By Commander William King
London   Hutchinson of London
9" by 6" 9-192pp
A signed first edition of this decorated submarine commander's memoir of the Second World War, dedicated to the socialite in whose house he wrote the work.
By Commander William King

1958 The Stick and the Stars

London   Hutchinson of London
9" by 6" 9-192pp
A signed first edition of this decorated submarine commander's memoir of the Second World War, dedicated to the socialite in whose house he wrote the work.
£120.00
: 0.5kgs / : 794F31

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Description

Author's Presentation Copy, First Edition, Publishers' Original Binding, Signed

The first edition of this autobiographical work from British naval officer, yachtsman and author Commander William Donald Aelian King. A submarine commander, he was the only person to command a British submarine on both the first and last days of World War II. This work details his time in the navy during the Second World War.

With a frontispiece portrait of the author.

Signed by King to the half title: 'To Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie in whose house this book was written'.

Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie was an extravagant socialite and renowned beauty of the Edwardian period. Impeccably connected, Pleydell-Bouverie was also the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII, and rumoured to be a lover of King Edward VIII. A sparkling figure of fashionable society, her friends included Nancy Mitford, Coco Chanel, Winston Churchill, and Fred Astaire.

This work is from the sale of Pleydell-Bouverie’s library at Julians Park, Hertfordshire, where King authored this work. She purchased the home in 1940, redesigning the interior and amassing an impressive library, featuring many examples of her own bookbinding.

Condition

In the publisher's original cloth binding. Bumping to spine head and tail, with two light marks to front board. Minor spotting to fore edge of text block. Internally, firmly bound. Signed to half title. Light foxing to title page. Pages otherwise generally clean and bright.

Very Good

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