ONE MARINE'S TALE

First edition, first printing. Signed by the author. Publisher's original blue cloth with titles in gilt to the spine, in dustwrapper. Illustrated with four black and white photographic plates. A very good copy, the binding square and firm. The contents with a diagonal crease to the top corner of the front free endpaper, toning to the endpapers and a little light scattered foxing to the endpapers and edges of the textblock are otherwise in very good order and clean throughout. Complete with the very good, lightly rubbed and spotted dustwrapper which has a 1.5cm tear to the foot of the front panel, neatly repaired verso with clear tape, and a few small nicks to the extremities. Not price-clipped (15s net to the front flap).

Signed by General Sir Leslie Hollis in blue ink to the front free endpaper "To Stanley, / with deep gratitude, / Jo Hollis / June 1956". The memoirs of General Sir Leslie Hollis (1897-1963) (whose nickname was "Jo"), an officer in the Royal Marines who served as Staff Officer to Winston Churchill during the Second World War and also as liaison officer between the Prime Minister and the British Chiefs of Staff. "He came to know his chief well, and the intimate and amusing glimpses he gives of the great man are among the most interesting parts of the book" (from the front flap).