The Great War... Fully illustrated with Photographs, Drawings and Maps
London, The Home Library Book Company (George Newnes, Ltd.), [1934].
Quarto, four volumes, [vi], iv, 384; [vi], iv, 385-832; [vi], iv, 833-1216; and [vi], iv, 1217-1668 pages, extensively illustrated.
Original deep-red cloth decorated in gilt, silver and blind; top edges gilt; trifling mark to the front cover of Volume II; tiny spot to the leading margin of five leaves in Volume III (pages 1071-80); small chip to the half-title of Volume IV, with slight surface loss to silverfish to the verso of the half-title and the recto of the frontispiece; overall, a near-fine set.
This edition, 'though its text is abridged, constitutes the first illustrated edition of "The World Crisis". It began as a serialisation, issued in 26 magazine-format parts every fortnight between September 1933 and October 1934 ... After these were published, Newnes offered the parts cased in three volumes, and later in a four-volume set jointly produced with The Home Library Book Company [as here, cased in] "Red Cape Levant Moroquette" (leatherette) with gilt top page edges. A wreathed sword device is blocked in blind on the top board and silver and gilt on the spine. The title appears in gilt on top board and spine; spines also contain gilt author's name, volume number and Newnes name. The outside board edges of each volume are bevelled: a nice touch. This most elaborate and final variation of "The Great War" was an instalment mail offer by the Home Library Book Company ... in conjunction with Newnes, announced late 1934 and running into 1935' (Langworth, Richard: 'A Connoisseur's Guide to the Books of Sir Winston Churchill', revised edition, 2000; pages 118-9). [4 items].
Item #141114
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