Lisiewicz M Et Al (3 results)
More imagesLanguage: English
Published by William Heinemann Ltd, London, 1949
- Hardcover
- First Edition
- Signed
Seller: Arch Books, London, United KingdomArch Books
Contact seller5-star sellerCondition: Used - Fine
£ 3,500.00
£ 4.10 shippingShips from United Kingdom to U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition, Special Edition. Here is a reduced version, under 4,000 characters: LISIEWICZ, M., et al. Destiny Can Wait: The Polish Air Force in the Second World War. London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1949. A deeply significant presentation copy from the Polish Airmen to Marshal of the Royal Air Force Ch…arles Frederick Algernon Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford, from Portal's personal collection, specially bound in full black leather with gilt spine lettering and Polish Air Force emblem. Inscribed on the half-title: "To Marshal of the Royal Air Force / The Viscount Portal of Hungerford / with gratitude / from / Polish Airmen. / 30th November 1949." Portal was not merely a distinguished recipient: he contributes the foreword, and during the war served as Chief of the Air Staff, the senior professional head of the RAF. The Polish Air Force in Britain operated within the wider RAF command structure, with Polish squadrons making a celebrated contribution to the Battle of Britain, the bomber offensive, Coastal Command, fighter operations, and the wider Allied air war. In this context the inscription "with gratitude from Polish Airmen" has real force, reading as a collective act of remembrance and thanks from the airmen whose wartime service the book records. First edition, first impression. Thick octavo, specially bound in black leather, gilt to spine, illustrated throughout with photographs, maps, diagrams and striking colour plates. Foreword by Portal. The editorial note explains that the book was designed as a preliminary account rather than a final official history, making it one of the earliest substantial English-language memorial histories of the Polish Air Force in the Second World War. Condition: near fine. Binding firm, leather fresh and bright, gilt strong, contents clean with only light natural toning. A distinguished copy in a superior special binding, with an inscription of major cultural and historical significance. Offered together with an original draft speech for the unveiling of the Polish Pilots' Memorial, 3rd November 1948 Accompanying the book is a remarkable two-page typed and heavily manuscript-corrected first draft of a speech delivered, or prepared for delivery, at the unveiling of the Polish Pilots' Memorial on 3rd November 1948. Headed in typescript: "First Draft / Speech at the unveiling of the Polish Pilots' Memorial / 3rd November 1948." The address honours the 1,243 members of the Polish Air Force who, after Poland and France had been overrun, gave their lives in the cause of freedom. It refers directly to the Polish pilots' famous role in the Battle of Britain, noting that over 200 enemy aircraft were confirmed destroyed by Polish pilots in that battle alone, and that 33 Polish pilots gave their lives. The draft continues by recalling the formation in Britain of Polish squadrons and training schools, their fighter and bomber operations, their part in the Battle of the Atlantic, and their service with the Tactical Air Forces on the Continent. In manuscript, the speech is substantially revised throughout, with numerous corrections, insertions, deletions, and rewritten passages. Particularly evocative is the added closing language, offering "our true sympathy" to those relations "who mourn their loss." The speech has a strong contextual relationship with Destiny Can Wait. Both the book and the speech belong to the immediate post-war moment in which the Polish Air Force's sacrifice was being formally recorded, commemorated, and publicly honoured in Britain. The book preserves that history in published form, while this draft speech captures the act of remembrance in process, with the language of tribute still being shaped on the page. Condition of speech: two typed leaves, folded, with age toning, handling creases, small marginal wear and manuscript corrections throughout. Preserved as a working draft, with all the immediacy and historical interest such a document conveys. Signed by Author(s).
More imagesPublished by William Heinemann Ltd, London, 1949
- Hardcover
- First Edition
Seller: Adelaide Booksellers, Clarence Gardens, SA, AustraliaAdelaide Booksellers
Contact seller5-star sellerCondition: Used
£ 79.97
£ 16.62 shippingShips from Australia to U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
Hardback. 1st Edition. Large octavo size [16x24cm approx]. Near Fine copy in a Very Good dustjacket. DJ has some light edge-wear and is now protected in our clear archival purpose-made plastic sleeve. An excellent copy. Illustrated with Black & White Photographs and Drawings [Reproductions] and eight [8] colour plates. Index. Fo…reword by Viscount Portal of Hungerford [Marshal of the R.A.F.]. 402 pages. Tells the history of the Polish Air Force in World War 2. It is based on combat reports, squadron diaries, other official records, and personal narratives of members of the Polish Air Force.
Published by Heinemann, [1949], 1949
- Hardcover
- First Edition
Seller: Island Books, Thakeham, West Sussex, United KingdomIsland Books
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used
£ 90.00
£ 23.20 shippingShips from United Kingdom to U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
4to., First Edition, with a coloured frontispiece, 7 coloured plates, 108 monochrome photographs on 48, 12 full-page plates of drawings by Topolski and numerous illustrations, diagrams and tail-pieces in the text; original blue cloth, backstrip lettered in silver, boards and backstrip very lightly rubbed and age-marked else a ve…ry good, clean copy. Classic account prepared by the Polish Air Force association in London as the official English language history of Polish flyers in WW 2. The text is based on combat reports, squadron diaries and official records, with personal narratives by many former aircrew and (all-important) ground staff. It is the definitive account of the ten fighter squadrons (302, 303, 306, 307, 308, 309, 315, 316, 317, 318) and four bomber squadrons (300, 301, 304, 305) that flew with the RAF to such notable effect. VERY SCARCE.
