War & Escape - 20th Century | Archive | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

The Badge of the Artists Rifles (Special Air Service)

The Artists Rifles was formed in 1860. The idea of the Artists occurred to Edward Sterling, an art student and ward of Thomas Carlyle, who convened a meeting of fellow students in the life class of Carey’s School of Art, Charlotte Street, Bloomsbury – from this the Corps of Artists was formed consisting of painters, sculptors, engravers, musicians, architects and actors. The badge was designed by Wyon, the Queen’s medallist –consisting of two heads: Mars – God of War and Minerva – Goddess of Wisdom. The badge carries the motto “Cum Marte Minerva” also the title of the regimental march. A regimental rhyme of note is “Mars, he was the God of war, and didn’t stop at trifles, Minerva was a bloody whore. So hence The Artists’ Rifles”.

Light weight pressed metal 9cm by 6cm. strong deep relief.

The Artists have an outstanding war record; the Victoria Cross being awarded on eight occasions. Whilst disbanded in 1945 they were reformed in 1947 as the 21st Special Air service Regiment (Artists Rifles).

Notable members of The Artists included Ford Madox Brown, Edward Burne-Jones, Noel Coward, Frank Dobson, Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes OBE, Frederic Leighton, William Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Barnes Wallis

$80.00

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Voyaging – Captain James William Holmes – Edited by Nora Coghlan

Subtitled … “Fifty years on the seven seas in sail”. With pen pictures and paintings by Captain James William Holmes, Member of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners. With a forward by John Masefield.

A fine copy of the second impression published 1966 by Hutchinson of London.

Octavo, 207 pages with illustrations throughout mainly from the subjects magnificent artwork.

Masefield describes Holmes as one of the most famous sea captains of the late Victorian era and salivates over the then thrill of the sailing ships if full rig. The editor, Holmes’s daughter twice sailed around the world with her father. Much about sailing to Australian and New Zealand.

Captain Holmes from a special breed ..

$25.00

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The Collected Poems of Sidney Keyes – With Unpublished typescript Poem “Ode to Hitler”

Published posthumously by Routledge, London a fourth impression, 1951. Small octavo, xxiv, 123 pages, original binding, very good condition. The typescript poem “Ode to Hitler’ is dated June 1941 (whilst he was till at Oxford – see below). There is a manuscript note on the endpapers “including unpublished poem”; also a note from Anthony Smith, Headmaster of Dartford Grammar School, which Keyes attended “Dear Professor Porter, I am returning three items we borrowed from you …”. This is October, 1987 and there had been a special Keyes Conference held at the school that year … it is possible that the unique poem was one of the borrowed items, and that this book was Porter’s Professor Porter is likely the Theologian who was at Oriel college, Oxford for 13 years from 1949.

The typescript poem contains an overtyped correction “Lonely” in the third last line – shown in the image. The manuscript date “June 1941” is surely in Sidney Keyes’ hand, by comparison with the facsimile of a hand written poem included in “Collected Poems”

This is a special story. Sidney Keyes (1922-1943) was raised by his maternal grandparent, his mother died shortly after his birth. He began writing poetry at a very young age, influenced by Wordsworth, Rilke and Jung. He won a scholarship to Queen’s College, Oxford. At University he wrote two books “The Cruel Solstice” and “The Iron Laurel” for which he was later awarded the Hawthornden Prize. He was very active at Oxford editing the Cherwell Magazine and forming a dramatic society. Leaving Oxford in 1942 he joined the army and sadly died in active service in Tunisia in April 1943.

All up there are 110 poems of which half relate to the War. All of his poems written during active service were lost.

“Ode to Hitler” is a seven verse poem the first six comprising seven lines, the last six. It is a serious matter, whilst being clear in meaning. We do not want to publish all here … but here are the final lines.

“You tapeworm of the mind, you will forgive
My wanderings, stung by a sudden fury;
Not even speaking for my country, only
A mouthing sharp-tongued poet for the lonely
And awkward speaking. But you will never thrive
While we, the sour and cunning, stay alive.”

A special writer and poet who gave his life too young and, a potentially important unpublished work.

ENQUIRIES WELCOME

$120.00

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The Sea and Me – Humphrey Barton – First edition 1952

An unusual maritime book by Marine Surveyor Humphrey Barton. A first edition published by Robert Ross, London in 1952. Octavo, 142 pages nicely illustrated by John Chancellor. Very good condition.

Fourteen short accounts, all true, from all angles maritime. Involves the vessels Kittiwake, Lady Nanella, Jean II, Dauntless, Monie, Fulruna etc and a M.F.V. during the War

A super collection of nautical accounts – ideal for evening reading .

$25.00

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The Quiet American – Graham Greene

This is the Book Society in conjunction with Heinemann, London issued the same year as the principal first.

Octavo, 247, aged around page edges, private bookplate on paste down under front jacket flap. Full dust jacket in pretty good condition. All up a good to better copy of a desirable issue.

Later turned into a classic movie (how many of Green’s novels have not been?) based in Indo-China a striking story of new and old world

Greene classic – 1955 Edition

$50.00

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The Atlantic Ocean (A Bridge Between Two Worlds) – George Kay

Published by the London Museum Press, first edition 1954. Octavo, 208 pages nicely illustrated throughout. Very good condition.

A not at all dated history of the Atlantic .From early Viking days … then Columbus, Cabot, Drake, Raleigh etc. The great islands and Voyager’s favourite St Helena. And in the air … the Alcock and Brown non-stop 1919 from Newfoundland. Slavery. Whaling. The fierce battles of WWII. Quite a subject in one book.

The Atlantic – a very good reference

$25.00

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War & Escape – 20th Century

The Badge of the Artists Rifles (Special Air Service)

Voyaging – Captain James William Holmes – Edited by Nora Coghlan

The Collected Poems of Sidney Keyes – With Unpublished typescript Poem “Ode to Hitler”

The Sea and Me – Humphrey Barton – First edition 1952

The Quiet American – Graham Greene

The Atlantic Ocean (A Bridge Between Two Worlds) – George Kay

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