ASTOR, John J.
ASTOR, John J. Britain’s Homage to 28,000 American Dead. London: The Times Publishing Company, 1952.
A distinguished presentation copy from John J. Astor, proprietor and chairman of The Times, to Marshal of the Royal Air Force Viscount Portal of Hungerford. The volume itself was produced by The Times for presentation to the next of kin of the 28,000 American servicemen who died while based in Britain, or in operations from Britain, during the Second World War. Loosely inserted is the original typed presentation letter on The Times letterhead, dated 22 June 1953, addressed familiarly to “Dear Portal” and signed by Astor, offering this copy as a gesture of Anglo-American friendship to one of Britain’s foremost wartime air commanders.
First edition, first impression. Quarto, original dark blue cloth, gilt St Paul’s device and titles to upper board and spine, photographic illustrations throughout, Churchill’s printed message reproduced in facsimile, as issued.
The association is a strong one. Astor, proprietor and chairman of The Times, had served in the First World War, was wounded at Messines in 1914, returned to the Western Front, and lost a leg to shellfire in 1918. In the Second World War he served in home defence and organised a Home Guard unit drawn from newspaper employees. Portal, one of Britain’s principal wartime commanders, served in both wars, rising from RFC pilot to Chief of the Air Staff from 1940 to 1945. At Casablanca in 1943 he was chosen to coordinate British and American bomber forces in the combined offensive against Germany. This copy therefore links the publisher of Britain’s tribute to America with one of the senior airmen who helped forge the wartime Anglo-American military partnership.
A clean, attractive copy, with notable Portal provenance and original presentation letter.
