The Story of a Secret State (signed first printing) Jan Karski - the man that tried to stop the Holocaust

Houghton Mifflin. New York. 1944. 391 pages. SIGNED. First edition, first printing, with 1944 date present on the title page, and no later printings on copyright page. Signed by author Jan Karski, on the title page. Book is fine. Binding and hinges are strong and sound. Red cloth stamped with black titles. Pages and endpapers are bright and clean. No writing within. Previous owner's bookplate neatly adhered to FFEP. Date stamp hidden underneath rear DJ flap at base of rear pastedown. Original DJ is bright and attractive with a WWII wartime paper conservation stamp on base of rear flap. Minimal minor shelf-rubbing along DJ edges. A couple of minor, faint crease lines on rear of DJ. Published while WWII was still being fought, this is Karski's harrowing firsthand account, informing the world of the current annihilation of the Jews taking place, along with the Poles, in the Warsaw Ghetto; and his efforts to bring world leaders together, to stop the Holocaust; including having met face to face, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His efforts as a Polish underground fighter, a courier for the Allies, his infiltration of death camps, escaping as a POW, among many other exploits that illustrate the incredible efforts one man has made, to try and stop the Holocaust. Karski was awarded the Order of the White Eagle, the highest Polish civil decoration, and the Order Virtuti Militari, the highest military decoration awarded for bravery in combat. The Presidential Medal of Freedom, serving as the highest civilian honor in America, in addition to Righteous Among the Nations, in Jerusalem, honorary citizen of the nation of Israel; and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; in addition to countless other recognitions, including the corner of 37th Street and Madison Avenue being renamed Jan Karski Corner. This is Karski's remarkable Story of a Secret State; first edition, first printing; signed. Fine/VG++.