A Soldier's Manuscript (with Autograph letters).

Winant, Cornelius.

Published by Boston: Merrymount Press., 1929

About this Item

Three-quarter calf and blue cloth. 8vo. 141pp. Portrait. Limited to 750 copies. Inscribed by the author's mother. Posthumously published account of the author's experiences during World War I. Laid into this copy are two autograph wartime letters to his uncle Clinton Gilbert. Cornelius Winant (1896-1928) served with the American Ambulance Field Service in France beginning in June 1916. In January 1918 he enlisted in the French Foreign Legion, serving as Aspirant, in the 236th Field Artillery. His Battery was overrun and he became a prisoner of war. He escaped and was captured and escaped again. Crossing the countryside he reached Rotterdam and reported to the French consul. He was assigned to the 18th Artillery outside of Paris and given six weeks leave for being an escaped prisoner. The first letter is dated March 13, 1918 and is 4 pages long. He has just returned from leave in Paris and writes from the front. He talks about enemy shelling and how comfortable his "dugout" is. The second item is a one-page note on a postcard dated Oct. 12, 1918. It is written from a Dutch military camp after his escape from a German prison. In it he writes "Just a few lines to tell you I am once more a free man.I sneaked off alone and walked across Westphalia taking ten nights and hiding during the day". The book is in rather worn condition with much scuffing and wear to the leather spine and corners. The spine has been taped to hold the front cover on. The text is in very good condition with some minor soiling. The two letters are good with some creasing at the corners and light soiling.

Seller Inventory # 12280

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Soldier's Manuscript (with Autograph letters).
• Publisher: Boston: Merrymount Press.
• Publication Date: 1929
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Fair
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Military