WAKE, Nancy

The Autobiography of the Woman the Gestapo called The White Mouse

South Melbourne, The Macmillan Company of Australia Pty Ltd, 1985.

Octavo, x, 206 pages plus 12 pages of plates (from photographs).

Papered boards slightly rubbed and bumped; edges a little marked; a couple of unobtrusive annotations (see below); an excellent copy with the excellent dustwrapper (slightly rubbed).

Inscribed and signed by the author in the year of publication. Loosely inserted is a small collection of autograph letters, photographs and other items signed by Nancy Wake. They include:

An autograph letter signed by Wake (quarto, 2 pages, dated 6 November 1985; with original envelope) agreeing to sign the recipient's copy of 'The White Mouse' and mentioning a number of corrigenda (which the recipient has made in the present copy);

The programme and menu for the Victorian Sesquicentenary banquet at the Southern Cross Hotel, 16 November 1985, signed by Wake, and with a short autograph note indicating that she met Patsy Adam-Smith at the event (initialled 'N.');

An inscribed and signed blank autograph collector's card;

An autograph letter signed by Wake (quarto, 1 page, dated 5 August 1994; with original envelope), in response to a letter of sympathy after she sold her medals in 1994. She writes: 'One chap was determined to believe that I sold my medals because I needed money for food etc. ... This particular chap was in the middle of telling me I shouldn't be ashamed to say I was broke'. While they are speaking several deliveries of food and wine arrived. 'You should have seen his face. Especially as the medals hadn't been sold! One must have a sense of humour to survive!';

A short autograph note, unsigned (octavo, 1 page, dated 3 October 2001) enclosing a photograph (below).

A photograph of Wake aged 87, inscribed and signed on the verso;

A small collection of ephemera and newspaper clippings relating to Wake and her career. The original collector has left several notes outlining the context of his correspondence with Wake.

Nancy Wake AC GM (1912-2011) was an Australian journalist and nurse who famously worked with the French Resistance and Special Operations Executive in France during the Second World War. Her medals are now in the Australian War Memorial.