practical authority to such a theme. During the Second World War he commanded or directed major U.S. Army industrial and training organisations, including the Tank-Automotive Center and the Army Industrial College, and later wrote on military and strategic history. The foreword by Admiral Arleigh Burke, wartime destroyer commander and later Chief of Naval Operations, further strengthens the book’s military credentials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2480\" data-end=\"2811\"\u003eCondition: very good in a very good dust jacket. The cloth is clean and firm, with slight toning and light handling. Contents clean and bright. The jacket presents well, with gentle age-toning, minor rubbing, light spotting and small nicks to the spine ends and corners. A pleasing signed copy with distinguished Portal provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Donald Armstrong","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53083264286987,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260428_084005618_iOS.jpg?v=1777552723"},{"product_id":"sir-frank-clarke-world-air-control-board-presentation-copy-to-lord-portal","title":"Sir Frank Clarke World Air Control Board - Presentation Copy to Lord Portal","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"143\" data-end=\"198\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"143\" data-end=\"198\"\u003eCLARKE, Sir Frank. World Air Control Board: A Plan.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"200\" data-end=\"237\"\u003eMelbourne: Robertson \u0026amp; Mullens, 1944.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"239\" data-end=\"383\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"239\" data-end=\"383\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression, presentation copy from Sir Frank Clarke, from the collection of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Portal.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"385\" data-end=\"745\"\u003eOctavo. Original printed grey paper-covered boards with pale blue ruled border, tan cloth spine, 97 pp. With the author’s compliments slip loosely inserted, inscribed in Clarke’s hand: \u003cstrong data-start=\"570\" data-end=\"653\"\u003e“With my compliments. Should not such a plan be given a hearing? Frank Clarke.”\u003c\/strong\u003e Cover subtitle: \u003cstrong data-start=\"670\" data-end=\"745\"\u003e“If nations may build commercial planes they can convert to warplanes.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"747\" data-end=\"1619\"\u003eA remarkable wartime hardback proposal for the international control of aviation, preserved in the collection of \u003cstrong data-start=\"860\" data-end=\"944\"\u003eMarshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford\u003c\/strong\u003e, Chief of the Air Staff during the Second World War. Clarke’s book is not simply about air traffic or civil aviation. It is an urgent political and military plan for preventing the next great war by controlling the means by which it might be fought. Written in 1944, before the atomic bomb had entered public consciousness, it belongs to the anxious moment when air power itself seemed the decisive threat to future civilisation. Its central fear is printed plainly on the cover: if nations are allowed to build commercial aircraft without international supervision, those same aircraft, factories, aerodromes and fuel systems may become the framework of a new bomber force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1621\" data-end=\"2300\"\u003eThe contents show the breadth of Clarke’s scheme. He imagines an Air Control Board created after the peace treaty, with authority over aircraft factories, aerodromes, civil aviation, fuel, inspection, sanctions, policing, recruiting and training. Chapter headings include \u003cstrong data-start=\"1893\" data-end=\"2069\"\u003e“Looking back from 1955,” “Difficulties at the Peace Conference and their solutions,” “First beginnings of A.C.B.,” “A.C.B. first challenged,” “Petrol and lubricating oil,”\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-start=\"2074\" data-end=\"2182\"\u003e“Retrospect - Versailles, 1919; the air clauses; the nine reflection of armed forces, Washington, 1922.”\u003c\/strong\u003e The work stands squarely in the tradition of inter-war disarmament, but sharpened by the experience of total air war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2302\" data-end=\"2886\"\u003eThe Portal provenance gives this copy exceptional force. Lord Portal was the supreme professional head of the RAF during the war, and few British readers could have been more directly connected to the questions Clarke raises: strategic bombing, civil aircraft conversion, inspection of airfields, the control of aircraft production, fuel supply, and the policing of peace from the air. Clarke’s inserted note - \u003cstrong data-start=\"2713\" data-end=\"2761\"\u003e“Should not such a plan be given a hearing?”\u003c\/strong\u003e - reads almost as an appeal to exactly the kind of figure who could understand both the promise and the danger of air power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2888\" data-end=\"3199\"\u003eCondition: very good for a fragile wartime Australian hardback. Printed boards lightly toned and handled, cloth spine browned, minor rubbing and small marks, but the printed cover remains strong, the binding sound, and the contents clean and well preserved. A rare and unusually apposite Portal provenance copy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CLARKE, Sir Frank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53083415937291,"sku":null,"price":850.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260428_075058265_iOS.jpg?v=1777556507"},{"product_id":"cover-of-darkness-by-roderick-chisholm-signed-copy-from-lord-portal-s-library","title":"Cover of Darkness by Roderick Chisholm - Signed Copy from Lord Portal’s Library","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"1242\" data-end=\"1284\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1242\" data-end=\"1284\"\u003eCHISHOLM, Roderick. Cover of Darkness.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1286\" data-end=\"1316\"\u003eLondon: Chatto \u0026amp; Windus, 1953.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1443\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1443\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression, signed by the author, from the collection of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Portal.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1445\" data-end=\"1682\"\u003eOctavo. Original blue cloth, gilt titles to spine, photographic frontispiece and plates, original pictorial dust jacket priced 12s. 6d. net. Foreword by Air Chief Marshal Sir William Elliot. Signed by Roderick Chisholm on the title page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1684\" data-end=\"2519\"\u003eA superb first edition of one of the classic first-hand accounts of RAF night-fighting, preserved in unusually fresh condition and with distinguished Portal provenance. Chisholm was no ordinary memoirist. A decorated night-fighter pilot, C.B.E., D.S.O., D.F.C., he flew with No. 604 Squadron, helped develop the techniques of radar-assisted interception, later commanded the Fighter Interception Unit, and served in the shadowy world of Bomber Command support and radio counter-measures. His book follows the development of British night-fighting from the desperate improvisation of 1940, when fighter pilots searched for enemy bombers in what the jacket calls a virtual “blind man’s buff,” through to the increasingly sophisticated use of airborne interception radar, countermeasures, deception and offensive night-fighter operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2521\" data-end=\"3220\"\u003eThe Portal provenance gives the copy a particularly fine military association. \u003cstrong data-start=\"2600\" data-end=\"2684\"\u003eMarshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford\u003c\/strong\u003e, was Chief of the Air Staff during the central years of the Second World War. Chisholm’s work sat directly within Portal’s strategic world: the defence of Britain from night bombing, the technical race in radar and interception, and the later effort to protect Bomber Command crews by disrupting the German night-fighter system. The book is dedicated “to the crews of Bomber Command,” and its account of night-fighter development, fighter interception and electronic warfare would have had obvious significance in Portal’s own library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3222\" data-end=\"3579\"\u003eThe foreword by Air Chief Marshal Sir William Elliot adds another high-level RAF connection, describing the book as “essentially a book about the air by an airman.” The jacket design, adapted from Frank Wootton’s \u003cem data-start=\"3435\" data-end=\"3461\"\u003eMosquitoes Sing at Night\u003c\/em\u003e, and the striking photographic plates of Mosquito aircraft and night operations give the volume strong visual appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3581\" data-end=\"3988\"\u003eCondition: near fine in a very good to near fine dust jacket. The blue cloth is exceptionally bright and clean, gilt fresh, contents clean and crisp. The dust jacket presents beautifully, with deep colour, only light rubbing, minor creasing and small nicks to the spine head and extremities. A notably sharp copy of a book often found tired, here signed by the author and with exceptional Portal provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CHISHOLM, Roderick","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53083779629323,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260428_142210601_iOS.jpg?v=1777568543"},{"product_id":"f-e-simon-the-neglect-of-science-1951-presentation-copy-to-lord-portal","title":"F. E. Simon - The Neglect of Science, 1951, Presentation Copy to Lord Portal","description":"\u003cp data-end=\"249\" data-start=\"112\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSIMON (Sir Francis Eugene). \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"216\" data-start=\"162\"\u003eThe Neglect of Science: Essays Addressed to Laymen \u003c\/strong\u003eOxford: Basil Blackwell, 1951.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"368\" data-start=\"251\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"368\" data-start=\"251\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression. Presentation copy from the author to Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Portal.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"619\" data-start=\"370\"\u003eOctavo. Original red cloth, gilt-lettered spine, in the original printed dust jacket priced 8\/6 net. vi, 138 pp. With the publisher’s loosely inserted order form advertising \u003cem data-end=\"572\" data-start=\"544\"\u003eThe Physical Basis of Mind\u003c\/em\u003e and Fred Hoyle’s \u003cem data-end=\"618\" data-start=\"590\"\u003eThe Nature of the Universe\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1349\" data-start=\"621\"\u003eA superb presentation copy of Simon’s timely post-war argument for scientific literacy, inscribed on the front free endpaper: \u003cstrong data-end=\"790\" data-start=\"747\"\u003e“To Lord Portal with compliments! FES.”\u003c\/strong\u003e F. E. Simon, later Sir Francis Simon, was one of Britain’s leading physicists, a Fellow of the Royal Society and an important figure in low-temperature physics and wartime atomic research, particularly work connected with uranium isotope separation. The recipient, Lord Portal, gives this copy exceptional resonance. After serving as Chief of the Air Staff during the Second World War, Portal became Controller of Production, Atomic Energy, at the Ministry of Supply from 1946 to 1951, placing him at the centre of Britain’s early post-war nuclear programme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1788\" data-start=\"1351\"\u003eThe author-recipient link is therefore unusually direct: this is a book about the national importance of science, presented by a major atomic scientist to one of the senior administrators of British atomic energy policy. Published in 1951, at the point where wartime science, nuclear power, public education and national recovery were all pressing public questions, Simon’s essays speak directly to the world Portal was helping to shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2211\" data-start=\"1790\"\u003eCondition excellent. The red cloth remains notably bright and fresh, the gilt clear, the binding firm and square, and the contents clean. The dust jacket is very well preserved, with light toning, dust-soiling and minor edge wear, but no serious loss. The survival of the jacket and inserted publisher’s order form adds considerably to the appeal. A highly desirable presentation copy, with exceptional Portal provenance. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sir Francis [Franz] Simon","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53085814587659,"sku":null,"price":600.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260501_141953402_iOS.jpg?v=1777650532"},{"product_id":"thomas-s-power-design-for-survival-inscribed-to-lord-portal-cold-war-nuclear-deterrence","title":"General Power to Air Marshal Portal - Design for Survival, Inscribed Cold War Nuclear Strategy","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"366\" data-end=\"490\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"397\" data-end=\"425\"\u003ePower, General Thomas S. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"428\" data-end=\"451\"\u003eDesign for Survival \u003c\/strong\u003eNew York: Coward-McCann, Inc., 1965.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"492\" data-end=\"637\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"492\" data-end=\"637\"\u003eFirst edition, second impression. Presentation copy from General Thomas S. Power to Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Portal of Hungerford.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"951\" data-end=\"1523\"\u003eA remarkable Cold War presentation copy from one hard-edged architect of strategic air power to another. Thomas Sarsfield Power was Commander-in-Chief of Strategic Air Command from 1957 to 1964, succeeding Curtis LeMay and presiding over SAC at the height of the missile, bomber and nuclear-alert age. He had commanded B-29s from Guam in 1945, and on 9 March that year led and directed the first large-scale firebombing raid on Tokyo, one of the most devastating air attacks of the war. He later served during the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, took part in Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll, and helped build SAC into the airborne instrument of American nuclear deterrence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1525\" data-end=\"1933\"\u003eOctavo. Original black cloth, gilt titles to spine, Strategic Air Command device stamped in gilt to the upper board, in the original blue printed dust jacket. Inscribed on the front free endpaper: \u003cstrong data-start=\"856\" data-end=\"949\"\u003e“Lord Portal of Hungerford \/ Keep the Free World Strong \/ Thomas Power \/ Gen USAF (Ret).”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1525\" data-end=\"1933\"\u003eLord Portal was Britain’s wartime Chief of the Air Staff, the RAF’s supreme strategic air commander, and after 1945 an important figure in Britain’s atomic-energy administration. The connection is therefore unusually powerful: Power’s book on nuclear deterrence and Western survival, personally inscribed to the British air commander whose own career moved from wartime strategic bombing into the atomic age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1935\" data-end=\"2322\"\u003eThe inscription, \u003cstrong data-start=\"1952\" data-end=\"1985\"\u003e“Keep the Free World Strong,”\u003c\/strong\u003e gives the copy a striking immediacy. Written in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis and amid intense Cold War debate over deterrence, bombers, missiles and Western resolve, the phrase feels sharply prescient today, when nuclear risk, military preparedness and the defence of democratic alliances are again urgent public questions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2324\" data-end=\"2687\"\u003eA very well-preserved copy. The black cloth remains clean and sharp, the gilt bright, the binding firm, and the contents clean with only light natural toning. The original dust jacket shows rubbing, light marking and minor edge wear, but presents strongly. A compelling presentation copy with exceptional Portal provenance and unusually direct Cold War resonance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Power, General Thomas S.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53085905912075,"sku":null,"price":1250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260426_091029643_iOS.jpg?v=1777651592"},{"product_id":"beyond-the-caspian-presentation-copy-from-carruthers-to-air-marshal-portal","title":"Beyond the Caspian - Presentation Copy from Carruthers to Air Marshal Portal","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"203\" data-end=\"322\"\u003eCARRUTHERS, Douglas. \u003cstrong data-start=\"224\" data-end=\"277\"\u003eBeyond the Caspian: A Naturalist in Central Asia.\u003c\/strong\u003e Edinburgh and London: Oliver and Boyd, 1949.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"324\" data-end=\"863\"\u003eA superb presentation copy from the author to Marshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Frederick Algernon Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford, inscribed on the front free endpaper: “To Peter Portal with the Author’s compliments.” Portal was one of the leading RAF figures of the twentieth century, serving as Commander-in-Chief of Bomber Command in 1940 and then as Chief of the Air Staff throughout the Second World War. The use of “Peter”, his familiar name among family and friends, gives the inscription a notably personal quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"865\" data-end=\"1180\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression. Octavo, original red cloth lettered in gilt to spine and upper board, in the original pictorial dust jacket, unclipped at 22\/6 net. Illustrated with twenty-two full-page plates, six of them in colour, and with the folding colour map of Central Asia and adjacent regions at the rear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1182\" data-end=\"1879\"\u003eThe presentation is made especially interesting by the loosely inserted note on Carruthers’s own Elder Farm, Grimston, King’s Lynn headed paper, listing the book’s falconry references: “Falcons pp. 84, 152, 156-162, 208-212.” This appears to have been selected with Portal’s personal interests in mind. Portal had a long-standing enthusiasm for falconry, dating back to his youth, and the subject remained one of his private sporting and natural-history interests. Carruthers, himself a noted explorer, naturalist and Royal Geographical Society medallist, was well placed to appeal to that interest, particularly through his Central Asian observations on birds, hunting, landscape and native life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1881\" data-end=\"2143\"\u003eA very good copy, the red cloth bright with light rubbing to extremities. Contents clean, inscription clear. Dust jacket very good, unclipped, with light soiling, rubbing, small chips and edge wear, but substantially complete and attractive. Folding map present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2145\" data-end=\"2400\"\u003eScarce in the original dust jacket, and especially desirable as a presentation copy. At the time of cataloguing, no other signed or presentation copy appears to be available on the market, and certainly none with comparable Portal and falconry provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CARRUTHERS, Douglas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53093037474059,"sku":null,"price":1000.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260428_090332971_iOS.jpg?v=1777967165"},{"product_id":"men-of-the-r-a-f-rothenstein-presentation-copy-to-air-chief-marshal-portal","title":"Men of the R.A.F. - Rothenstein Presentation Copy to Air Chief Marshal Portal","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"121\" data-end=\"230\"\u003eROTHENSTEIN, Sir William, and CECIL, Lord David. \u003cstrong data-start=\"170\" data-end=\"191\"\u003eMen of the R.A.F.\u003c\/strong\u003e London: Oxford University Press, 1942.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"232\" data-end=\"842\"\u003eA significant presentation copy from Sir William Rothenstein to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, from Portal’s personal collection, with Rothenstein’s signed presentation slip mounted to the front endpaper: “For Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal without whose unfailing support this book cd never have been, from Wm Rothenstein, 9.4.42.” The inscription gives the copy particular force: Portal was not merely a recipient, but central to the making of the book. He contributes the foreword, appears as the first portrait, and is acknowledged by Rothenstein as the necessary supporter behind the project.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"844\" data-end=\"1309\"\u003eFirst edition. Large octavo, original cloth, in the original pictorial dust jacket, priced 12s. 6d. net to the front flap. With forty full-page portrait reproductions by Sir William Rothenstein, a foreword by Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, “Some Account of Life in the R.A.F.” by Rothenstein, “A Layman’s Glimpse” by Lord David Cecil, a poem by John Masefield, and a complete list of Rothenstein’s R.A.F. drawings made between November 1939 and October 1941.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1311\" data-end=\"2065\"\u003eRothenstein, an important portraitist, writer and former Principal of the Royal College of Art, had long experience in recording public figures, and during the war produced more than 200 portraits of RAF personnel, forty of which were selected for this volume. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The book forms a carefully staged wartime tribute, moving from Portal at the head of the service to men of every rank. Among those represented or listed are figures such as Sir Arthur Longmore, Sir Hugh Dowding, Sir Richard Peirse, Guy Gibson, and George R. Ward, placing famous commanders beside pilots, gunners, wireless operators and ground staff. The result is both an RAF memorial volume and a collective portrait of the service at a critical moment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2067\" data-end=\"2436\"\u003eA very good copy internally, with the presentation slip clear and well preserved. Dust jacket present and attractive, with chipping to the upper front corner, creasing, rubbing and edge wear, but substantially complete and protected. A compelling Portal presentation copy of a book in which Portal himself was a participant, sitter, foreword writer and enabling patron.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sir William Rothenstein","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53093043798283,"sku":null,"price":650.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260501_142603265_iOS.jpg?v=1777967820"},{"product_id":"coastal-command-saunders-presentation-copy-to-air-chief-marshal-portal","title":"Coastal Command - Saunders Presentation Copy to Air Chief Marshal Portal","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"116\" data-end=\"311\"\u003eSAUNDERS, Hilary St George. \u003cstrong data-start=\"144\" data-end=\"264\"\u003eCoastal Command: The Air Ministry Account of the Part Played by Coastal Command in the Battle of the Seas 1939-1942.\u003c\/strong\u003e London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1942.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"313\" data-end=\"967\"\u003eA superb presentation copy from the author to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, from Portal’s personal collection, inscribed on the title-page: \u003cstrong\u003e“To Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal with the best wishes of the author, H. St G Saunders, Christmas 1942.”\u003c\/strong\u003e Although published anonymously as an official Air Ministry account, the inscription identifies the author as Hilary St George Saunders, the wartime writer behind several of the celebrated official RAF books, including \u003cem data-start=\"791\" data-end=\"814\"\u003eThe Battle of Britain\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem data-start=\"816\" data-end=\"832\"\u003eBomber Command\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-start=\"837\" data-end=\"854\"\u003eCoastal Command\u003c\/em\u003e. Saunders wrote these works officially and anonymously for the Government. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"969\" data-end=\"1449\"\u003eFirst edition. Large pictorial softcover, 143 pp., illustrated throughout with photographs, maps and dramatic double-page layouts. Original colour pictorial wrappers, showing a Coastal Command airman and convoy seen through binoculars; rear wrapper with periscope motif. The book is well illustrated with scenes of convoy protection, anti-U-boat patrols, attacks on enemy shipping, the Norwegian campaign, reconnaissance, rescue, and the day-to-day work of the RAF’s maritime arm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1451\" data-end=\"1859\"\u003eThis was one of the Ministry of Information’s famous “Official War Books”, designed as a cheap, vivid, heavily illustrated publication to explain the war effort to a mass public. The series was intended to tell the British war story, build morale, and project a picture of Britain as efficient, modern and united. By 1943 the series had sold more than 20 million copies. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1861\" data-end=\"2270\"\u003eThe association is unusually strong. Portal, as Chief of the Air Staff, was directly concerned with Coastal Command’s resources, efficiency and relationship with the Admiralty, at a time when maritime air power was central to the Battle of the Atlantic. Coastal Command’s role was crucial in protecting Britain’s maritime communications and confronting the U-boat threat. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2272\" data-end=\"2549\"\u003eA very good copy, internally clean, with some light handling and wear to the wrappers, slight rubbing and creasing at extremities, and mild age toning. A scarce signed presentation example of an important wartime pamphlet, made exceptional by its direct presentation to Portal.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SAUNDERS, Hilary St George","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53094070288651,"sku":null,"price":850.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260505_134728005_iOS.jpg?v=1777992355"},{"product_id":"the-legacy-of-egypt-glanville-presentation-copy-to-air-chief-marshal-portal","title":"The Legacy of Egypt - Glanville Presentation Copy to Air Chief Marshal Portal","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"77\" data-end=\"168\"\u003eGLANVILLE, S. R. K., editor. \u003cstrong data-start=\"106\" data-end=\"130\"\u003eThe Legacy of Egypt.\u003c\/strong\u003e Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, 1942.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"170\" data-end=\"830\"\u003eA presentation copy from Stephen Glanville, inscribed on the front free endpaper: \u003cstrong\u003e“from Stephen Glanville, April 1942”\u003c\/strong\u003e, from the personal collection of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Frederick Algernon Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford. Glanville was one of the leading Egyptologists of his generation, later Professor of Egyptology at Cambridge and Provost of King’s College, Cambridge, but the wartime association is especially interesting: during the Second World War he served on the RAF Air Staff, reaching the rank of Wing Commander, placing him within the same Air Ministry and RAF world in which Portal served as Chief of the Air Staff.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"832\" data-end=\"1250\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression. Octavo, original dark blue cloth, gilt to spine, Oxford crest at foot. Published by the Clarendon Press in 1942. A substantial collaborative survey of Egyptian civilisation, edited by Glanville, with chapters on chronology, literature, art, science, medicine, law, religion, materials, Egypt and Israel, Egypt and Rome, and Christianity. Illustrated with plates and figures throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1252\" data-end=\"1856\"\u003eLoosely inserted is a manuscript note, dated 1.5.42, shortly after Glanville’s presentation inscription. One side records names and addresses, while the reverse contains Egyptian historical and chronological jottings, including references to the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms, Hammurabi, Sakkara, Ramesses II, Amenhotep and Seti I. The note appears to be a private reading or study note, preserved with the book, and gives the copy an additional personal dimension: Portal was not merely keeping a presentation volume from a wartime colleague, but appears to have engaged directly with its subject matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1858\" data-end=\"2074\"\u003eCondition: very good. Binding firm, cloth bright with minor marks and light rubbing. Contents clean with some natural toning. Glanville inscription clear. Manuscript note loosely inserted and preserved with the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2076\" data-end=\"2217\"\u003eA thoughtful wartime association copy, linking a distinguished Egyptologist serving on the RAF Air Staff with the RAF’s senior wartime chief.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stephen Glanville","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53094147227915,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260505_070515682_iOS.jpg?v=1777993169"},{"product_id":"u-s-war-aims-lippmann-presentation-copy-to-air-chief-marshal-portal","title":"U.S. War Aims - Lippmann Presentation Copy to Air Chief Marshal Portal","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"151\" data-end=\"218\"\u003eLIPPMANN, Walter. \u003cstrong data-start=\"169\" data-end=\"187\"\u003eU.S. War Aims.\u003c\/strong\u003e London: Hamish Hamilton, 1944.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"220\" data-end=\"1010\"\u003eA superb presentation copy from Walter Lippmann to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, from Portal’s personal collection, inscribed on the front free endpaper during Lippmann’s wartime visit to London. Lippmann was among the most influential American political commentators of the twentieth century, and \u003cem data-start=\"526\" data-end=\"541\"\u003eU.S. War Aims\u003c\/em\u003e addressed precisely the questions facing Allied leaders in 1944: the settlement with Germany and Japan, Anglo-American relations, the Atlantic community, the Soviet Union, China, and the construction of a durable post-war order. The association is highly appropriate. Portal, as Chief of the Air Staff, was one of Britain’s principal wartime military figures, deeply involved in Allied strategy at the moment when Lippmann was analysing the political shape of victory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1012\" data-end=\"1474\"\u003eFirst British edition, first impression. Octavo, original pale cloth lettered in blue to spine, in the original printed dust jacket priced 7s. 6d. net. First published in Britain by Hamish Hamilton in 1944. The volume is preserved in notably fresh condition, the fragile wartime jacket surviving unusually well, with only light toning, minor chipping and rubbing to extremities, and small areas of edge wear. Cloth clean and bright, binding firm, contents clean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1476\" data-end=\"1819\"\u003eThe inscription appears to read: \u003cstrong\u003e“To Sir Charles Portal \/ from his sincere admirer \/ W. Lippmann \/ London \/ Nov. 11, 1944.”\u003c\/strong\u003e The date is significant: this copy was presented in London while the war was moving toward its final strategic and diplomatic phase, and while the shape of the post-war settlement was becoming a pressing Allied concern.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1821\" data-end=\"2110\"\u003eThe uneven paper quality is characteristic of British wartime production. The earlier gatherings are more browned and acidic, while later sections are on better stock, almost certainly reflecting paper rationing and mixed supplies under war economy conditions rather than later alteration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2112\" data-end=\"2423\"\u003eAt the time of cataloguing, no other signed copy appears to be available on the market. It is remarkable that the only signed example traced is not merely signed, but inscribed to a figure so directly connected with the book’s wartime subject matter: Britain’s senior RAF commander during the Allied war effort.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2425\" data-end=\"2578\"\u003eA strong wartime association copy, linking the leading American foreign-policy journalist of the period with one of Britain’s central wartime commanders.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Walter Lippmann","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53094186844427,"sku":null,"price":1250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260505_134113147_iOS.jpg?v=1777993939"},{"product_id":"seven-pilots-charles-graves-presentation-copy-to-air-chief-marshal-portal","title":"Seven Pilots - Charles Graves Presentation Copy to Air Chief Marshal Portal","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"119\" data-end=\"187\"\u003eGRAVES, Charles. \u003cstrong data-start=\"136\" data-end=\"153\"\u003eSeven Pilots.\u003c\/strong\u003e London: Hutchinson \u0026amp; Co., 1943.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"189\" data-end=\"1055\"\u003eA superb presentation copy from Charles Graves to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, from Portal’s personal collection, inscribed on the front free endpaper. The inscription appears to read: \u003cstrong\u003e“To Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal from Charles Graves, Jan. 11, 1943.”\u003c\/strong\u003e The association is an excellent one. Graves was a journalist, broadcaster and wartime writer whose RAF “true-life novels” translated recent air-war experience into popular narrative form. \u003cem data-start=\"649\" data-end=\"663\"\u003eSeven Pilots\u003c\/em\u003e followed \u003cem data-start=\"673\" data-end=\"693\"\u003eThe Thin Blue Line\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem data-start=\"698\" data-end=\"712\"\u003eThe Avengers\u003c\/em\u003e, and was written under official auspices as part of the wider wartime effort to bring the work of the RAF before the reading public. Portal, as Chief of the Air Staff, was the senior professional head of the RAF, making him the most fitting recipient for a presentation copy of a book dedicated to the experiences and character of RAF airmen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1057\" data-end=\"1634\"\u003eFirst edition. Octavo, original blue cloth, in the striking original pictorial dust jacket priced 8\/6 net, with RAF roundel design and bold yellow lettering to the front panel. With 17 illustrations. The jacket is a major feature of this copy: bright, fresh and highly attractive, with only minor rubbing, slight edge wear and a few small nicks, but with the colouring unusually strong for a wartime production. The book itself is also in excellent condition, the cloth clean and firm, the contents naturally toned owing to thin war-economy paper, but clean and well preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1636\" data-end=\"1932\"\u003eThe book presents seven airmen’s stories in Graves’s semi-documentary style, mixing reportage, reconstruction and patriotic wartime fiction. It reflects the RAF’s public image at a crucial point in the war: technical, courageous, youthful, and increasingly central to Britain’s military identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1934\" data-end=\"2182\"\u003eOrdinary copies survive, but usually with tired jackets or none at all. A particularly strong RAF association copy in exceptional jacketed condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Charles Graves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53094203130123,"sku":null,"price":750.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260505_065146814_iOS.jpg?v=1777995019"},{"product_id":"the-wing-rom-landau-presentation-copy-to-the-raf-s-wartime-chief","title":"The Wing - Rom Landau Presentation Copy to the RAF’s Wartime Chief","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"69\" data-end=\"160\"\u003eLANDAU, Rom. \u003cstrong data-start=\"82\" data-end=\"129\"\u003eThe Wing: Confessions of an R.A.F. Officer.\u003c\/strong\u003e London: Faber and Faber, 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"162\" data-end=\"1059\"\u003eA superb presentation copy from Rom Landau to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, from Portal’s personal collection, inscribed on the front free endpaper: \u003cstrong\u003e“To Air Chief Marshal \/ Sir Charles Portal \/ with the author’s compliments \/ Rom Landau \/ 6.4.45.”\u003c\/strong\u003e The connection between author and recipient is both professional and textual. Landau served in the RAF during the war, acting as a liaison officer with the Polish Air Force in Britain, and \u003cem data-start=\"607\" data-end=\"617\"\u003eThe Wing\u003c\/em\u003e is his autobiographical account of service life. Portal, as Chief of the Air Staff, was the senior professional head of the RAF and the figure ultimately responsible for the service within which Landau worked. The association is sharpened by the fact that Portal appears in the book itself, in the “Polish Adventure” section, where Landau records preparations for a visit by Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal to a Polish training station.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1061\" data-end=\"1543\"\u003eFirst edition. Octavo, original cloth, in the striking original Faber dust jacket, priced 16s. net to the front flap. The jacket is a major feature of this copy: bold, atmospheric and unusually well preserved, with the white wing design standing sharply against the deep blue and shadowed ground. There is some rubbing, creasing, small chips and edge wear, especially at the head of the spine and corners, but the jacket remains bright, substantially complete and highly attractive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1545\" data-end=\"2064\"\u003eThe book is described on the jacket as a “private R.A.F. log book”, distilled from some 45,000 words written at night after the day’s work. It ranges from training and RAF bureaucracy to fighter stations, Polish airmen, air-gunners, moral reflection and wartime service life, ending with “Meditations on Loch Ness.” Contents toned, as usual with wartime paper, but clean and firm. A strong RAF association copy, written from inside the service, inscribed to its wartime chief, and textually connected to Portal himself.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rom Landau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53094219251979,"sku":null,"price":850.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260501_143454716_iOS.jpg?v=1777995807"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.archbooks.co.uk\/collections\/naval-military-history.oembed?page=4","provider":"Arch Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}