208 résultats
Single sheet, 8vo., a near fine copy. Signed simply 'Tedder' in the writer's usual manner, the letter is written to Geoffrey Moore, founder of the Buccaneers Cricket Club, and demonstrates the airman's keen and continuing interest in the sport. Tedder was President of Surrey County Cricket Club from 1953 to 1958. The letter regretfully declines Moore's invitation to attend the Buccaneer's annual dinner (held at Lords): 'I've already got a date I can't budge!'. Marshal of the RAF Arthur William Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder (1890-1967) was one of Britain's most distinguished air commanders. Educated at Whitgift School and Magdalene College, Cambridge, he transferred from the Dorsetshire Regiment to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, serving in France from 1915- to 1917 and in Egypt from 1918 to 1919. He was then commissioned in to the (new) Royal Air Force where was appointed Director of Training from 1934 to 1936, after which he became Commander RAF Far Eastern Forces. During WWII he was head of RAF Middle East Command, controlling Allied air operations in the Mediterranean and North Africa, including the evacuation of Crete and the defeat of Rommel; his air power was a vital component of Montgomery's victory at El Alamein. Having been promoted to Air Marshal, Tedder then took part in the early planning for D-Day, and was subsequently appointed Deputy Supreme Commander Allied Forces Europe (the most senior such British position) immediately beneath General Eisenhower, on whose behalf he signed at the German Surrender in 1945. In 1947 he delivered the Lees Knowles lecture, afterwards published as 'Air Power in War'. Following his retirement he served as Chancellor of Cambridge University and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC. Founded in 1930, The Buccaneers is one of the oldest and most famous 'wandering' clubs in English cricket (a 'wandering' club has no fixed home ground but plays consistently as an 'away' team relying on the hospitality of the 'home' clubs against which it competes). The Club's history has been written twice, by Clifford Bax in 1956 and more recently by Howard Spencer. ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS SIGNED BY TEDDER ARE EXTREMELY SCARCE.
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)
8vo., Third Impression, with portrait frontispiece and 11 plates on 8; blue cloth, backstrip lettered in black, backstrip faintly sunned else a very good, bright, clean copy in unclipped dustwrapper, the latter mildly rubbed at extremities. SIGNED BY EMBRY ON FRONTISPIECE. Bright copy of one of the earliest and most popular RAF escape stories of WWII, published just a month after the first edition. Shot down near St. Omer, Embry made his return to England via Spain just nine weeks and five days later. He subsequently commanded 2 Group Bomber Command, and although ranked Air Vice Marshal flew several operations under the name 'Wing Commander Smith'. His Mosquitos were renowned for their skill and accuracy in precision daylight bombing, and he would have led personally Operation JERICHO - the raid on Amiens prison in February 1944 (in which his substitute Pickard was killed) - had higher authority not ordered him to stand down. Post-war, Embry served as Commander-in-Chief Fighter Command from 1949 to 1953. SIGNED COPIES ARE EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE. We are told that this copy was signed by Embry for Wing Commander Tom 'Ginger' Neil (Battle of Britain ace and RAF test pilot), but there is no formal evidence to this effect. Enser, p.151 (recording the first edition).
5 vols., 8vo., First Edition, with photographs in the text; cloth, gilt backs, a near fine set in unclipped dustwrapper. The set comprises: Vol. I: September 1939 to September 1940 (1996); Vol. 2: September 1940 to December 1941 (1998); Vol. 3: January 1942 to June 1943 (2001); Vol. 4: July 1943 to June 1944 (2002); Vol. 5: June 1944 to May 1945 (2004). Complete sets of the first edition of this standard reference are very scarce.
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.
8vo., First Edition; handsomely bound in full navy crushed morocco, sides with gilt frame borders, back with raised bands, second and fourth compartments lettered and ruled in gilt, all other compartments tooled in gilt with 'propeller' motif, gilt top, hand-made endpapers, a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. Arguably the finest account of the Battle of Britain by a British fighter pilot. Hillary flew Spitfires out of Hornchurch with 603 Squadron and claimed five victories before being badly burned over the North Sea. An early member of the Guinea Pig Club, he was treated by McIndoe and returned to duty, but was killed shortly after in a training accident. The work was many times reprinted, but early issues are scarce. The US title is 'Falling Through Space'. Enser, p.157
Single sheet, 8vo., a near fine copy. Signed simply 'Tedder' in the writer's usual manner, the letter is written to Geoffrey Moore, founder of the Buccaneers Cricket Club, and demonstrates the airman's keen and continuing interest in the sport. Tedder was President of Surrey County Cricket Club from 1953 to 1958. The letter regretfully declines Moore's invitation to attend the Buccaneer's annual dinner (held at Lords). Marshal of the RAF Arthur William Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder (1890-1967) was one of Britain's most distinguished air commanders. Educated at Whitgift School and Magdalene College, Cambridge, he transferred from the Dorsetshire Regiment to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, serving in France from 1915- to 1917 and in Egypt from 1918 to 1919. He was then commissioned in to the (new) Royal Air Force where was appointed Director of Training from 1934 to 1936, after which he became Commander RAF Far Eastern Forces. During WWII he was head of RAF Middle East Command, controlling Allied air operations in the Mediterranean and North Africa, including the evacuation of Crete and the defeat of Rommel; his air power was a vital component of Montgomery's victory at El Alamein. Having been promoted to Air Marshal, Tedder then took part in the early planning for D-Day, and was subsequently appointed Deputy Supreme Commander Allied Forces Europe (the most senior such British position) immediately beneath General Eisenhower, on whose behalf he signed at the German Surrender in 1945. In 1947 he delivered the Lees Knowles lecture, afterwards published as 'Air Power in War'. Following his retirement he served as Chancellor of Cambridge University and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC. Founded in 1930, The Buccaneers is one of the oldest and most famous 'wandering' clubs in English cricket (a 'wandering' club has no fixed home ground but plays consistently as an 'away' team relying on the hospitality of the 'home' clubs against which it competes). The Club's history has been written twice, by Clifford Bax in 1956 and more recently by Howard Spencer. ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS SIGNED BY TEDDER ARE EXTREMELY SCARCE.
8vo., Fifth Impression; handsomely bound in full navy crushed morocco, sides with gilt frame borders, back with raised bands, second and fourth compartments lettered and ruled in gilt, all other compartments tooled in gilt with 'propeller' motif, gilt top, hand-made endpapers, a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. Published four months after the first edition. Arguably the finest account of the Battle of Britain by a British fighter pilot. Hillary flew Spitfires out of Hornchurch with 603 Squadron and claimed five victories before being badly burned over the North Sea. An early member of the Guinea Pig Club, he was treated by McIndoe and returned to duty, but was killed shortly after in a training accident. The work was many times reprinted, but early issues are scarce. The US title is 'Falling Through Space'. Enser, p.157
13 vols., 8vo., First Edition, with illustrated titles, very numerous illustrations and maps in the text and pictorial endpapers; cloth, gilt backs, a very good extended set in the dustwrapper. Bright extra-extended set of the most comprehensive survey of the UK's WWII military airfields ever published and an invaluable tool for historians and scholars alike. The ten volumes of the original series, together with the three complementary works, form a milestone in WWII aviation history. The extended set comprises:Bowyer (M.J.F). Action Stations 1, [1979] [East Anglia]Halpenny (B.B). Action Stations 2, [1981] [Lincolnshire and East Midlands]Smith (D.J). Action Stations 3, [1981] [Wales and the North West]Halpenny (B.B). Action Stations 4, [1982] [Yorkshire]Ashworth (C). Action Stations 5, [1982] [South-West] Bowyer (M.J.F). Action Stations 6, [1983] [Cotswolds and Central Midlands]Smith (D.J). Action Stations 7, [1983] [Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland]Halpenny (B.B). Action Stations 8, [1984] [Greater London]Ashworth (C. Action Stations 9, [1985] [Central South and South-East]Quarrie (B). Action Stations 10, [1987] [Supplement and Index]Fairbairn (A). Action Stations Overseas, [1991]Cooksley (P.G). Aviation Enthusiasts' Guide to London & the South-East, [1982]Smith (D.J). Britain's Military Airfields 1939-1945, [1989]EXTENDED SETS OF FIRST EDITIONS ARE SELDOM AVAILABLE FOR SALE.
12 vols., 8vo., Mixed Editions, with illustrated titles, very numerous illustrations and maps in the text and pictorial endpapers; cloth, gilt backs, a near fine extended set in dustwrapper. Splendid extended set of the most comprehensive survey of the UK's WWII military airfields ever published and an invaluable tool for historians and scholars alike. The ten volumes of the original series, together with the two complementary works, form a milestone in WWII aviation history. The extended set comprises (first impressions unless otherwise stated):Bowyer (M.J.F). Action Stations 1, [third impression, 1980] [East Anglia]; Halpenny (B.B). Action Stations 2, [1981] [Lincolnshire and East Midlands]; Smith (D.J). Action Stations 3, [1981] [Wales and the North West]; Halpenny (B.B). Action Stations 4, [1982] [Yorkshire]; Ashworth (C). Action Stations 5, [fourth impression, 1982] [South-West]; Bowyer (M.J.F). Action Stations 6, [1983] [Cotswolds and Central Midlands]; Smith (D.J). Action Stations 7, [1983] [Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland]; Halpenny (B.B). Action Stations 8, [second impression, 1984] [Greater London]; Ashworth (C. Action Stations 9, [second impression, 1985] [Central South and South-East]; Quarrie (B). Action Stations 10, [1987] [Supplement and Index]; Fairbairn (A). Action Stations Overseas, [1991]; Smith (D.J). Britain's Military Airfields 1939-1945, [1989]. EXTENDED SETS IN DUSTWRAPPERS ARE SELDOM AVAILABLE FOR SALE.
8vo., First Edition, with 56 plates on 24; handsomely bound in full navy crushed morocco, sides with gilt frame border, back with raised bands, second and fourth compartments lettered and ruled in gilt, all other compartments tooled in gilt with a propellor motif, gilt top, hand-made endpapers, a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. Elegant copy of the first full account, published to mark the battle's twentieth anniversary. Valuable also for its well-chosen and wide-ranging selection of photographs, which include a number from German sources. Enser, p.56.
4to., First Edition, with title in red and black; handsomely bound in burgundy full morocco, sides with gilt frame border, back gilt with five raised bands, second and fourth compartments lettered and ruled in gilt, all other compartments tooled and ruled in gilt, gilt top, hand-made endpapers, uncut, a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. A lovely copy. O'Brien A173
8vo., First Edition, with plates; handsomely bound in full navy crushed morocco, sides with gilt frame border, back with raised bands, second and fourth compartments lettered and ruled in gilt, all other compartments tooled with propeller motif in gilt, gilt top, hand-made endpapers, ribbon marker, a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. Enser, p.57.
8vo., First Edition, with a frontispiece, 31 plates on 16, 2 large folding maps, a full-page map and 2 full-page plans in the text, and endpaper maps in orange; original buff cloth, gilt back, a remarkably bright, fresh, clean copy in unclipped, moderately age-soiled dustwrapper. Sold from an institution with its inscription on front board, small label scar on front paste-down, bookplate on half-title verso and neat blind stamp on title. THESE ATTRIBUTES NOTWITHSTANDING, THIS IS A REMARKABLY BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY OF A PRACTICALLY UNOBTAINABLE WORK. With dustwrapper artwork by Anthony Gross. This important account covers the diplomatic and military history of the Mosul dispute between Great Britain and Turkey from 1918 to 1925, with a detailed appreciation from the author's own experiences as political officer and member of the Anglo-Iraqi delegation of the Committee of the League of Nations. In addition it contains much new information of the geography and antiquities of north-eastern Iraq , the secular frontier dispute between the Ottoman and Persian Empires, the organization and influence of the mystical dervish fraternities, modern cultural activity and other facets of Kurdish society. THIS REGION ALSO SAW THE FIRST ASSIGNMENT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE AS THE ARM PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR EXTERNAL DEFENCE AND INTERNAL ORDER. Rare.
8vo., First Edition, with frontispiece and 24 plates on 12; navy cloth, backstrip lettered in gilt, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper, the latter chafed and head and tail, and with just the slightest browning at backstrip and (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. VERY SCARCE IN THIS CONDITION. Enser, p.375.
3 vols., 8vo., with numerous photographs in the text; original pictorial wrappers, a very good, bright, clean set. The set comprises Vol. 1: Operational Losses: Aircraft and Crews 1939-1941 (1997); Vol. 2: Operational Losses: Aircraft and Crews 1942-1943 (1998); Vol. 3: Operational Losses: Aircraft and Crews 1944-1945 (incorporating Air Defence Great Britain and 2nd TAF) (2000). The standard reference. COMPLETE SETS ARE NOW VERY SCARCE.
3 vols., 8vo., First Edition, with very numerous photographs and maps throughout; pictorial boards, a near fine set in unclipped dustwrapper. The set comprises Vol. 1: The Drift to War to the Fall of Singapore (1992); Vol. 2: The Defence of Sumatra to the Fall of Burma (1993); Vol. 3: The Allied Air Forces fight back in South-East Asia 1942-1945 (2005). COMPLETE SETS ARE EXTREMELY SCARCE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION.
8vo., Second Edition, with portrait frontispiece, and coloured and monochrome photographs throughout; blue cloth, upper board blocked and lettered in gilt, gilt back, blue endpapers, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper. EDITION LIMITED TO 500 NUMBERED COPIES SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR (THIS COPY. NO.161). Revised and enlarged version of the original (family) edition of 1989.
8vo., First Edition, with 32 plates on 16 and endpaper maps; black cloth, gilt back, a near fine copy in dustwrapper. SIGNED AND DATED BY THE AUTHOR ON TITLE. With personal armorial bookplate mounted on half-title. The original edition of this long-awaited standard reference on the special squadrons that delivered and collected SOE and other agents. Bases included Tangmere and Tempsford; aircraft included Ansons, Hudsons and the immortal Lysander. Includes detailed summary of operations and much other statistical data. SIGNED COPIES ARE VERY SCARCE. Enser, p.206.
Roy. 8vo., First Edition, with 3 large folding charts at end; strongly bound in full navy buckram, upper board with printed paper label, a near fine copy. Printing code: 65-37719. Often known as 'Dowding's Despatch', this supplement reprints the official report submitted to the Secretary of State for Air by Lord Dowding (Air Officer Commanding Fighter Command) on 20 August 1941. SCARCE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION.
Roy. 4to., First Edition, with photographs, maps and tables (several full-page) in the text; original pictorial boards, a fine copy. The first detailed study of the heroic if (predominantly) ill-fated air supply missions to 1 Airborne at Arnhem. Includes aircraft and squadron profiles, navigational aids, record of containers, panniers and parachutes with list of stores dropped, detailed register of aircraft with fates and crews, and ROH. A notable achievement and a valuable addition to the growing recent literature of Arnhem. ALREADY VERY SCARCE.
8vo., First Edition, with coloured maps; original blue cloth gilt, a very good, bright, clean copy. Publication AP 3231. Restricted official history. EXTREMELY SCARCE.
8vo., First Edition, with plates; blue cloth, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper. SIGNED BY ALL THREE AUTHORS ON FRONT FREE ENDPAPER. The story of RAF Westhampnett through the eyes of pilots based here during 1940 to 1946. Westhampnett began as an emergency landing ground growing to satellite status and ultimately an important wartime airfield in its own right. SIGNED COPIES ARE VERY SCARCE.
4to., Third Impression, with many hundreds of photographs and detailed drawings in the text, and fine coloured pictorial endpapers illustrating 140 variants of the aircraft; terracotta cloth, upper board and backstrip lettered in gilt, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper. Morgan and Shacklady's definitive history of the most famous fighter in aviation history was first published in 1987. It constitutes a massive bank of information, including rare photographs, detailed technical drawings and operational data on more than 22,500 individual aircraft. This is the revised edition, incorporating much of the additional material that has subsequently become available.
8vo., First Edition, with very numerous coloured and monochrome illustrations throughout, chapters with thumb-tabs, neat contemporary signature on front cover, a few wartime anntations; original blue boards printed in black, backstrip rubbed else a very good, bright, clean copy. Publication code: A.P. 1795. VERY SCARCE IN THIS CONDITION.
