8 résultats
195450680Collins 1954. 8vo. First Edition with frontispiece and 24 plates on 12 some faint offsetting froim fold-ins to free endpapers; navy cloth backstrip lettered in gilt a very good bright clean copy in unclipped mildly age-soiled dustwrapper rather more so on predominantly white rear panel. Written by Paul Brickhill already celebrated as the author of another RAF classic 'The Dam Busters' 1951 'Reach for the Sky' remains the best account of the leg-less Battle of Britain hero. It is the basis of Lewis Gilbert's hugely successful feature film 1954 starring Kenneth More in what was arguably his finest role. One of the legendary figures of the Royal Air Force Douglas Bader was from the outset an outstanding athlete. As a cadet at Cranwell he gained his 'blues' for cricket rugby hockey and boxing. He represented the RAF at both cricket and rugby and would probably have been capped for England but for the accident that changed his life and created a legend. In 1931 a near-fatal air crash left him leg-less. Knowing that no man with such a handicap had ever walked without a stick he nevertheless found his way back to fitness playing tennis golf and many others sports. He even flew again until the authorities determined that a pilot without legs could not fly and discharged him from the service. With the outbreak of War he fought to be readmitted not merely to a desk job but back to the cockpit. Finally he was given command of a flight which quickly increased to five squadrons as the RAF realised that he was not only an outstanding pilot but an inspired leader of men and a fighter tactician almost of genius. Even as a POW of the Germans his spirit was such that his captors were forced at one stage to remove his artificial limbs to prevent the chance of him escaping. Enser p.375. Collins, hardcover
201742172Folio Society 2017. 8vo. First Edition thus with fine portrait frontispiece 16pp of plates in monochrome map and printed endpapers; blue boards blocked in black black cloth back lettered in white a fine copy in publisher's board slip-case. Folio Society, hardcover
19518236Evans 1951. 8vo. Second Impression with portrait frontispiece and 17 plates on 12 rear free endpaper very lightly spotted; navy cloth gilt back small fade mark at extreme head of backstrip else a very good bright clean copy in price-clipped dustwrapper the latter with minor loss just affecting title at head of backstrip frayed at tail of backstrip and mildly browned at rear panel. Published in the same year as the first impression. The moving story of RAF Bomber Command's most famous squadron and arguably the most famous air exploit of WWII. The stirring 'Dam Busters March' written by Eric Coates as the theme to the movie was almost immediately adopted as the official march of the Royal Air Force. Increasingly difficult to find in this condition. Enser p.64; Mulholland & Jordan B121 recording the first edition. Evans, hardcover
195141192Evans 1951. 8vo. First Edition with portrait frontispiece and 17 plates on 12 some light offsetting from fold-ins to free endpapers two small erasures on front paste-down top and fore-edge lightly spotted; navy cloth gilt back a very good bright clean copy in unclipped dustwrapper the latter lightly rubbed at extremities chipped with minor loss not affecting lettering at head of backstrip and with long closed tear across rear panel. The moving story of RAF Bomber Command's most famous squadron and arguably the most famous air exploit of WWII. The stirring 'Dam Busters March' written by Eric Coates as the theme to the movie was almost immediately adopted as an official march of the Royal Air Force. Increasingly difficult to find in this condition. Enser p.64; Mulholland & Jordan B121 recording the first edition. Evans, hardcover
195444242Collins 1954. 8vo. First Edition with frontispiece and 24 plates on 12; handsomely bound in full navy crushed morocco sides with gilt frame border back with raised bands ruled in gilt second and fourth compartments lettered in gilt all other compartments tooled in gilt with a propeller motif hand-made endpapers ribbon marker a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. Written by Paul Brickhill already celebrated as the author of another RAF classic 'The Dam Busters' 1951 'Reach for the Sky' remains the best account of the legless Battle of Britain hero. It was the basis of Lewis Gilbert's hugely successful feature film 1954 starring Kenneth More in arguably his finest role. One of the legendary figures of the Royal Air Force Douglas Bader was from the outset an outstanding athlete. As a cadet at Cranwell he gained his 'blues' for cricket rugby hockey and boxing. He represented the RAF at both cricket and rugby and would probably have been capped for England but for the accident that changed his life and created a legend. In 1931 a near-fatal air crash left him legless. Knowing that no man with such a handicap had ever walked without a stick he nevertheless found his way back to fitness playing tennis golf and many others sports. He even flew again until the authorities determined that a pilot without legs could not fly and discharged him from the service. With the outbreak of War he fought to be readmitted not merely to a desk job but back to the cockpit. Finally he was given command of a flight which quickly increased to five squadrons as the RAF realised that he was not only an outstanding pilot but an inspired leader of men and a fighter tactician almost of genius. Even as a POW his spirit was such that his captors were forced at one stage to remove his artificial limbs to prevent the chance of his escaping. Enser p.375. Collins, hardcover
195115620Evans Brothers 1951. 8vo. First Edition with portrait frontispiece and 17 plates on 12; handsomely bound in full navy crushed morocco sides with gilt frame border back with raised bands ruled in gilt second and third compartments lettered and ruled in gilt all other compartments tooled in gilt with propeller motif hand-made endpapers a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. The moving story of RAF Bomber Command's most famous squadron and Operation CHASTISE arguably the most famous air exploit of WWII. This book formed the basis of Michael Anderson's classic feature film 1954 of the same name starring Michael Redgrave Richard Todd and Nigel Stock. The stirring 'Dam Busters March' written by Eric Coates as the theme to the movie was almost immediately adopted as an official march of the Royal Air Force. Enser p.64; Mulholland & Jordan B121 Evans Brothers, hardcover
195245735Evans 1952. 8vo. Fifth Impression with portrait frontispiece and 17 plates on 12; navy cloth gilt back a very good bright clean copy in unclipped dustwrapper the latter lightly chafed at extremities. SIGNED IN PENCIL ON TITLE BY DAM BUSTERS VETERANS JOHNNY JOHNSON T-Tommy AND LES MUNRO W-Willie AND ADDITIONALLY BY MARY STOPES-ROE daughter of Barnes-Wallis. A photograph with printed signature of Richard Todd Wing Commander Guy Gibson in Michael Anderson's well-known film is mounted on front free endpaper. Published a year after the first edition. The moving story of RAF Bomber Command's most famous squadron and arguably the most famous air exploit of WWII. The stirring 'Dam Busters March' written by Eric Coates as the theme to the movie was almost immediately adopted as an official march of the Royal Air Force. Enser p.64; Mulholland & Jordan B121 recording the first edition. Evans, hardcover
195429950Collins 1954. 8vo. Sixth Impression with frontispiece and 24 plates on 12; handsomely bound in burgundy full crushed morocco sides with gilt frame border back with raised bands ruled in gilt second and fourth compartments lettered in gilt all other compartments tooled in gilt with a propeller motif hand-made endpapers a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. SIGNED BY BADER ON DEDICATION. Published five months after the first impression. Written by Paul Brickhill already celebrated as the author of another RAF classic 'The Dam Busters' 1951 'Reach for the Sky' remains the best account of the legless Battle of Britain hero. It was the basis of Lewis Gilbert's hugely successful feature film 1954 starring Kenneth More in what was arguably his finest role. One of the legendary figures of the Royal Air Force Douglas Bader was from the outset an outstanding athlete. As a cadet at Cranwell he gained his 'blues' for cricket rugby hockey and boxing. He represented the RAF at both cricket and rugby and would probably have been capped for England but for the accident that changed his life and created a legend. In 1931 a near-fatal air crash left him legless. Knowing that no man with such a handicap had ever walked without a stick he nevertheless found his way back to fitness playing tennis golf and many others sports. He even flew again until the authorities determined that a pilot without legs could not fly and discharged him from the service. With the outbreak of War he fought to be readmitted not merely to a desk job but back to the cockpit. Finally he was given command of a flight which quickly increased to five squadrons as the RAF realised that he was not only an outstanding pilot but an inspired leader of men and a fighter tactician almost of genius. Even as a POW his spirit was such that his captors were forced at one stage to remove his artificial limbs to prevent the chance of his escaping. Enser p.375 recording the first edition Collins, hardcover