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KIPLING**, RUDYARD: : THE IRISH GUARDS IN THE GREAT WAR - THE SECOND BATTALION

UK.STAPLEHURST,KENT.SPELLMOUNT LIMITED,1997.

ISBN 1873376839.

UK,Qrto HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn. FINE/FINE-. No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,glossy,b/w photographic illustrated front of dw/dj,with author's capitalised,red-lettered name and capitalised HIS FORGOTTEN MASTERPIECE credit underneath,at front's top edge,plus capitalised,outlined red-lettered part-title and capitalised,white-lettered sub-title within a horizontal rectangular panel/box at front's lower edge.A red spine/backstrip with author's capitalised, black-lettered name at its head,white-lettered part-title aand capitalided,white-lettered sub-title and publisher's black illustrated colophon to oot of same,rear panel with glossy red background with black-lettered synopsis and 4 critics' other black-lettered revews.Negligible shelf-wear to edges and corners with minimal creasing to head of spine and top edges ot both inner flaps - one sellotape repair to a tiny closed teat at front's top corner tip and a tiny puncture on front's lower gutter - but no other nicks,tears or splits present.Top+fore-edges bright,crisp and clean without ageing/toning or foxing/spotting; contents bright,tight,clean, solid and sound - virtually pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips, would appear unread other than my own collation. Publisher's bright,crisp,unblemished,sharp-cornered,original plain dark green cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt lettering to spine/backstrip,a red+yellow chequered headband and immaculate repeated b/w map ITINERARY of the SECOND BATTALION IRISH GUARDS AUGUST 1915 - DECEMBER 1918 illustrated endpapers.UK,Qrto HB+ dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn,5-23pp [paginated] includes a Contents list/table with Publisher's Note to its reverse,a Foreword reproduced from the Irish Guards Journal,Number 52,1993 about Lieutenant John Kipling,an Introduction,4 Annual sections - 1915 - 1918 with single+double page contemporary b/w biographical and scenic photographs interspersed throughout the text and book,b/w battle+billet maps,Commanding Officers: 2nd Battalion list,Appendices (A-D) and an Index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages. Visually the external appearance is more than acceptable,and particularly internally,is in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation for a book of it's 25+ year-old age.It is only the minimal faults described that prevent a slightly higher grading.Despite that,it really is still an exemplary example for it's brightness,cleanliness and lack of other or age-acquired detracting faults commonly encountered in a book of a comparable age. A regimental history and official account of the Irish Guards in the First World War,written by Rudyard Kipling in honour of his son,John, who served in the Irish Guards and was killed in his first action at the battle of Loos.This book also contains a listing of the battle rolls of honour and casualty lists of all officers and men who served with the First and Second Battalion.This title was originally and first published in 1923 in 2 volumes and is Kipling's little known masterpiece. In August 1914 Kipling's son John.not yet 17, volunteered for a commission in the Army,but being under age and with poor sight,was initially refused.He next proposed to enlist in the ranks,but his father's friendship with Lord Roberts was used to gain his son a commission in the Irish Guards,of which Roberts was Colonel-in-Chief.In 1915 John went to France and his Battalion,the 2nd,was at once deployed in the costly battle of Loos.He was now aged only eighteen and amongst the early casualities: the whereabouts of his grave was a mystery until 1992. Devastated,Kipling when approached about writing a regimental history of the Irish Guards,immediately accepted,and spent five and a half years of intermittent research,based on on official and private records,diaries and personal interviews with members of the regiment. Many years out of print,the two volumes,of which this is Volume Two,are republished in lavish, illustrated editions,complete with the original maps and appendices.   Please contact the seller,particularly ALL overseas buyers for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes BEFORE placing your order,especially if ordering any multiples. N.B. ALL buyers please note,stock(s') shipping quotes are adjusted for any refunds AFTER receipt of order and BEFORE the despatch of the order,especially if the item is offered either P+p included/FREE.                    ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard US AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence, then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **                                                                                  

UK,Qrto HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn.
Not SIGNED.

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