Espionage

Cast No Shadow – (Biography of Betty Pack – British/ American Spy] – Mary Lovell.

A heavily researched and well written life story of the beautiful spy, Betty Pack, who used her substantial powers of seduction to change the course of World War II.

First edition, published by Pantheon, New York in 1992. Large octavo, 398 pages, illustrated from period photographs. A very good copy in a very good dust jacket.

Betty Pack was recruited by the British Intelligence Service in the late 1930’s then later with the American OSS. She was prolific and knew her way to the target in swift fashion. Capable of moving in the highest circles she seduced her way into uncovering numerous valuable secrets.

The book contains a lengthy appendix on Sir William Stephenson “A Man Called Intrepid” and the various discrepancies surrounding him.

The book finished with various notes on the text, sources and a bibliography of non-fiction books about female spies of the 20thC.

Nobody no matter how important was immune to the advances of Betty pack.

$35.00

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The Traitors – The Double Life of Fuchs, Pontecorvo and Nunn May – Alan Moorehead – First edition 1952

First edition published by Hamish Hamilton, London in 1952 …. Hot for the beginning of the spy era. Octavo, 222 pages, illustrations from relevant photographs. A very good copy apart from a some loss of the dust jacket in one area top left – balance complete and clean and protected.

Moorehead’s desirable book on the trifecta of traitors; how they were caught and the disappearance of Pontecorvo. The bomb confused them it all happened very quickly …

Interesting readable true spy goings on.

$30.00

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The Missing Macleans – Geoffrey Hoare – First Edition 1955

It was May 1951 and Donald Maclean invited a stranger, Roger Styles [aka Guy Burgess], to his home for dinner with his wife and family. Afterwards they went outside and never returned.

Two years later the other Maclean in this true story likewise disappeared with her children when in Geneva as if in a puff of smoke.

Some understand the background of Maclean and his defection. On the other hand, the deserted wife who had been planning a life in the US played a good hand of cards and surprised everyone, even those close, when she joined Donald behind the Iron curtain.

The author Horae is no ordinary journalist – he knew the Macleans with some intimacy and had access to letter and evidence through the confidence of Melinda Macleans mother. This firs hand evidence makes this account that much more credible and excruciatingly interesting.

First edition published by Cassell, London in 1955. Octavo, 182 pages, illustrated from photographs. A very good copy.

Solid account of the traitor Donald Maclean and his loyal wife Melinda

$35.00

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The Intelligence and Deception of the D-Day Landings – J Haswell

Published by Batsford, London in 1979. Larger squarish octavo, 208 pages, illustrated from the period of the “event” and a good double page sketch map of the goings on … very good if not better condition.

The D-day Landings probably the most complex exercise ever attempted. Not only was the depth of the intelligence gathering of a new level so also was the deception planning – an element that may have been the overriding factor.

The definitive book if you are interested in Military History and this military operation, of June 4th 1944, which thankfully changed the course of WWII.

D-Day a day that changed the course of history – fully explained.

$30.00

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Spy Catcher – Peter Wright – Former Assistant Director MI5

The greatest real expose of the activities of MI5 from technically adept Peter wright. There was Philby and the “thing” the secret of all secret devices hidden within the American Great Seal. The bugging of the Egyptian cypher room. His greatest claim however was that Sir Roger Hollis was the “Fifth Man”.

Wright retired to Cygnet, Tasmania were he and his wife had a few acres and Arabian horses.

The struggle to get published and the various political heaviness are well understood.

Published by Heinemann in Australia in 1987, a first edition. Octavo, 392 pages, illustrated from photographs. Original owner name on end paper, closed tear top dust jacket otherwise a nice copy of this important book.

Spy Catcher – They couldn’t stop him

$35.00

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Letters writ by a Turkish Spy, Who Liv’d Five and Forty Years Undiscovered at Paris; Giving an Impartial Account to the Divan of Constantinople of the Most Remarkable Transactions in Europe – Complete in Eight Volumes. Giovanni Paolo Marana – 1748

A very nice set of this almost legendary work, complete and unusually in their original bindings. Fictional letters claiming to have been written by an Ottoman spy named “Mahmut the Arabian” embedded in the French Court of Louis XIV.

Published in London by Wilde, Ballard and others in 1748. Eight volumes (Over 600 letters in all), duodecimo, engraved frontispiece to Vol I, full contemporary calf, spines gilt, some joints a bit cracked but holding. A twelfth edition of a great publishing success of the 18thC which would go on for a further fifty years.

Contemporary bookplate of Robert Midgley dated 1748 so the first owner. And the modern book label of Edward John Kenny the Latinist of Peterhouse College, Cambridge University, visiting at Harvard etc.

A journal of gossip and anecdotes on politics and events and shenanigans going on in France at the time.

Written in Italian by Giovanni Paola Marana (1642-1693) a Genoese refugee in the Court of the said Louis XIV. He completed the first volume of 102 letters, and had it translated to French and published in Paris in 1684-1686. Other volumes were published as they were completed over time. English translations by William Bradshaw became available in 1687. Later volumes issued first in English in London leading some to believe they were not by Marana. However, the consistency in style and use of words really points to Marana as being the author of the full set, not doubt with the help of translators and editors of the day.

Well liked by Daniel Defoe who wrote an aptly named “Continuation of Turkish Letters Writ by a Turkish Spy in Paris” … a sort of 18thC sequel.

Incidentally, the last owner Professor Kenny used to gauge his candidates by seeing how nice they were to his cat Fufu … it became known as the Fufu test … that’s Latin for you.

The Turkish Spy – A Classic By Marana

$790.00

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Cast No Shadow – (Biography of Betty Pack – British/ American Spy] – Mary Lovell.

The Traitors – The Double Life of Fuchs, Pontecorvo and Nunn May – Alan Moorehead – First edition 1952

The Missing Macleans – Geoffrey Hoare – First Edition 1955

The Intelligence and Deception of the D-Day Landings – J Haswell

Spy Catcher – Peter Wright – Former Assistant Director MI5

Letters writ by a Turkish Spy, Who Liv’d Five and Forty Years Undiscovered at Paris; Giving an Impartial Account to the Divan of Constantinople of the Most Remarkable Transactions in Europe – Complete in Eight Volumes. Giovanni Paolo Marana – 1748

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