The Ballads of a Rookie

A charming and very scarce signed first edition of Leon D. Brooks's collection of poems based on his service in Camp Dix, New Jersey, during the First World War. A signed example of the vanishingly scarce first edition poetry collection, from Leon D. Brooks of the 312th Regiment of Infantry, Camp Dix, in New Jersey.With an inscription from the author to the tail of the preface, 'to my dear, dear Uncle and Aunt Nell, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year', dated December 24th 1917.A collection of charming, humorous and entertaining poems penned 'for the men of Camp Dix; the men who are doin' their bit with a will and a smile', rather than those 'American Slackers' seeking to avoid service.With an illustrated frontispiece. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Light rubbing to back strip head and tail, otherwise externally excellent. Front hinge strained, with text block tenderly held. Internally, binding lightly strained. Inscription to tail of preface. Pages otherwise clean and bright. Good.…