About this Item
First edition, first impression published in 1919. The book was published with four folded maps in a card pocket attached to the rear pastedown, all of which are present as called for and in near fine condition. There is also an additional map present (please see scans)
***Very good in red cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt has dulled, which is unsurprising considering the book is now over 100 years old. The spine is rubbed and faded, with slight fraying to the edges, but the boards are generally clean, just showing some marks, rubbing and fading to the edges commensurate with age and handling over the years (please see scans). Corners of boards slightly rubbed and creased. Head and tail of spines slightly creased, but no serious bumps or creases. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Page block edges darkened but clean - rough-edged to the fore-edge and bottom edge. Internally also very good with previous ownership name and date in pencil on the front free endpaper, but no other obvious annotations. Internally the pages are very clean, with virtually no foxing - just some browning to the endpapers. No serious creases or tears. All folding maps clean and in near fine condition. No dustwrapper. ***213 pages plus a two-page publisher's advert at the back of the book. 223mm x 148mm.
***'Major-General Sir Frederick Barton Maurice, KCMG, CB (19 Jan 1871 - 19 May 1951) was a British Army officer, military correspondent, writer and academic. During the First World War he was forced to retire from the army in May 1918 after writing a letter to The Times criticizing Prime Minister David Lloyd George for making misleading statements about the strength of British forces on the Western Front. He also later founded the British Legion in 1921, and served as its president from 1932 to 1947. On the outbreak of war in 1914, Maurice was posted to France and assigned to Major General Hubert Hamilton's 3rd Division as its general staff officer, grade 1, or chief of staff, in late August and saw action at the Battle of Mons. He was promoted to temporary colonel in November 1914 and brevet colonel in June 1915. In 1915 Maurice, who in February was made a CB, was director of military operations at GHQ.' (Wiki)
***'This little book owes its origin to curiosity. I wanted to see if it was possible to discover what the Germans were planning and doing during the retreat from Mons. I found that by piecing together evidence obtainable from the accounts of the early parts of the war published in Germany, in neutral countries, in France, and by Belgian authorities, as well as from the reports of the very full investigations which have been conducted into the German atrocities, in Northern France and in Belgium, it was possible to work out the movements of the German armies, and from those to deduce the German plans. The information obtained in this way threw what has been to me an entirely new light upon the campaign, and made clear what had previously been dark. (Quote taken from the Preface to First Edition)
***A nice example of the first edition of this important First World War study ""Forty Days in 1914" by Major-General Sir F. Maurice K.C.M.G., C.B., with all folding maps present, as called for, plus an additional map. Of interest to collectors of books about the Great War and military historians. ***We also have a second edition copy from 1925, which was published after post-war economic restrictions had ended, and is printed on thicker quality paper, with a wider binding. The second edition also has the four folded maps - see separate listing for details). We have included pictures of both books to show for comparison. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.
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