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ORR, AILEEN - Epilogue by Neal Ascherson: : WOTJEK THE BEAR - POLISH WAR HERO

SCOTLAND.EDINBURGH.BIRLINN LIMITED,2010.

ISBN 9781841588452.

UK,small 8vo HB+dw/dj,author SIGNED,1st edn. FINE/FINE.No owner inscrptn but author's handwritten,blue ink inscrptn thus: 'To Bob Aileen Orr' to the title page,and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,matt,wrap-around pale khaki background with a smallbrown bear carrying an armament shell motif to front panel of dw/dj with capitalised,red lettered bear's name WOJT and capitalised,white-lettered remainder of part-title and capitalised,brown-lettered sub-titleauthor's name in capitalised red lettering with epilogue credit in capitalised white lettering to front; spine/ backstrip with similarly coloured+lettered part-title but capitalised,white-lettered author name with front's repeated thumbnail motif and publisher's thumbnail,black illustrated colophon to foot of same,rear panel with capitalised red,white and brown lettered title accompanied by a contmporary b/w group photograph of bear with soldiers.Negligible shelf-wear,bumping,or creasing to edges and corners - no nicks,tears or splits present.Top+fore-edges generally bright,crisp and clean without foxing/spotting but both with a pair of tiny blemish spots; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips,appears unread apart from my own collation.Publisher's bright,crisp, unblemished,sharp-cornered original plain black cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt lettering to spine/backstrip,and immaculate plain white endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn, 2-200pp [paginated] includes 10 chapters,8pp historical contemporary and modern b/w photographs in 1 block,between pp88/89,an Epilogue and an Index; plus [unpaginated] half-title,author SIGNED+dedicated title page,a Contents list/table,a b/w route map of WOJTEK's journey (from Bandas Pahlavi to Hutton,Scotland.  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 exemplary example for its cleanliness,brightness and lack of major detracting faults.              This is the inspiring story of a Syrian brown bear who became one of WW2's most unusual combatants. Originally adopted as a mascot by the Polish Army in Persia,Wotjek,as the bear cub was named,soon took on a more practical role carrying heavy mortar round for the troops and going on to play his part as a fully enlisted 'soldier' with his own rank and number during the Italian campaign. After the war,Wotjek,along with some of his Polish compatriots from 22nd Company of Polish Army Corps (artillery),came to the Scottish Borders,where he became a well known member of the local community before subsequently moving to Edinburgh Zoo.For the rest of his life,and beyond,Wotjek remained a potent symbol of freedom and solidarity for Poles around the world and continues to be an inspirational figure today.                      In an exended epilogue,Neal Ascherson reflects on the Polish experience in WW2 and the extraordinary influence they had on the countries in which they served.                   Please contact seller,because of the lighter weight 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,author SIGNED,1st edn.
Author SIGNED+dedicated.

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