{"product_id":"wake-laugh-with-me-presentation-copy-to-marshal-of-the-raf-lord-portal-privately-printed","title":"Wake, Laugh With Me - Presentation Copy to Marshal of the RAF Lord Portal, Privately Printed","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"54\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"54\"\u003eWAKE, Major-General Sir Hereward. \u003cem data-start=\"36\" data-end=\"52\"\u003eLaugh With Me.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"56\" data-end=\"80\"\u003ePrivately printed, 1946.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"82\" data-end=\"185\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression. Privately printed presentation copy from the author to Charles Portal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"187\" data-end=\"386\"\u003eQuarto. Original patterned paper wrappers, printed title label to upper cover in red and black, plain spine, illustrated with line drawings and comic sketches, contents printed on good quality paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"388\" data-end=\"518\"\u003eInscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: \u003cstrong data-start=\"440\" data-end=\"518\"\u003e“To a distinguished Air Marshal \/ from the author \/ Hereward Wake \/ 1948.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"520\" data-end=\"1022\"\u003eA rare privately printed collection of verse, parody, sporting pieces, family jokes and country-house humour by Major-General Sir Hereward Wake, 13th Baronet, CB, CMG, DSO. Wake states in the opening note that the book was not issued for the public market, but privately printed for those within his family and friendship circle: \u003cstrong data-start=\"850\" data-end=\"1022\"\u003e“So I launch my rhymes into print just for those of my family and friends who can put up even with parody so long as they are reminded of good days and how we laughed.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1024\" data-end=\"2017\"\u003eThis copy comes from the personal collection of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Frederick Algernon Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford, Chief of the Air Staff during the central years of the Second World War. Wake and Portal do not appear to have served in the same unit or direct command, but their worlds clearly overlapped within Britain’s senior defence establishment. Wake was a decorated King’s Royal Rifle Corps officer, won the DSO in the Second Boer War, and served during the First World War in the secretariat of the Allied Supreme War Council at Versailles, where his work concerned enemy strength and supply. In the Second World War he returned to national service as commander of the Northern Home Guard from 1940 to 1943, while Portal, appointed Chief of the Air Staff in 1940, directed the RAF through the main strategic air war. Wake also chaired the Northamptonshire Territorial Army Association, placing him firmly within the wartime home-defence establishment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2019\" data-end=\"2311\"\u003eA charming and highly personal survival, made more important by its presentation to one of Britain’s foremost wartime commanders. Near fine, with bright wrappers, clean label, crisp contents and only light handling. Extremely rare in commerce, and especially desirable with Portal provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WAKE, Major-General Sir Hereward","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53095312916747,"sku":null,"price":750.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260428_081812242_iOS.jpg?v=1778060726","url":"https:\/\/www.archbooks.co.uk\/products\/wake-laugh-with-me-presentation-copy-to-marshal-of-the-raf-lord-portal-privately-printed","provider":"Arch Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}