El Alamein to the River Sangro. Normandy to the Baltic.

Bernard MONTGOMERY, Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (1887-1976)

El Alamein to the River Sangro. Normandy to the Baltic.

London: The Arcadia Press, 1971. Quarto (9 3/8 x 6 3/4in; 240 x 172mm.) Pp. [i-]v[-xiv; 1-]421pp. Coloured portrait frontispiece, uncoloured plates, numerous two-colour maps.

Condition of book-block: very slight surface damage to outer margin of the portrait frontispiece (almost imperceptible, but see images), otherwise immaculate.

Original black morocco, the upper cover blocked in gilt with a facsimile of Montgomery’s signature, an armorial used by the British 8th Army and a second armorial used by the 21st Army group, the spine in six compartments with raised bands, lettered in gilt in the second, third and fourth compartments, the symbol of the Arcadia Press blocked in the sixth, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, gilt edges, original black-cloth slipcase.

Condition of binding and slipcase: excellent

Signed by Montgomery in blue ink on the title page, from an edition of only 265 copies, this copy numbered '148'. There is a printed note in red on the half-title "This Book / was published on / The 30th Anniversary of / The Battle of El Alamein / 23rd October 1972". One of the most beautifully-produced of any Second World War historical narratives. This spectacular book, signed by one of the main architects of the Allied victory, would make a worthy and beautiful addition to any serious book collection.