Search Results: French History from Louise Aird

This is a near-perfect copy of Amiens - Dawn of Victory, written in 2001 by the military historians James McWilliams and R. James Steel.

This is a trade paperback--it was apparently not published in hard cover.

Amiens (August 8-11 1918) was the first 'modern battle' attempted by the Allies. Employing secrecy, deception and the troops of five nations, the Allies won a string of victories which culminated in the Armistice 100 days later. Amiens was the decisive battle of World War I; it was called "the black day of the German army" and marked the beginning of the end of the war.

This book is the first to study the battle in real detail. Using eyewitness accounts from survivors, plus accounts from participants.

320 pages, with a few photographs and maps.

As you can see, the spine was cracked. But the book was not read. It is in pristine condition.

This is a stated first US edition of Baron Philippe: The Very Candid Autobiography of Baron Philippe de Rothschild. Rothschild (1902-1988) co-wrote the book with his companion, the British writer and theater director Joan Littlewood (1914-2002)Philippe, Baron de Rothschild was a member of the Rothschild banking dynasty who became a Grand Prix race-car driver, a screenwriter and playwright, a theatrical producer, a film producer, a poet, and one of the most successful wine growers in the world. He led a fascinating life and this is an excellent book.This copy (331 pages) has no dust jacket and the spine is somewhat faded, as is the gold lettering on the spine.Inside, the book was pressed open to the center photo spread, and again at another photo spread at the back of the book.Other than that, there's no evidence that it was read. All of the pages are clean, clear and creamy white.

This is an original lithograph by the French artist Henri Matisse (1869-1954), who is considered to be one of the key artists in the significant development of 20th century painting and sculpture. In 1941, Matisse had surgery for stomach cancer and the surgery permanently restricted his mobility. He could no longer paint, so he developed a new art form: paper cut-outs. He supervised lithographs of his cut-outs until his death in 1954.
In 1952, he created a series of studies on women's posture, which he reproduced from paintings he made in 1928. The series was four images called "Blue Nudes". This is Blue Nude III.
The image is 9" x 12 1/2". It is signed (in the plate), in black ink, lower right. It is set into a white mat and framed with a sand-colored wooden frame (expensively framed by DeSerres Montreal). Glass-fronted; the back is covered by a solid panel of fibreboard.
Note: These photos were taken in very yellow light. I tried to tone it down a little but, in doing so, washed out some of the… Read More

Pace the pitching black deck with a sleepless Admiral Nelson the night before battle bestows eternal rest and peerless immortality upon him; envision with Mahan the storm-tossed and ever-watchful ships-of-the-line that kept England secure from invasion; wonder in awe at Collingwood's dedication in working himself to death after Trafalgar elevated him to primary responsibility for England's imperial safety in the Mediterranean. All of this and more awaits the reader who will sail through these pages, every one of which is etched with the indelible expertise and boundless enthusiasm of Nathan Miller, master of naval history.This is the first US edition. 388 pages, including photos. One faint thumbprint and one dogear; otherwise perfect.NOTE: My quoted price for shipping OUTSIDE of North America is for surface mail without tracking. For other shipping options, please contact me.

This is a first edition of The Century of Impressionists, published by Crown in 1967. It was written by the French art critic Raymond Cogniat (1896-1977). This is a richly illustrated history of Impressionism, showing the many forms that it took and demonstrating the interdependence of art and ideas. It includes an international panorama of reproductions and includes biographical notes on the artists. (see contents photos)It includes dozens of black and white images, 64 two-color drawings and 110 color reproductions. Some of the plates are removeable for framing.It is a big heavy expensive book. 207 pages, 9 3/4" x 13" x 1 1/4".The book itself is plain red cloth with silver/white lettering on the spine.The red cloth is faded just along the bottom.The dust jacket is unclipped with some shelfwear and a couple of small marks on the cover.Inside, the book is perfect.
Note: If you are outside of North America, the quoted shipping price is for surface mail without tracking. For other options, please contact me.

The Complete Guide to Antiques is a a comprehensive guide to antiques and collectables from around the world. The book is a collection of over 8000 antiques of every variety; each entry is illustrated with a color photograph, and includes information on dealer prices, date and origin which will assist you in identifying and valuing your own antiques, as well as helping you find and pay the right price for your purchases. 550 pages. Weight is 5 lbs.There's a little bit of wear to the dust jacket, and 2 dogears.Otherwise mint condition.

You'll find some of these books listed as first editions and dated 1965, or 1957. The first edition in French was printed in 1957; the first in English was printed in 1958. This is a copy of that first edition.
It is a serious work of art history, and includes survey notices, exhibition texts and comments to and from collectors.

9" x 11", 4 lbs.
291 pages.
That includes 86 pages about Edgar Degas--his life and work, including illustrations and sketches.
Then there are 152 pages of plates. Most are black and white, and there are many black and white sketches and drawings.
There are 35 heliogravure (photogravure) color plates. These are tipped in, or hand-mounted, meaning that they are easily removed for framing.
But they are on different paper--a beige linen paper. You can remove the whole page and use the linen in the frame, or you could put your own backing on.

The spine of this book is badly discolored, although the covers are still a nice green.The inside is perfect.Note: The shipping… Read More

This is a perfect copy of the second printing of Dictionary of Antiques, by George Savage. It was first published in 1970.Its purpose is to help collectors, dealers, art historians and designers date pieces, note attributes and generally learn more about antiques. Over 1500 entries, with nearly 700 illustrations, alphabetically arranged and carefully cross-referenced. Special terms, including widely used foreign ones, are explained, and differences between American and British or Continental terminology are pointed out. There is a comprehensive index of marks.534 pages.There's a little bit of wear to the dust jacket, particularly to the spine.Otherwise mint condition.

This is a first edition, and likely the only edition, of Dunkirk and After, written by the British journalist Gordon Beckles (Willson). Beckles was a real Fleet Street man and wrote several books, very quickly and with somewhat lurid covers (another one of this books was Tanks Advance!).
This book is undated and no other sources seem to know when it was published. But it's on wartime paper and he likely wrote it right after the evacuation, so it was probably published in 1941.
As you can see, the dust jacket says it's a day-to-day narrative, a behind-the-scenes record, with eye-witness accounts. 253 pages with lots of photos. It was the property of E Dorothy Chattanson, who signed the front endpaper. The dust jacket is tattered and there is fading to the book's cover. The inside of the book is in excellent condition.

This is a first US edition of An Encyclopedia of Small Antiques, published in 1975.It was compiled specifically for collectors, and is useful for designers, decorators and art historians. 425 entries, mainly from the last three centuries. 320 pages, 32 colour plates, 350 b/w illustrations.
There's a little bit of wear to the dust jacket the paper is starting to darken. Otherwise perfect.

This is a first edition (UK/original) of Epic Sea Battles, published in 1975. It was written by the British naval historian William J. Koenig and contains hundreds of photographs, drawings and maps. In discusses 12 battles, beginning with the Battle of the Nile in 1798 and finishing with the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944 (see Contents photo). It is a big book--9 1/2" x 12 3/4" and 256 pages.It has no dust jacket.There is a very small inscription (daughter to father) on the front endpaper.I don't think it has been read.Aside from a few tiny specks on the cover, it is in perfect condition.

In this generously illustrated introduction to the world of the Celts, Simon James charts their way of life from farming to feasting, their wars, their gods, and their superb craftsmanship in metal, wood, and stone. He covers the neglected subject of Celtic life under Roman rule, particularly in Gaul and Britain, and the continuing traditions in Ireland after AD 400, when a Celtic renaissance gave birth to heroic tales, masterpieces of enameled metalwork, and renowned illuminated manuscripts.This copy, the first reprint, is in excellent condition. There is a tiny bit of dappling to the cover and minor wear to the dust jacket, as shown.192 pages, including loads of photos and illustrations. Black and white + color.

From 1978 to 1981, Time-Life Books published a series called 'The Seafarers'. It was 22 volumes, all written by experts in their fields, on different aspects of maritime history.
All are 175-185 pages, all bound in thick black leatherette, all beautifully illustrated with drawings, paintings and photographs.
Of the 22, I have 12 left (the list is below). All are listed here on Biblio. You can buy one, or as many as you like.
Mine are from the first printing. Unless otherwise noted, all are in mint condition.
This one is Fighting Sail, which covers the Golden Age of the Royal Navy in the half-century leading up to, and including, the Battle of Trafalgar.
Condition: Mint
From the series, I have:
- The Clipper Ships
- The Explorers
- Fighting Sail
- The Frigates
- The Great Liners
- The Men-of-War
- The Racing Yachts
- The Spanish Main
- The U-Boats
- The Venetians
- The Vikings
- Windjammers
NOTE: My quoted price for shipping OUTSIDE of North America is for surface mail without tracking. For other… Read More

This is actually an art history textbook, but it's a fascinating read and a must-have for those interested in art history. It was first written by Helen Gardner in 1926 but was continuously updated; this is the 8th edition, written by Richard Tansey and Horst de la Croix.I attach photos of the table of contents.From a Review:"The market-leading text for art history, Gardner's Art Through the Ages is a comprehensive guide to the defining phases of the world's artistic tradition. It tells the story of art in its full historical, social, religious, economic and cultural context and provides a deep understanding of art, architecture, painting and sculpture."This copy is in near-mint condition. Its flaws are one fingerprint and two ink marks--one on the front cover and one on the back. It's 1008 pages, including loads of photos. It weighs 6 lbs.The purchase price includes the high postage, as long as you're in the US or Canada.

This is a perfect first edition of Great Rivers of Europe, compiled and edited by the English historian Alan Bullock (Lord Bullock of Leafield, founder of St Catherine's College, Oxford and editor of the Oxford History of Modern Europe).It is a historical and physical survey of the ten great rivers of Europe: the Danube, Elbe, Loire, Po, Rhine, Seine, Tagus, Thames, Tiber and the Volga. It is a large book--12" x 11" x 1 1/4". 292 pages and packed with photographs, maps, and illustrations.It was published in London in 1966. The books were shipped to the US, where they were marketed by the International Book Society and Time Life Books. It comes in a navy blue slip case and those company names are stamped on it; they do not appear in the book though.There are a few bumps to the slip case, nothing major.The book is plain gray tweed boards with gold lettering on the spine. I don't think it has been read; both the book and dust jacket are in perfect condition.

This is a first edition of The Guns of Normandy, A Soldier's Eye View, France 1944, by the Canadian writer George Blackburn (1917-2006). Blackburn was also a WWII veteran, awarded both the Military Cross and the French Legion of Honour. He wrote about his experiences and his books were best-sellers. (I have the companion book, the Guns of Victory, also listed here on Biblio.)
This book is in near-mint condition. 536 pages, including maps and photos.
This is part of one review:
In the weeks after D-Day, the level of artillery action in Normandy was unprecedented. In what was a relatively small area, both sides bombarded each other relentlessly for three months, each trying to overwhelm the other by sheer fire power.The Guns of Normandy puts the reader in the front lines of this horrific battle. In the most graphic and authentic detail, it brings to life every aspect of a soldier's existence, from the mortal terror of impending destruction, to the unending fatigue, to the giddy exhilaration at finding… Read More

Two books by Sir Walter Scott, published in 1912 by Thomas Nelson & Sons, 4 1/4" x 6 1/14", bound in navy blue leatherette with plain covers and a brilliant gold design and lettering on the spine. Both are in near-mint condition.
QUENTIN DURWARD & GUY MANNERING
The first is 568 pages, the second 532.
The previous owner wrote her name on the front endpaper. She didn't read them though.
Guy Mannering has a crease to the front endpaper.
Otherwise, both are perfect. No shelf wear, no marks.
Stories
Quentin Durward, originally published in 1823, is an historical novel about a Scottish archer in the service of the French King Louis XI (1423-1483).
Guy Mannering, or the Astrologer, was published anonymously in 1815. It tells the story of Harry Bertram, who is kidnapped at age five by smugglers after witnessing the murder of a customs officer. It follows Harry's life and the struggle of the inheritance of his father's estate. The novel also depicts the lawlessness that existed at the time (1760-1780), when… Read More

This is a trade paperback, leafed through but not read, of The Guns of Victory, A Soldier's Eye View, Belgium, Holland and Germany 1944-45, by the Canadian writer George Blackburn (1917-2006). Blackburn was also a WWII veteran, awarded both the Military Cross and the French Legion of Honour. He wrote about his experiences and his books were best-sellers. (I have the companion book, the Guns of Normandy, also listed here.) The book was not issued in hardcover.
This book is in near-mint condition. The original owner leafed through it, dog-eared it once, then apparently didn't pick it up again. 506 pages, including maps and photos.
This is one review:
For the Canadian Soldiers who lived through the momentous battle for Normandy in the summer of 1944, it was inconceivable that the conflict in Europe could continue for another eight long months. The war was won, they thought, and to win it they had been pushed to what seemed like the limits of endurance. But ahead lay not only an enemy with no thoughts of… Read More

This is a first edition of The Impressionists, part of the The Universal History of Painting, a series published in 1979 by Ferni Geneva. (I also have The Primitives of Italy from the same series.)
It was written by the highly-regarded French art critic and journalist Raymond Cogniat (1896-1977) who was, among other things, heads of the arts section at Le Figaro. However, he died while writing the book, so it was finished by the French art historian Antoine Terrasse (1928-2013).
This book does not just focus on the most famous Impressionists--it includes all of the Impressionists; the index of names is 8 columns, in small print. It is also laid out in such a way that you can cut out the color plates for framing, without interfering with the text or structure of the book. There are dozens of color plates and many drawings. Weight is 4 lbs.
It has not been read and is in mint condition.

This is an unread copy of the best-selling book Is It Genuine? How to Collect Antiques with Confidence, written by the British antiques expert and Antiques Roadshow appraiser John Bly.It was first published in 1986 and was a best-seller; this is a copy of its first reprint, in 1987.It is an invaluable book for collectors of antique furniture, metalware, pottery and porcelain, glass, clocks, netsuke, quilts, scientific instruments, toys, and other antiques. See photo of contents.This book is in mint condition. There is very minor shelfwear to the (unclipped) dust jacket, but the book has not been read and is pristine.