Post Captain, Signed (5 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Fair. 25 Illus. 214 Pages. 18 x 10cms. Covers a little marked & rubbed. Some foxing. Illus. Pocket Library of Plain & Col. Books. Poem illustrating Common Train of Incidents which form Outline of Sailor's Life. Col. plates by W. Williams. Red cloth. Unsigned.

Soft cover. Condition: As New. No Jacket. Cover illustration by Geoff Hunt (illustrator). A trade paperback copy of O'Brian's second Aubrey-Maturin novel, as-new unread, lined & signed "Patrick O'Brian" (full name, only) to the title page. Although the hardcover first edition was William Collins 1972, this copy states "first published as a Norton paperback 1990 by arrangement with William Collins & Sons Co. Ltd." Furthermore, this isn't the first octavo paperback, thus. At the bottom of the copyright page we find the single numeral "0," off center, significance a bit cryptic, but possibly indicating a 10th printing, thus. Lists 15 Aubrey/Maturin novels through "The Truelove" (1992.) Action adventure Nelson's navy Napoleonic Wars, 496 pp., reduced from $650. Signed by Author(s).

London: J. Johnston, (1817). Long satirical poem on British naval life, illustrated with twenty-four brilliant (and funny) aquatint plates and colored engraved title page, all by Williams. First edition, first issue, per Tooley "English Books" 484. An untrimmed copy sumptuously bound in full crimson morocco with raised bands, gilt decoration, gilt inner dentelles and silk doublures. Signed by (Somebody) & Son, London. Luscious! Light wear to joints. Front outer hinge cracked but holding. Plates fresh and bright. 16 x 25.5 cm. (1 color plate), (1 color title page), title, 282, (2 guide to binder), (4 publisher's ads) Color title and plates. Long satirical poem on British naval life, illustrated with twenty-four brilliant (and funny) aquatint plates and colored engrav.

The documents include a printed 'Certificate of Thanks' from the RLSS, with facsimile signature of Earl Mountbatten of Burma, made out to 'Captain G. P. Rimington | Nyeri', and dated 1963; 1p., foolscap 8vo. Also present are five Typed Letters Signed from Alwyn E. Biscoe, Chief Secretary, to Rimington in Kenya. All on RLSS London letterhead, 2 May and 21 July 1950, and 16 February, 4 May and 19 June 1951. All 1p., 4to. The first two discussing 'the appointment of Mr. Tattersall as Hon. Representative for the Kisumu district' and Rimington's resignation as 'Hon. Representative for Nairobi'; the third regarding Rimington's position on the 'Examination Panel'; the fourth and fifth concerning the RLSS's 'Diamond Jubilee Annual Council Meeting'. Also two circular letters from Biscoe, both on RLSS letterheads, April and September 1953. 1p., 4to, and 1p., 8vo. The first regarding a message from 'Our Patron, Her Majesty the Queen'; the second enclosing 'a supplement to the present handbook dealing with the Holger Nielsen method of artificial respiration and drill. The illustrated booklet ('The Royal Life Saving Society's Supplement on the Holger Nielsen Method of Artificial Respiration and Drill') is also present; it is 12pp., 12mo, and stapled. Also a circular letter and memorandum from Mrs F. M. Newman, 'for the Chief Secretary', to 'Diploma Working Party', on RLSS letterheads, 29 and 30 April 1963, enclosing an 'advance copy of the examination form embodying the new conditions for the Diploma Practical test'. The form itself is 2pp., foolscap 8vo, in a green printed folder. The remaining five items are: a circular typed 'Memorandum | Roal Life Saving Society | Metal Awards', signend by E. Hale, Chief Secretary, 19 December 1956. 1p., foolscap 8vo; a copy of a typed letter from Rimington to Briscoe, 14 May 1951 (1p., landscape 12mo), regarding the 'Society's Diamond Jubilee'; a copy of a Typed Letter from the Keeper of the Privy Purse to Mountbatten, 21 July 1953 (1p., 4to), reporting the Queen's satisfaction that 'the number of deaths from drowning continues to show a decrease'; carbon copy of Autograph Letter to Rimington from A. C. St Norman (Hon. Sec. of the Transvaal Branch), on letterhead of the B. I . Steam Navigation Company, Limited; Karanja, 11 July 1954, suggesting a meeting to 'discuss lifesaving'; typed carbon of typed extracts from letter [to Rimington in Kenya] from RLSS, 1 May 1950. 1p., 4to. Regarding Rimington taking a diploma examination with 'Miss Dodds or Mr. Tattersall', and hoping that his efforts 'will help to revive interest in our work'.

Album. This singular and compelling Second World War album was painstakingly compiled, decorated, and annotated by Royal Air Force Group Captain Walter J. Pickard. Full of mementos, documents, and photographs, the album chronicles the staging, preparation, and flights which conveyed Winston Churchill, as well as other British and American delegates, to the Yalta Conference in 1945, earning Pickard the accolades of his commanders, the appreciation of his Prime Minister, and the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.). Not least among the album's contents is the dated inscription of Winston S. Churchill and signed correspondence from Churchill's private secretary confirming that Churchill personally received, examined, and inscribed this album, and conveying Churchill's appreciation to Pickard.The album is 100 numbered pages, bound in leather-covered boards with a hand-labeled title "Saki" affixed diagonally on the front cover. "Saki" refers to the Crimean airbase, built by the Soviets in the 1930s, that served as the landing point for the aircraft bearing Churchill, Roosevelt, and the rest of the British and American delegations to the Conference. The boards show wear to extremities and the leather-covered spine is gone. The boards and contents nonetheless remain tenuously connected, the mull and overall binding structure quite fragile but still holding. The binding has done its job of preserving the treasure trove within; the contents are generally clean, only lightly toned with scattered stains and occasional creasing, and appear complete, as originally compiled.The contents of the album include the following:- A September 9, 1947 typed letter signed by Winston Churchill's Private Secretary addressed to Pickard acknowledging that Pickard sent the album to Churchill, expressing Churchill's thanks, and confirming that Churchill inscribed the album, which was returned with the letter.- Pickard's title page in elaborate, multi-hued calligraphy: "The Story of 150 Staging Post and the Airlift to the Yalta Conference February 1945."- Personnel list of those under the command of Group Captain W. J. Pickard.- 10 typed pages, marked "SECRET", comprising Pickard's detailed "REPORT ON OPERATION 'ARGONAUT'", dated "26th February, 1945" and signed by Pickard.- Five letters of appreciation from senior military commanders, including letters signed by U.S. Brigadier General James S. Stowell and General Lord Hastings Lionel "Pug" Ismay.- "TOP SECRET CYPHER MESSAGE" of "24th JANUARY" from "150 STAGING POST" to "TRANSPORT COMMAND" that, according to Pickard's elaborate calligraphy annotation, "nearly stopped the Conference".- 50 photographs from the conference, 13 featuring Churchill, Roosevelt, or both.- Seven currency notes, including Soviet, American, and Greek, five signed by a bevy of people, including pilots.- A "TOP SECRET MOST URGENT" typed "1st February 1945" letter signed by Air Commodore Whitney Straight to Group Captain Pickard conveying the "Flight Plan" and "Passenger Lists", as well as the fighter escort and other details, for transport of VIPs to the Yalta Conference.- The "Friday, February 16th, 1945" farewell dinner menu, signed on the blank verso by the members of Pickard's command.- Pickard's original Yalta Conference passes both British Delegation and Soviet.- A contemporary Observer clipping that specifically refers to this, Pickard's "remarkable autograph book"- A "24th January" 1945 typed and hand-annotated "TOP SECRET CYPHER MESSAGE" from Pickard regarding critical communication and transport difficulties preceding the Conference.This album, with all of its annotations and embellishments, has the look and feel of both military precision and treasured story book the adult manifestation of a seasoned commander and pilot recording his actual experience of every lad's dream to fly, to dare, and to overcome.Please note that additional images and a considerably more comprehensive description are available upon request.