Wellington: Halsgrove, 2009. First Edition copy of this very limited signed book (exact limitation is unknown). With the signatures of the author and ten surviving pilots who flew in The Battle of Britain. This book was originally created to raise funds for 'The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust'. Hardback.
160 pp. 310 x 220mm (12¼ x 8¾ inches)'The Few' were 2,353 young men from Great Britain and 574 from overseas (pilots and other aircrew) who were officially recognised as having taken part in The Battle of Britain. 544 lost their lives during the battle. In a very good unclipped dust jacket; internally in an as new condition. Signed by the author, and the following ten pilots:
Squadron Leader Michael J. Wainwright (Spitfires / 64 Sq)
Flight Lieutenant Keith A. Lawrence (Spitfires / 234 & 603 Sq)
Wing Commander Terrence Kane (Spitfires / 234 Sq)
Squadron Leader Bob Foster (Hurricanes / 605 Sq)
Flying Officer Kenneth A. Wilkinson (Spitfires / I 616 Sq)
Flight Lieutenant Owen V. Burns (Blenheims / 235 Sq)
Wing Commander Tom F. Neil (Hurricanes / I 249 Sq)
Flight Sergeant John Keating (Blenheims / 219 Sq)
Pilot Officer Nigel (S. N.) Rose (Spitfires / 602 Sq)
Pilot Officer Walker (Spitfires / 616 Sq)

Paris: Aux editions Raymond Schall, 1944. First edition. Published on 28th November. The photographs were taken surreptitiously, and at great risk, during the occupation, and the book was prepared during the final stages, allowing it to be published only three months after the liberation. Unpaginated. 27 pages of introduction and 131 pages of photographs with over 225 black and white photogravures. One of 1525 copies. A clean and tidy copy in very good condition, with just a touch of marking / rubbing to the boards. 270 x 220 mm (10¾ x 8¾ inches). Première édition. Publié le 28 novembre. Les photographies ont été prises subrepticement, et à grands risques, pendant l'occupation, et le livre a été préparé lors des phases finales, permettant sa publication seulement 3 mois après la libération. Non paginé. 27 pages d'introduction et 131 pages de photographies avec plus de 225 photogravures en noir et blanc. Un des 1525 exemplaires. Exemplaire propre et soigné en très bon état, avec juste une touche de marquage/frottement aux plats. 270 x 220 mm

N.V. De Arbeiderspers: Amsterdam: 1937. First Edition Thus (Dutch translation). Softback with paper wraps showing a period illustration of No Man's Land by Mohr. This work, first published in 1930 under the original title La Peur shows strong autobiographical elements. It tells the story of a young man, who inspired by the euphoric mood of France in 1914, signed up to fight. Chevallier wrote about trench warfare with an honest, open, but also bitter undertone. It is appropriate that the work was published by Arbeiderspers - the Dutch Socialist publisher. This copy was from the archives of the publisher, and bears a stamp to this effect on the half title page. In later editions, the work was entitled 'Heldenangst' - 'Heroic Fear'. The paper wrappers are a little nicked to the edges, and there is creasing to the paper on the spine. Internally, the book is clean and tidy throughout. Many pages are uncut. 284pp.

Saumur: E. Roland. First Edition. An attractive programme for the 1908 Carrousel. The front and rear covers show designs by Grasser, The programme inside, show the name, rank etc of each cavalry officer taking part, and what they are doing during the Carrousel. 4 pages. 320 by 250mm (12½ by 9¾ inches). The covers are a little darkened and marked. small pinhole to one edge. Repaired split to the bottom 3-4 cm of the spine. Internally clean but slightly darkened. A nice piece of ephemeral military / equine history. The Cavalry school at Saumur was established in 1763 to train riders in the military. Legend has it that the Bishop of made the school move to Saumur to bring pain to the Protestant town (after the officers had been too friendly with the local ladies). The regular Carousel is one of the highlights of French Horse riding. The school still exists today, training officers of the tank regiments, and supporting the nearby Cadre Noir, France's elite horse riders. Un programme attrayant pour le Carrousel de 1908. Les couvertures avant et arrière présentent des dessins de Grasser. Le programme à l'intérieur indique le nom, le grade, etc. de chaque officier de cavalerie participant, et ce qu'ils font pendant le Carrousel. 4 pages. 320 x 250 mm (12½ x 9¾ pouces). Les couvertures sont un peu assombries et marquées. Petit trou d'épingle sur un bord. Fente réparée sur les 3-4 cm inférieurs du dos. L'intérieur est propre mais légèrement assombri. Une belle pièce d'histoire militaire / équine éphémère. L'école de cavalerie de Saumur a été créée en 1763 pour former les cavaliers à l'armée. La légende veut que l'évêque de Saumur ait fait déménager l'école à Saumur pour faire souffrir la ville protestante (après que les officiers aient été trop amicaux avec les dames locales). Le carrousel régulier est l'un des points forts de l'équitation française. L'école existe toujours aujourd'hui, formant les officiers des régiments de chars et soutenant le Cadre Noir, l'élite des cavaliers français.

Paris: Chez Vincent, 1771. Three volumes. First Edition. Contemporary full leather. Six raised bands to spines with gilt detail and burgundy labels. Marbled end papers. Plan of the Battle of Fontenoy in volume 2. The Table Alphabetique is to the end of volume 1. Overall in excellent condition, with a touch of rubbing / creasing to the spines only. Slight bowing to the board of volume 1. Volume 3 has a ring (from glass) to front board. Internally clean and tidy. Sporadic but light foxing / darkening to pages. Very interesting dictionary, its purpose being to list all the great battles of ancient and modern history; there are even several entries for the Americas (Quebec, Louisbourg, Rio, Cartagena de Indias). In addition, the notes are quite remarkably written, and are not mere definitions: "Similar to those destructive torrents that overthrow everything that stands in the way of their impetuous course, the disciples of Muhammad carried desolation and death to the provinces of the Roman Empire."
xxxii, 670, [2]., 702., 352. pp. 175 by 110 mm (7 by 4¼ inches). Trois tomes. 1ère édition. Plein cuir contemporain. Avec détail doré et étiquettes bordeaux. Gardes marbrées. Plan de la Bataille de Fontenoy dans le tome 2. La Table Alphabétique est à la fin du tome 1. Dans l'ensemble en excellent état, avec une touche de frottement/pliage aux dos uniquement. Léger s'inclinant au plat du tome 1. Le tome 3 a un anneau (de verre) au plat avant. Intérieurement propre et rangé. Rousseurs sporadiques mais légères / assombrissement des pages. Dictionnaire très intéressant, son but étant de répertorier toutes les grandes batailles de l'histoire ancienne et moderne ; il y a même plusieurs portes d'entrée vers l'Amérique (Québec, Louisbourg, Rio, Carthagène des Indes). De plus, les notes sont d'une écriture tout à fait remarquable, et ne sont pas de simples définitions : Semblables à ces torrents destructeurs qui renversent tout ce qui s'oppose à leur cours impétueux, les disciples de Mahomet ont porté la désolation et la mort dans les provinces de l'Empire romain. xxxii, 670, [2]., 702., 352. p. 175 x 110 mm

Amsterdam: Uitgevers Maatschappy "Elsevier", 1916. Original portfolio, with 7 volumes, each containing 12 monochrome illustrations on 6 leaves and an original lithograph wrapper by L. RAEMAEKERS.
The portfolio is stained and the burgundy cloth to the spine is splitting. Foxing inside. The bottom flap is also splitting but holding. The seven volumes are of differing edition and the covers in differing condition. Captions in English, German and Dutch. Eerste serie = Negende druk. 1916 A little darkening to the covers, but internally sound. Tweede serie = Zesde druk. 1916 A little darkening to the covers, but internally sound. Vierde serie = vierde druk. 1916 A little darkening to the covers, some staining to the bottom edge, but internally sound. Viefde serie = derde druk. 1916 Significant darkening and foxing to the covers. chipping to the bottom edge. Inside, first leaf detached but present. Chipping to the edge of this. The other leaves are sound. Zesde serie = derde druk. 1916 A little darkening to the covers, but internally sound. Zevende serie = eerste druk. 1917 Orange covers. Nice clean covers, internally sound.
Raemaekers (1869 – 1956) became widely known as a political cartoonist during the First World War, first with his prints in De Telegraaf, later for the publications he made for the British propaganda agency Wellington House. After his death in July 1956 an obituary appeared in The Times: "It has been said that Louis Raemaekers was the only private individual who exerted a real and great influence on the course of the First World War. There were a dozen people—emperors, kings, statesmen, and military leaders—who unquestionably shaped policy and were in charge. But outside that circle of greats, Louis Raemaekers was the only man who, without title or status – and without any doubt – determined the destiny of the nations."
410 by 320mm (16¼ by 12½ inches).

Bruxelles: Spineux & Cie, 1883. Second edition. Originally a softback, recently rebound as a hardback, with the original covers laid onto the front and rear boards. matching titles to the spine. Beautifully illustrated with six full colour chromolithographs about the Belgian Cavalry, its history, its creation, its participation in the most important political and military events in the country, its service to different countries such as Austria, France, etc. its groups, the most important Belgian gentlemen, their decorations etc. Binding is new, internally, mainly in very good condition, with a few minor creases and a touch of edge wear. The last two leaves have very small tape repairs to the top edge. Discrete ownership stamp for Col. Henri-Jaspar and separate ex libris to the front end paper. xii, 424 pp. 265 x 175 mm (10½ x 7 inches). Deuxième édition. À l'origine un broché, récemment rebondi sous forme de livre cartonné, avec les couvertures d'origine posées sur les planches avant et arrière. titres assortis à la colonne vertébrale. Magnifiquement illustré de six chromolithographies en couleurs sur la Cavalerie belge, son histoire, sa création, sa participation aux événements politiques et militaires les plus importants du pays, son service dans différents pays comme l'Autriche, la France, etc. ses groupes, les plus messieurs belges importants, leurs décorations etc. La reliure est neuve, intérieurement, principalement en très bon état, avec quelques plis mineurs et une touche d'usure des bords. Les deux dernières feuilles ont de très petites réparations de ruban sur le bord supérieur. Cachet de propriété discret pour le colonel Henri-Jaspar et ex libris séparé sur le premier papier. xii, 424 pages 265 x 175 mm

New York: The Heritage Press, 1946. First Edition. Limited to 1000 copies. Signed dedication by Szyk to the colophon. This copy was inscribed for Mrs Wiltz W. Wagner. In dark green library binding, with gilt title to spine. Inside stamps and ID from New Orleans Public Library. Illustrated sepia plates and several colour mounted. No slipcase. Some finger marks to index at front, otherwise in very ggod condition for an ex-library copy. 7 preliminary leaves, 3-18, [1] pages, 1 leaf colour frontispiece, LXXIV plates (some colour). 315 x 225 mm (12½ x 8¾ inches).

It's assumed that the Mrs Wiltz W. Wagner is Helen Bell Wagner, wife of Wiltz Walker Wagner Snr, a New Orleans native. At the end of World War II, Mr. Wagner served as New Orleans chairman of the 'Food for Famine Drive' for war-torn countries. Wiltz Walker Wagner Jr. Ph.D. (one of their sons) is Professor Emeritus
USA Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama.