Explaining the Britishers, Frederic William Wile — 1st Edition
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Publication: London, William Heinemann, 1918
Formatting: 8vo, pp. 118, [9] plates.
Condition Report: Good. The book is bound in its original pictorial card wrappers, presenting with overall general wear typical with its age and fragile wartime production. The paper spine has sustained noticeable chipping and a significant loss to the central portion, exposing the text block structure underneath, alongside rubbing to the extremities. The covers exhibit typical age-toning, mild soiling, and light creasing to the corners, yet the striking red and blue flag motif remains highly presentable. Internally, the binding holds firm despite the external wear; the pages remain largely clean, bearing only mild and expected toning, ensuring the text and the nine full-page photographic plates are bright and fully legible.
Catalogue Note: This is the first U.K. edition of Frederic William Wile's wartime effort, issued in striking pictorial wrappers designed to foster camaraderie between American and British forces. Wile, an American journalist, authored this text specifically to explain the British character and war effort to the influx of "Yanks" streaming into Europe.The text is supplemented with nine full-page photographic plates, providing visual context to the narrative.
While hardcover iterations of this text are encountered on the open market, survival rates for these fragile paper-wrappered editions remain predictably low. Many succumbed to heavy use in the trenches and camps, making this a scarce artefact of World War I propaganda and Anglo-American relations.
Written in the dying days of the First World War, Explaining the Britishers is a fascinating piece of propaganda and cultural translation. Frederic William Wile, an American journalist stationed in Europe, penned this guide to help newly arrived American soldiers understand their British allies. Covering topics from the British Army and Navy to the idiosyncrasies of the British government and the concept of "playing the game," Wile offers an affectionate, highly readable portrait of Great Britain's mighty effort in liberty's cause. This remains a unique historical document that brilliantly captures the zeitgeist of 1918.
Book Condition: Good
Book Authors: Frederic William Wile
Book Publisher: William Heinemann
Book Language: English
Narrative Type: Non-Fiction
Genre: History
Book edition: First Edition
Signed: No
Book Pages: 118
Book Publication Year: 1918
Book Publication Date:
Book Binding: Softcover
Illustrator: N/A
Book Series: N/A
Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom
Book Dimensions:
Book Condition Guide
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| New | A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage. |
| As New | The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years. |
| Fine | The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked. |
| Near Fine | The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition. |
| Very Good | The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present. |
| Good | A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy. |
| Fair | A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity. |
| Poor | A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance. |
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