Introduction Polo, Signed (1 results)

First edition, signed limited issue, number 1 of 100 copies signed by Mountbatten using his pseudonym "Marco" and by Lord Wodehouse. This is a presentation copy, inscribed by Mountbatten, "To Peter, the perfect collaborator". Mountbatten and Peter Murphy (1897-1966) became friends as students at Cambridge University after the First World War and remained close throughout their lives. During the Second World War, Murphy served on Mountbatten's staff when the latter was Supreme Commander, South East Asia Command. Murphy's left-wing views prompted accusations from some military officers that he was a Communist spy - resulting in a 1952 security service investigation - and his homosexuality fuelled rumours that the two men may have had a romantic relationship. Murphy played a major role in drafting and editing Mountbatten's books and speeches, for which he received little public credit. Polo was Mountbatten's passion. "Dissatisfied with the existing books on polo, he decided to write his own and recruited Peter Murphy to turn his product into lucid English. Polo by 'Marco' has been the polo-players bible for many years" (Ziegler, p. 78). Philip Ziegler, Mountbatten: The Official Biography, 1985. Small quarto. Original quarter vellum, brown sheep label, orange cloth sides, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Label a little chipped at extremities, slight soiling, contents a little spotted. A good copy.