The Commission of H.M.S. "Terrible" 1898 - 1902
London: George Newnes, Limited, 1903. Hardcover. 8 3/4 by 5 3/4 inches; 221 by 144 mm. xvi, 370 pages. Signed by the author. Hardcover, in good condition, bound in dark blue cloth. The front board and spine are elaborately decorated, with the ship conveyed in gilt and light blue stamping, an artillery gun on the spine, and other marine decorations also in gilt. "Souvenir Edition" on spine. Covers worn at corners and at head and tail of spine; remains of paper label on lower part of spine; front hinge a bit loose but not in immediate danger of worsening; foxing throughout, except on glossy pages used for photo plates. Item #832
This copy is from the library of the Officers' Mess, Portsmouth Division, Royal Marines, with the library's large bookplate on the front pastedown. (The library also has also put its inkstamp mark three times on the endpapers.) Toward the bottom of the bookplate, in red ink, is a handwritten note, "Presented By/THE AUTHOR/George Crowe". On the front free endpaper, in brown ink, is the inscription "Officers Library/Royal Marine Artillery/Portsmouth/With most respectful/Compliments from the author/George Crowe". (It's unclear whether the two inscriptions are in the same hand; the one in brown ink uses a distinctive style with several flourishes.) Crowe was Master-at-Arms on the Terrible, and he provides a detailed account of its service in the Second Boer War and in the Boxer Rebellion. Very well illustrated, with 77 photographs, maps and diagrams. An uncommon book, particularly with such an inscription and association.
Price: $450.00