DELICATE MISSION: Autobiography of a secret agent (First edition - first printing - scarce)
Language: English
Published by Skilton & Shaw, 52 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, 1979
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Orlando Booksellers, Lincoln, United KingdomOrlando Booksellers
AbeBooks seller since January 11, 2000
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 200.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
First printing of the true first edition. ***Very good in red cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still beautifully bright, having been protected by the dustwrapper. Boards clean and unmarked. Head of spine slightly creased. Corners sharp. All edges of text block lightly foxed. Internally near fine with no inscriptions. No foxing. No creasing. No tears. No marks. However, please note that there is a 'Lincolnshire Library Service' stamp and Dewey reference number on the page opposite the Contents page. There are no other library marks, so it is likely that the book was held in the reference library. Spine tight. ***In a very good dustwrapper with photographs of the author front and back - not price-clipped, showing the original publishers price of £5.95 net. Extremities of dustwrapper slightly rubbed and creased. No loss. No tears. No significant creasing. The dustwrapper would be described as near fine except for the fact that there are two narrow strips of clear archival tape affixed to the top and tail of the spine - most likely done by the library to prevent tearing to the top and tail of the spine of the dustwrapper. These could probably be carefully removed by a book archivist. No fading to the sun-sensitive orange titles on the spine of the dustwrapper. ***220 mm x 145 mm. 272 pages. ***'Conrad Fulke Thomond O'Brien-ffrench, 2nd Marquis de Castelthomond (19 Nov 1893 - 23 Oct 1986 was a distinguished British Secret Intelligence Officer, Captain in the Tipperary Rangers of the Royal Irish Regiment and 16th The Queen's Lancers in World War I, and Mountie for the Royal North-West Mounted Police. He was also an accomplished artist, linguist, mountaineer, skier, and author.' (Wiki) ***'Conrad O'Brien-ffrench, Marquis de Castel-Thomond, was born in London in 1893. At the age of 17 he sailed for Canada and became a Mountie, but in 1912 returned home to be with his dying mother. On the outbreak of war he was sent to France with the Royal Irish Regiment where severely wounded he was captured at the Battle of Mons. As a prisoner-of-war in Germany he began to obtain valuable classified information from other prisoners recently arrived at the camp, and this he relayed to London by the simple device of invisible ink. As a result after the war Stewart Menzies (head of M.I.1.6 - later to become M.I.6 - the British Military Intelligence branch, and the model for Ian Fleming's "M") offered him a job as assistant Military Attaché to the British Legation at Stockholm. Thus began an association which was to continue up to the beginning of the Second World War. His life in the 'thirties, when under the guise of playboy and sportsman he kept watch on Hitler's Germany, is frequently stranger than fiction. But Conrad O'Brien-ffrench's day to day battle of wits with the Nazis, which is said to have inspired his friend Ian Fleming with the idea for James Bond, is just a single period in an astonishing life that spans the whole of the present century. Conrad O'Brien-ffrench lives today in a chalet in the Rockies, where at 85 he lectures on philosophy and art, and teaches painting.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A first printing of the true first edition of this very elusive work by the secret intelligence officer, artist, linguist, mountaineer, skier, and author Conrad O'Brien-ffrench. The book is scarce. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.***.…
Seller Inventory # 7993x
Bibliographic details
- Title
- DELICATE MISSION: Autobiography of a secret agent (First edition - first printing - scarce)
- Author
- Conrad O'Brien-ffrench
- Publisher
- Skilton & Shaw, 52 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London
- Publication year
- 1979
- Condition
- Very Good
- Dust jacket
- Very Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- Edition
- First Edition
- Printing
- First Printing
- Seller catalogs
- Literature, Political & Social History, Travel & Exploration
Orlando Booksellers
Lincoln, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since January 11, 2000
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 8 to 12 business days | 6 to 8 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 20.00 | £ 25.00 |
Payment methods
- Bank Wire Transfer
- Paypal
Store description
We specialize in 20th Century literature, and in particular, Modern First Editions. We would be interested in buying such books, whether individual items or collections. We are particularly interested in Bloomsbury writers, Beats & Counter Culture and 20th C photography monographs. Our books can be viewed as a whole on ABE, or by choosing one of a number of catalogues that we have set up for particular interests, such as Crime Fiction & True Crime, Collectable Paperbacks, Children's Literature etc.…
Specialty
Modern First Editions, Literature, Literature in Translation, Bloomsbury Group, Counter-culture, Antiquarian, Collectable Paperbacks, Art & PhotographySeller's business information
Orlando Booksellers
1 Rasen Lane
Lincoln, United Kingdom LN1 3EZ
Terms of sale
Mastercard, Visa and PayPal accepted. We also accept personal cheques for UK sales, made out to Orlando Booksellers (UK pounds). Proof of postage is obtained for all items, however, we cannot be responsible for items lost or damaged in transit. Therefore, on higher value items, we offer the option of tracked (insured) shipping which offers peace of mind for both the bookseller and the customer. [See Shipping Terms section below for more information]. We always pack our books extremely well to protect them from any possible damage. Any title found not to be as described may be returned, provided this is done within fourteen days of its receipt. We are happy to offer a 10% discount on book prices for fellow booksellers. Orlando Booksellers is a partnership - Alison Smith and Chris McKee. Our VAT Registration number is 629 3707 21.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Orlando Booksellers, Lincoln, United Kingdom, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging materials; any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only; for the UK, our standard rate is for first class, and the priority rate includes tracked (signed for) delivery; for International sales, our standard rate is for Airmail delivery, and the priority rate is for tracked (International signed for) delivery. We would prefer that you choose the priority rate (tracked option) for higher value books of say £50 or more. Please note that we will always reduce shipping fees where appropriate e.g. for smaller (lighter) books when we accept your order. For heavier books and sets etc. we will often 'soak up' the extra cost, but on occasion, we may need to charge more than the quoted shipping fee. However, customers will always have the option to either accept or decline the revised order amount. We will also reduce the overall shipping fee for multiple orders. We will endeavour to ship all books within two business days of receiving your order.