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KELL, CONSTANCE: : A SECRET WELL KEPT: THE UNTOLD STORY OF SIR VERNON KELL FOUNDER OF MI5

LONDON.CONWAY/An imprint of BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING PLC,2017.

ISBN 9781844864355.

UK,small 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn. [Complete number line 2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1.] FINE/FINE. No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright, crisp,clean.matt,facsimile document folder illustrated background with superimposed b/w thumbnail subject's portrait photograph to front panel of dw/dj,and with glossy,embossed capitalised brown+red lettered title and capitalised shaded brown lettered sub-title,a Stella Rimmington black+brown lettered quote/ review; glossy capitalised black lettered author name to same.Glossy,embossed,capitalised black+ brown lettered part title and author's glossy, flat printed,capitalised black-lettered name to spine/backstrip,rear panel of dw/dj with superimposed staff group b/w photograph with brown+black lettered prose extract.Negligible shelf-wear,bumping,creasing to edges and corners - no nicks,tears or splits present.Top+fore-edges bright and clean without blemish other than very light toning; contents bright,tight, clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases toany pages' corner tips - appears unread,other than my own collation. Publisher's bright,crisp,unblemished,sharp-cornered original plain burgundy cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked silver gilt lettered spine/backstrip,a red+black striped headband and immaculate plain black endpapers.UK,small 8vo HB +dw/dj,1st edn,vi-xipp+1-212pp [paginated] includes verso of contents list/table,Foreword by Caroline Coverdale (Great-granddaughter of subject),an Introductionby Stewart Binns,27 chapters,8pp contemporary b/w biographical photographs includes a colour tinted photograph, in 1 block,between pp116/17,Notes by Dr Chris Northcott,author and lecturer in Intelligence and Security Studies; plus [unpaginated]half-title+title pages,andrecto of contents list/table. Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional,and even internally,the book is also in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation.It really is an exceptional example for its cleanliness and brightness. The United Kingdom's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency,most commonly known as MI5,was founded in 1909 by Sir Vernon Kell KBE. Kell ("K" within the agency) not only founded MI5,but was also its Director for 31 years,the longest tenure of any head of a British government department during the twentieth century.Kell was also fluent in six foreign languages,making him arguably the most gifted linguist ever to head a Western intelligence agency. 'A Secret Well Kept' was written by Kell's wife,Constance,in the 1950s,and the manuscript has been a treasured family possession ever since.Constance's story is endlessly fascinating: she tells of their life in China during the Boxer Rebellion,the formation of MI5 in 1909,the key characters,events and spy cases of Kell's career,and his important work achieved for the country during two world wars. A modern-day foreword from Kell's great-granddaughter Caroline Coverdale,an introduction by Stewart Binns,and notes from Dr. Chris Northcott add historical context to this delightful and unparalleled insight into the personal life of an extremely powerful and important man. Please contact seller,because of the lighter weight and the value of this item,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **

UK,small 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.
Not SIGNED.

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