BERLIN, SvenBiblio.com
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1990569713Dorset England 1990. Hardcover. Very Good. A remarkable set of two large albums of poetry and some prose hand written and illustrated with watercolor paintings pen & ink and pencil drawings by Sven Berlin in 1990-91. Both albums are oblong quartos measuring 15†x 13½†screw-bound with dark blue hand lettered leatherette covers. The albums contains approximately 165 manuscript sheets handwritten on the rectos only together with about 135 drawings laid onto the rectos and versos of 115 cardboard leaves coated with light adhesive enclosed in plastic sleeves. Several manuscript pages have corrections by Berlin and most of the drawings are Signed and dated by him. Among the drawings are about 59 watercolor paintings 57 pen and ink drawings and 19 pencil drawings. The covers are rubbed and lightly stained both binding screws of the first album are loose both covers of the second album are detached else near fine with the manuscript pages and drawings near fine throughout both albums.<br /> <br /> Born in 1911 at Sydenham South London Sven Berlin was a dancer painter sculptor poet and writer. In 1938 he moved to Cornwall to pursue his artistic career. Exhibiting paintings drawings and sculpture regularly with the St. Ives Art Colony. In London Berlin was a founding member of the Crypt Group of modern-minded young artists and of the important Penwith Society of Arts in 1949. He broke with the latter group following a much-publicized rift between the abstract Modernists led by Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth and the more representational artists including Berlin. This artistic clash of egos was the inspiration for Berlin’s 1962 fictionalized autobiography The Dark Monarch which was withdrawn just days after publication following legal action. An outsider from the mainstream of British art Berlin would become one of the last great British bohemians.<br /> <br /> An important set of manuscripts written in Berlin’s strong hand and illustrated with his bold drawings rich in imagery and metaphor. A detailed description of both albums is available. hardcover
189598090London: George Routledge and Sons 1895. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Revised and enlarged edition. Octavo. 720pp. Red cloth. Gilt lettering dulled but readable modest wear to the spine ends a tight very good copy. Irving Berlin's copy with his bookplate on the front pastedown. Housed in a custom quarter leather and marbled papercovered clamshell case. Accompanied by 20 slips of paper originally laid into the book with holograph notes by Berlin. Of these seven contain working manuscript notes for a rhyming song. The transitory and fragmentary nature of the notes are obviously inconclusive but it appears this song is unpublished. Also in the book is a letter to Mrs. Berlin from a Las Vegas correspondent and some other material. Further provenance on request. A chance to remake musical history: in an interview in his 90s he lived to be 101 Berlin claimed never to use a rhyming dictionary Davis The Craft of Lyric Writing p. 212. A fascinating artifact a compositional tool from one of the greatest songwriters of all time and among them one of the few to write his own lyrics as well as music. Berlin wrote approximately 1500 songs during his long career many of them recognizable American standards such as "Alexander's Ragtime Band" his first hit in 1911 "Puttin' on the Ritz" "God Bless America" "Easter Parade" and "White Christmas." In addition he wrote the scores for 19 Broadway shows and 18 Hollywood films. By virtue of the endurance of his individual compositions his lasting influence on other musicians and the sheer length and breadth of his career Berlin occupies a singular position in the history of popular music. George Routledge and Sons hardcover
06667New York: Irving Berlin 1911. A Composer's Archive: Irving Berlin's Personal Songbook<br /> Presented to Leslie Bricusse with 1969 Letter Referencing Roger Eden<br /> <br /> BERLIN Irving. Songs by Irving Berlin. New York: Irving Berlin n.d.<br /> <br /> Thick folio 12 x 9 inches; 305 x 229 mm. A remarkable compilation of nearly 200 individual musical scores gathered and bound into a substantial volume. Specially prepared in black cloth covers and spine lettered in gilt all edges gilt housed in a protective clear jacket. An imposing and evidently custom-assembled anthology of Berlin's principal songs.<br /> Binding strong and handsome; inscription bold; letter well-preserved with original folds. A superb museum-worthy ensemble.<br /> <br /> Provenance & Association:<br /> <br /> Inscribed by Berlin to Leslie Bricusse: "For Leslie Bricusse / with all good wishes / from / Irving Berlin."<br /> Accompanied by an exceptional typed letter signed TLS on Berlin's stationery dated March 28 1969 addressed to Bricusse at his Beverly Hills residence. In it Berlin explains his decision to send this bound volume rather than individual songs and adds a warm compliment on Bricusse's score for Goodbye Mr. Chips. Crucially Berlin notes that he had earlier sent a copy of the same book to Roger L. Eden of Broadcast Music Inc. - a revealing detail that firmly establishes the present volume as a purpose-assembled professional reference copy circulated among leading figures in the music world. The association places this example within a rarefied network of composer-to-composer and composer-to-publisher exchange.<br /> <br /> Contents & Dating:<br /> <br /> The volume comprises a sweeping retrospective of Berlin's career from early Tin Pan Alley successes Alexander's Ragtime Band 1911 through his great Broadway and Hollywood years including later works such as There's No Business Like Show Business 1946 and You're Just in Love 1950 establishing a terminus post quem of 1950 for the compilation. It represents in effect a working archive of Berlin's canon assembled late in his career.<br /> <br /> Significance:<br /> <br /> A powerful artifact of 20th-century musical history: Berlin - the defining architect of the American Songbook - here acknowledges and encourages Bricusse one of its most accomplished successors. Association copies linking composers of this stature with substantive correspondence referencing both the object itself and contemporary work are of the highest desirability. The reference to Roger Eden further elevates the piece situating it within the inner professional circles of music publishing and rights management. New York: Irving Berlin, 1911 unknown
1938154298Los Angeles: Twentieth Century-Fox 1938. First Edition. First Edition. Association copy INSCRIBED on the second front endpaper by Irving Berlin: "To / Dorothy Hechtlinger / with my best / Irving Berlin." A scarce promotional songbook issued by Twentieth Century-Fox in connection with their successful 1938 musical film "Alexander's Ragtime Band."<br /> <br /> Dorothy Hechtlinger was Twentieth Century-Fox studio head Darryl F. Zanuck's script coordinator from 1934 to 1945 described by later biographers as an "indispensable" part of Zanuck's team. Although uncredited in the 1938 film Hechtlinger would likely have been intimately involved in the screenwriting process. <br /> <br /> The songbook contains piano transcriptions of three new songs written for the film-including "Now It Can Be Told" "My Walking Stick" and "Marching Along with Time"-as well as 25 other songs written by Berlin.<br /> <br /> Very Good plus in wrappers with light wear to the spine ends and a small chip to the bottom corner of the front wrapper. Twentieth Century-Fox unknown
020109New York NY: Wu-Shan Inc. and Sony Music 2011. Book. Fine condition. Hardcover. Inscribed by Illustrators. 1st Edition. Quarto 4to. The Deluxe Box edition number 77 of 85 limited edition sets produced issued in a black cloth clamshell case with white lettering. Includes four numbered sleeves each containing a vinyl record three numbered sleeves each containing a compact disc and a folding enclosure containing descriptive text sheets and 16 album-sized limited issue silkscreen prints on Arches paper. Fourteen of the prints are signed by the artist on the front or back; the Dylan and Gordon prints are stamp signed. The silkscreens are individually printed by Alexander Heinrici one of Warhol's most trusted silkscreen artists. Heinrici created the original silkscreens for Warhol's world-renowned "Mao" "Flowers" and "Merce Cunningham 1" among others. All sixteen prints are numbered and stamped on the back. Each print has a tissue guard. Each print measures 12 x 12 inches 30.4 x 30.5 cm. The box measures 14 x 14 x 2.5 inches 36 x 36 x 5 cm. The publication accompanied an exhibition of the same title at the Andy Warhol Museum October 1 2011 - January 8 2012. It was subtitled as "An Exhibition in Sight and Sound." The set includes music art and recordings created by a diverse roster of artists writers and performers who knew worked with were associated with and/or were inspired by Andy Warhol. Spoken word sound pieces and music recordings by Ivan Karp Bob Dylan Path Soong John Giorno Billy Name Ultra Violet Lawrence Weiner Vincent Fremont Brigid Berlin Patti Smith Christopher Makos Yura Adams Alexander Heinrici Carter Ratcliff Connie Beckley Nat Finkelstein Susan Breen and Jeff Gordon. Artworks were provided by all the artists except for Ivan Karp. The audio works juxtapose each artist's visual image all created in homage to Warhol. The vinyl and Compact Disc recordings include Karp's "The First Time" Dylan's "When I Paint My Masterpiece" Soong's "Titles" Giorno's "Thanx For Nothing" Name's "Maha Mantra" Violet's "Light" Weiner's "Vienna" Fremont and Berlin's "Conversation" two tracks Smith's "Edie" Makos' "What About Me" Adams' "Waiting For My 15 Minutes" Heinrici's "Silkscreen" Ratcliff's "Glitch City" Beckley's "Silk Scream Liz" Finkelstein's "Factory" Breen's with Arto Lindsay "Warhol Soundfield 467" and Gordon and Warhol's "Uh Yes Uh No." Bonus material not present in other Deluxe Box or any other editions: blue and black silkscreen artwork depicting Path Soong titled "6.98" number 9/50 and pencil signed by artist Jeff Gordon image area 6" wide by 8"; Handmade 24-page poetry book titled "Stillness" dated 2012 signed by Path Soong and numbered 7/10; three compact disc recordings in tin case - unopened by contributors; and an original invitation and 2-person ticket to the 2011 exhibition. Fine condition. . Wu-Shan Inc. and Sony Music Hardcover
19810196761981. Hardcover. Signed page a bit wrinkled not affecting Berlin's writing. Near Fine and possibly unique. Thick quarto 8-7/8" x 11-3/4" x 3" thick in a plastic-enclosed black pebbled leather 3-hole binder containing 194 vintage pieces of sheet music by Irving Berlin likely all reprints specially compiled and arranged alphabetically with a special contents page bound at the front. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the composer on the front endpaper: "For Rosemary and Earl Wilson/with love from/Irving Berlin -- 1981." A privately compiled effort exclusively produced and supervised by Irving Berlin during his twilight years likely only for his closest friends. We are aware of the existence of only one other copy that belonging to Harold Arlen. Earl Wilson was one of the best known gossip columnists of his day and an authority on Broadway and show business. He often interviewed Berlin including the well-known interview in December 1953 about HOLIDAY INN when Berlin told Wilson: "But the public liked 'White Christmas' and it became a runaway. You see a war song doesn't have to be about wars. This is really a peace song." Wilson and Berlin were longtime friends maintaining a 35-year correspondence. <br/><br/> hardcover
19312080502106916741Not Available 1931. Soft Cover. Fine. The book is in fine condition. Not Available paperback
393396Unbound. Very Good. One partially printed bi-folium one leaf folded to make four pages. The single fold is neatly reinforced with tape else very good or better. Printed with staves music has been filled in with pencil on two facing pages and Berlin has captioned the song filled in the lyrics intended for his granddaughter Mary Ellin Barrett of the title and has Inscribed it at the bottom of the left-hand page: "For Mary Ellin - With love from Grandpa. 1974." Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Mary Ellin Barrett and a photocopy of a newspaper article about Barrett and her relationship with her grandfather. Berlin famously could not write or read musical notation so we cannot confirm in whose hand the music is written however the lyrics are clearly in Berlin's hand. unknown
1936133015Paris: Fryam Press 1936. First edition of Meier's classic work on the art of mixing cocktails. Octavo original wrappers illustrated. Presentation copy inscribed on the front free endpaper by Judy Garland "To George - Sincerely Judy Garland"; on the verso of the front free endpaper by Irving Berlin "To Mr. George Rose Who should remember that the morning after the night before is sometimes very sour. Berlin"; and on the half-title page by Bob Considine "For George good guy! Bob Considine." The recipient George Rose was a regular patron of the Ritz Bar which gained a reputation over the years for its glamorous cocktail parties and the unique bartending skills of Frank Meier a head barman from 1921 until his death in 1947. One of his best-known cocktails was the potent "Rainbow" consisting of anisette mint yellow chartreuse cherry brandy kümmel green chartreuse and cognac. Designed in the Victorian style with red-velvet armchairs and bar furnishings a marble fireplace and historic portraits The Ritz Bar may have been the world's first hotel bar and was frequented by celebrities and writers including Judy Garland and Ernest Hemingway. In very good condition. Meier's classic work on enjoying and mixing drinks includes over 300 recipes for cocktails cups highballs after-dinner drinks smashes zooms puffs punches and sours. Fryam Press unknown
H4013Berlin Akademie der Wissenschaften 1857-1858 1860-1867 und 1869-1882. 8vo. Jeder Band mit ca. 500 bis 800 S.mit zahlreichen Tafeln. Halbleinenbände und Pappbände der Zeit teils berieben manche Rücken etwas beschädigt St.a.T. Bibl.-Schild leicht berieben gutes Exemplar. Mit Beiträgen von Kirchhoff Grimm Ehrenberg Abich Helmholtz Poggendorff Curtius Hofmann Hammer-Purgstall Encke Petermann Peters Kiepert Mommsen Rose u.v.a. unknown
6377Santa Rosa: Black Sparrow Press 1999. First Editions. First Printings wrappered issue. Two octavo volumes 22.75cm; original decorative card wrappers; 1011-2146; 1011-2404pp. So Long is inscribed on the front endpaper to Kenward Elmslie: "February 1997 / Dearest Kenward / It has been so great to see you hear you / Love Lucia." Where I Live Now is warmly inscribed to Elmslie on the title page: "May 1999 / For dearest Kenward / with all my love / Lucia." Both volumes gently spine-sunned lightly edgeworn with some mild dust- and finger-soil to wrappers; Very Good. <br /> <br /> The second and third volumes of Berlin's short fiction published by the Black Sparrow Press collecting between them 41 stories written between 1987-1998 several of which first appeared in the pages of City Lights Review Folio Gas In This Corner Jejeune Barnabe Mountain Review Brick Exquisite Corpse New American Writing and Sniper Logic et al. A distinguished pair of copies from the library of poet publisher and librettist Kenward Elmslie 1929-2022 who Berlin met in 1994 at Naropa where they were both visiting writers. "Berlin called it an "instant friendship." "We cut through right away into each other's deep feelings. It was like falling in love or going back to your childhood best friend in first grade that kind of really pure friendship" Love Loosha: The Letters of Lucia Berlin & Kenward Elmslie p.1. Her relationship with Elmslie would prove to be the most significant friendship during the last decade of her life resulting in hundreds of letters postcards and mail art exchanged between them. <br /> <br /> In a June 13 1999 letter Elmslie mentions the copy of Where I Live Now Berlin had sent him and was complimentary about her work: "Ron Padgett is reading Where I Live Now loaned downhill. He's tough and his advance word is: good stuff. Specific praise for the ending of the doc office cover-up tale "A Love Affair".The placement of the tales is I think masterful. Your Body of Work by now is so strong. Who else has a continuum of short fictions that hold up like - like Gang Busters.Your very own niche. In ancient times Kathy Mansfield. Dotty Parker. And Tru Capote" pp.66-67. Berlin would write him a month later ecstatic about Publisher's Weekly giving her book a rave review. He responded: "I'm so happy about your news - THE review.For some reason I'm afraid to articulate WHY I'm so drawn to your stories as if that'll entail proving I'm a really smart critic. Because I'm not. So it remains a private matter this strong feeling for your work connected to Chekhov that much I know and a blissful summer working on a libretto of The Seagull" pp.86-87. Throughout their decade-long correspondence they would critique each other's work and that of their contemporaries gossip and share the intimate details of their lives. Berlin wrote Elmslie faithfully right up until a month before she died in November 2004; at her funeral "Kenward was last to pay her tribute and he sung a capella a lyric he wrote for his play City Junket Lucia's favorite of his songs: "Who'll Prop Me Up in the Rain" p.321. We've traced fewer than a handful of association copies of Berlin's works in commerce and none reflecting this degree of intimacy. Black Sparrow Press unknown
19383554907142141938. Signed by Author. New York: Irving Berlin Inc. 1938. Publishers printed stiff wrappers; printing three new songs from the 1938 RKO musical along with 25 older songs each with a reproduction of its sheet music cover. SIGNED TWICE and inscribed by Berlin: To Mary with love Irving Berlin in pencil followed by an ink signature on the following front free end-paper. A 20th Century-Fox Corporation publication containing the complete piano transcriptions of all the songs old and new featured in the 1938 film as well as other Berlin songs from the same period including Alexanders Ragtime Band and Cheek to Cheek. Full page of black and white photographs of the film cast together with the original cast and production staff list on facing page. Housed in a superb custom-made black cloth box by Asprey of London. The slipcase is itself housed in a stunning lilac Aspreys tissue-lined and purple ribbon tied box. The original invoice from when this book was originally sold by Aspreys is laid in. A wonderful item. A large heavy book which may require additional postage. hardcover
1967149909New York: Andy Warhol Film 1967. Vintage poster for the 1967 film. The film originally screened at the Hudson Theater in a 95-minute version although this cut is considered lost. A 109-minute version would screen in 1968 as the first film shown at the New Andy Warhol Garrick Theater renamed as such after Warhol recovered from being shot by Valerie Solanas. <br /> <br /> One of several sexploitation influenced films made by Warhol an episodic story of a biker who has no bike and is both eroticized by the camera and emasculated by various Warhol superstars throughout. <br /> <br /> 19 x 25 inches rolled. Near Fine with some light soil and an almost imperceptible professional repair to a tear at the top edge. <br /> <br /> Murphy The Black Hole of Cinema. Warholstars. Andy Warhol Film unknown
82379Santa Rosa: Black Sparrow 1993. First edition numbered & signed issue. 214 pp. Faint foxing to the top edges else very near fine in printed paper-covered boards with cloth spine and printed label. Near fine unprinted clear acetate dust jacket. One of 100 numbered copies SIGNED by Berlin. Additionally INSCRIBED by Berlin “Aug. 1993 / for Bob / with thanks love / always / Lucia.†Laid into this copy is a thirty-two word ALS from Berlin dated August 19 1993 in part presenting this book and apologizing for the oversight. The recipient is Robert Callahan of the Turtle Island Foundation who published Berlin’s second book ANGELS LAUNDROMAT in 1977. Santa Rosa: Black Sparrow, hardcover
192522717ENew York: Putnam 1925. First Edition. Signed and inscribed by the book’s subject American composer and lyricist Irving Berlin in the year of publication. Inscribed on the front free endpaper: “To Min from Irv Palm Beach - 1925â€. Frontispiece portrait drawing of Irving Berlin by Neysa McMein. Top edge gilt. A lightly handled copy some mottling and minor rubbing to the dark green cloth and a bit of spotting to the fore edge without dust jacket. Irving Berlin 1888 - 1989 was one of the most beloved and best known songwriters in the Great American Songbook whose prolific body of work includes such classics as Alexander’s Ragtime Band his first international hit Easter Parade Puttin’ on the Ritz Cheek to Cheek White Christmas Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better There’s No Business Like Show Business and God Bless America. Putnam hardcover
193828934New York: Irving Berlin Inc. Very Good. 1938. First Edition; First Printing. Soft Cover. SIGNED on second front endpaper by Irving Berlin not on a bookplate but directly on the page without any inscriptions to anyone ; Bound in the publisher's original stiff wraps with black cloth-covered spine. Contains three new songs from the 1938 RKO musical along with 25 older songs each with a reproduction of its sheet music cover. ; Tight and clean. Solid binding. A hint of very light wear to spine ends and mild age-toning to page edges with a tiny spot to bottom edge otherwise in excellent condition. No inscriptions. No remainder mark. Not ex-library. ; Scarce. ; Small 4to; 180 pages; Signed by Author . Irving Berlin, Inc. paperback
1945019061New York: Irving Berlin Music Corporation 1945 but later. wraps. Near Fine. Quarto 9" x 12" in gray and green illustrated wraps; 6 pages. Vintage sheet music with words and music by Irving Berlin. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the composer on the front cover: "For Iris and Jeff/with love from/Irving Berlin/1979." <br/><br/> Irving Berlin Music Corporation paperback
194268714New York: This is the Army Inc 1942. BERLIN Irving. New York: This is the Army Inc. 1942.<br> <br> First edition. Presentation copy inscribed on the front free endpaper to United States Army Colonel Walter J. Currie Chief of the Entertainment and Recreation Division of the United States Army: "For Walter Currie/with my grateful thanks/for a swell job in/helping 'This is the Army'/through to a big success--/Irving Berlin." Quarto 11 7/8 x 9 1/8 inches; 300 x 203 mm. 1-55 1 blank pp. Sheet music with lyrics. Songs separately titled.<br> <br> Original tan leather over flexible boards. Front board lettered in gilt. All edges gilt. Speckled endpapers. Some minor soiling and scuffing to boards. Tape residue on front pastedown. Internally very clean. Overall about fine.<br> <br> "The biggest and best-known morale-boosting show of World War II- Irving Berlin's This Is the Army which began life as a Broadway musical designed to raise money for the military. It then toured the nation and later the world and was eventually made into a movie starring the handsome young Lt. Ronald Reagan." National Archives By Laurence Bergreen.<br> <br> HBS 68714.<br> <br> $2500. This is the Army, Inc unknown
1990Collection-04Black Sparrow Press 1990 Santa Rosa: Black Sparrow Press 1990. First edition. First printing. Cloth. Hardbound. New/New. A pristine unread copy without marks or bruises or smells or any other defect. Comes with original acetate dust jacket cover. Shipped in well-padded box. NOTE: This book was purchased new and never opened. Cloth backed decorative boards with acetate dust jacket. There were 300 hardcover trade copies in the first edition. 125 copies were signed and numbered by the author. This is copy number 118 numbered on the colophon and signed by author on page following title page. You cannot find a better copy. Signed by Authors. 1st Edition. Hardcover. New/New. Black Sparrow Press hardcover
1993Collection-02Black Sparrow Press 1993 Santa Rosa: Black Sparrow Press 1993. First edition. First printing. Cloth. Hardbound. New/New. A pristine unread copy without marks or bruises or smells or any other defect. Comes with original acetate dust jacket cover. Shipped in well-padded box. NOTE: This book was purchased new and never opened. Cloth backed decorative boards with acetate dust jacket. There were 200 hardcover copies in the first edition. 100 copies were signed and numbered by the author on the colophon. This is copy number 100. SIGNED AND NUMBERED BY AUTHOR on colophon page. You cannot find a better copy. Signed by Authors. 1st Edition. Hardcover. New/New. Black Sparrow Press hardcover
1999Collection-03Black Sparrow Press 1999 Santa Rosa: Black Sparrow Press 1999. First edition. First printing. Cloth. Hardbound. New/New. A pristine unread copy without marks or bruises or smells or any other defect. Comes with original acetate dust jacket cover. Shipped in well-padded box. NOTE: This book was purchased new and never opened. Cloth backed decorative boards with acetate dust jacket. There were 250 hardcover trade copies in the first edition. 100 copies were signed and numbered by the author. 20 copies were handbound in boadrs by Earle Gray and were lettered and signed by the author. This is copy A. SIGNED AND LETTERED BY AUTHOR on colophon page. You cannot find a better copy. Signed by Authors. 1st Edition. Hardcover. New/New. Black Sparrow Press hardcover
198251679Penguin Books. As New. 1982. Paperback. 0140063137 . FREE UPGRADE to Courier/Priority Shipping Upon Request IN STOCK AND IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FOR SHIPMENT - Text pristine clean & unmarked - 210 pages. -- with a bonus offer-- . Penguin Books paperback
185062042Wien: Carl Gerold 1850. 8vo. 226 pp. Contemporary quarter sheep over marbled boards. Ex-institutional library of Bibliothek der Musse Riga with usual markings. Rubbing to spine and board edges. Internally clean. Bookplate to the front pastedown of Manoug Parikian British concert violinist and professor at the Royal Academy of Music London. Loosely inserted are three TLS by Isaiah Berlin dated 1972-73 on 'Headington House Oxford' letterhead in which he thanks Parikian for the loan of the book and then apologises for not returning it in a timely manner as the book had become buried somewhere in his library. The author Wilhelm von Lenz was born in Riga and studied with Liszt and Chopin in Paris. He is best known for his research on Beethoven. The final chapter in this book deals with Beethoven's violin concerto as performed in St. Petersburg by Vieuxtemps. Text in German. . Good. 1/4 Sheep. 1850. Carl Gerold 1850 unknown
H3856Berlin Reimer 1845-1854. 8vo. Jeder Band zwischen 400 und 600 S. Halbleinenbände der Zeit St.a.T. Bibl.-Schild gute Exemplare. Zahlreiche interessante Beiträge u.a. von Doppler Faucault Faraday und Becquerel vor allem in Band 5 2 und 1. unknown
1950173243Bielefeld Germany: Prepared by Headquarters British Air Forces of Occupation Air Ministry Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations April 1950. An effort of Biblical proportions Sole edition classified RESTRICTED. This definitive report on the British contribution during the first major crisis of the Cold War was compiled under Air Marshal Williams as C-i-C British Air Forces he received the DSM US for his services. Rare WorldCat notes five locations: Smithsonian National defence University Library Calgary University the Dutch Defensiebibliotheken and the British Library; Library Hub adds the National Aerospace Library. Until relatively recently this remarkable logistical achievement "given its acknowledged importance has been poorly served by its historiography" and particularly so the British contribution Keen p. ii. Current research based in the close examination of sources such as the present report seems to confirm "that the RAF and Civil Lift aircraft were necessary for the logistical success of the total Anglo-American operation and would have continued to be so in the long-term commitment being planned" ibid. p. 263. The ambitions of the report were intentionally widely inclusive being compiled so as "to give as complete a picture as possible of this highly complicated and integrated operation. While the Headquarters B.A.F.O. was the primary operating agency on the British side many other formations took a very active and important part in making the success of the operation possible. so slight incursions have been made into realms that were properly the responsibility of other services and other commands. reports by other formations have been included as appendices so that as much as possible of the valuable experience gained on this operation will be collected under one cover and can be available for reference if it should ever be necessary to carry out a similar operation" Introduction. The account is presented thematically covering The Task The Implements of the Airlift Air Operations Communications Equipment Personnel Freight - Organisation and Handling Accomplishments of the Airlift and a Summary of Lessons Learnt; the appendices include substantial reports from the Officer Commanding Transport Force during the first three weeks of operations from the Operational Research Branch and the Combined Airlift Task Force together with highly informative reviews of meteorology signals technical and equipment organisation. "The achievements of the airlift in statistical terms are impressive enough. The total tonnage lifted into Berlin by British and American aircraft was 2325808.7 tons. Of this the British lift carried 542236 tons split of which the RAF carried 394509 tons. The British carried 241000 tons of food 165000 tons of coal and 92000 tons of wet fuel all the latter in civil aircraft. They also carried 35000 tons of freight including 12800 tons of economic goods and 131436 passengers out of the city. British aircraft flew more than 32 million miles consumed over 35 million gallons of Avgas and spent over 200000 hours in the air. They helped sustain a city of more than two and a half million inhabitants for many months including through the winter. Just as importantly however was that in the first real test of the Cold War they demonstrated immense western resolve in the face of Soviet provocation and intransigence and dealt a significant blow to Soviet prestige and influence with incalculable effects on Western European communist parties particularly those in France and Italy. The western presence in Berlin was maintained and it remained as a beacon of freedom inside the Communist bloc not to mention acting as a very useful centre for intelligence gathering. The airlift also demonstrated to a Service dominated by airmen from an offensive bomber and tactical air background that the RAF's air transport capability could be deployed as a strategic asset to considerable effect" Cox pp. 30-31 Folio. Eight half-tone plates folding plan of an "ideal airfield" and 8 full-page plans of actual air fields at the rear numerous plans maps diagrams and tables to the text many full-page many printed in colours. Original moderate olive brown sand-grain half cloth strong yellow printed paper-covered boards spine unlettered. Externally somewhat rubbed bumped and soiled front cover lightly damp-stained at the bottom edge softened and consequently bruised contents toned but overall very good. Sebastian Cox "An Effort of Biblical Proportions The Berlin Airlift 19481949" Air Power Review 21 2 Summer 2018; Richard David Keen Half a million tons and a goat: a study of British participation in the Berlin Airlift University of Buckingham PhD 2013 hardcover
