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ROTHENSTEIN, Sir William, and CECIL, Lord David. Men of the R.A.F. London: Oxford University Press, 1942.
A significant presentation copy from Sir William Rothenstein to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, from Portal?s personal collection, with Rothenstein?s signed presentation slip mounted to the front endpaper: ?For Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal without whose unfailing support this book cd never have been, from Wm Rothenstein, 9.4.42.? The inscription gives the copy particular force: Portal was not merely a recipient, but central to the making of the book. He contributes the foreword, appears as the first portrait, and is acknowledged by Rothenstein as the necessary supporter behind the project.
First edition. Large octavo, original cloth, in the original pictorial dust jacket, priced 12s. 6d. net to the front flap. With forty full-page portrait reproductions by Sir William Rothenstein, a foreword by Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, ?Some Account of Life in the R.A.F.? by Rothenstein, ?A Layman?s Glimpse? by Lord David Cecil, a poem by John Masefield, and a complete list of Rothenstein?s R.A.F. drawings made between November 1939 and October 1941.
Rothenstein, an important portraitist, writer and former Principal of the Royal College of Art, had long experience in recording public figures, and during the war produced more than 200 portraits of RAF personnel, forty of which were selected for this volume. The book forms a carefully staged wartime tribute, moving from Portal at the head of the service to men of every rank. Among those represented or listed are figures such as Sir Arthur Longmore, Sir Hugh Dowding, Sir Richard Peirse, Guy Gibson, and George R. Ward, placing famous commanders beside pilots, gunners, wireless operators and ground staff. The result is both an RAF memorial volume and a collective portrait of the service at a critical moment.
A very good copy internally, with the presentation slip clear and well preserved. Dust jacket present and attractive, with chipping to the upper front corner, creasing, rubbing and edge wear, but substantially complete and protected. A compelling Portal presentation copy of a book in which Portal himself was a participant, sitter, foreword writer and enabling patron.
Seller Inventory # ABE-1777968060598
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