Hostile Skies: A Combat History of the American Air Service in World War I, James J. Hudson

£52.50

Hostile Skies: A Combat History of the American Air Service in World War I, James J. Hudson

Name: Hostile Skies: A Combat History of the American Air Service in World War I, James J. Hudson
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4944
Price: 52.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Hostile Skies: A Combat History of the American Air Service in World War I, James J. Hudson — First Edition

Publication: Syracuse, New York, Syracuse University Press, 1968

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [ix], 338.

Condition Report Very Good. This copy presents tightly and squarely in its original binding, with the boards retaining their structural integrity and showing minimal signs of handling. The spine is firm, and the hinges remain perfectly sound without any play or weakness. Internally, the text block is bright and entirely free of foxing or off-setting, with only some expected, light dust-toning to the top edge of the pages. The original photographic dust jacket remains highly attractive and unclipped, suffering only from a fractional touch of rubbing and faint creasing to the extreme head of the spine and panel edges, devoid of any significant tears or loss.

Catalogue Note This is the true first edition. Bound in hardcover and accompanied by its original, evocative photographic dust jacket, the volume is wonderfully free of any obtrusive secondary binding characteristics or ex-library markings. While there are no notable provenance indicators such as bookplates or binders' stamps present, the impressive preservation of the dust jacket elevates this copy.

True first printings of this title from 1968 in such sharp, complete condition have become increasingly uncommon on the open market, as many extant copies have either lost their fragile wrappers over the decades or succumbed to heavy institutional wear.

Hostile Skies stands as a definitive and gripping scholarly account of the American Air Service's baptism by fire during the First World War. Authored by James J. Hudson, who himself flew 191 combat missions as a fighter pilot in the Second World War, the narrative masterfully chronicles the rapid evolution of the service from an ill-equipped, disorganised detachment into a highly lethal fighting force. Blending rigorous statistical research with the visceral, high-stakes realities of open-cockpit dogfighting, Hudson traces the exploits and harrowing challenges faced by the first American aces, offering an unparalleled, cockpit-level perspective on the birth of modern aerial warfare.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: James J. Hudson

Book Publisher: Syracuse University Press

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Military

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 338

Book Publication Year: 1968

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Syracuse, New York, United States

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

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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