Masterman J C Foot M R D Pearson (3 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Royal octavo; hardcover, with illustrated upper board and gilt spine titles and upper board decorations; 215pp., with a monochrome portrait frontispiece and 12pp. of plates likewise. Minor wear. No dustwrapper as issued. Near fine in like slipcase.

First printing. Octavo; hardcover; blue buckram boards with illustrated upper board and gilt spine-titling; 215pp., with monochrome portrait frontispiece and 12pp. of photographic plates similar. Fine in like slightly rubbed slip-case. Postage quoted is for a standard format octavo book. Final charges may vary depending on size and weight. The Double Cross System is not the only document to describe double agents and deception. It is simply the best. Masterman gives us a world of stratagems, inhabited by characters like SNOW, ZIGZAG and TRICYCLE. They were known only by these cover names and in them they lived and operated. Nuance became all. Even the methods of communication between the agent and the enemy, whether by wireless, by secret writing, or by personal contact in neutral countries, required empathy on the part of the case officers and planners. The details of a man's wireless style, for example, the warning signals, the very rhythm of the key in sending messages must be mastered so that if the agent should die or for one reason or another be removed, a substitution could be made but not recognised. 'A game played with dynamite in which those who couldn't play were executed . Should on no account be missed by anyone who enjoys a good thriller.' - Anthony Price.

Fine binding. Near Fine condition in the original slipcase.