War Flying: The Letters of "Theta" to His Home People, L.F. Hutcheon

£67.50

War Flying: The Letters of "Theta" to His Home People, L.F. Hutcheon

Name: War Flying: The Letters of "Theta" to His Home People, L.F. Hutcheon
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 7017
Price: 67.50 GBP
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War Flying: The Letters of "Theta" to His Home People, By A Pilot [L.F. Hutcheon] — 1st Edition

Publication: London, John Murray, 1917.

Formatting: 12mo, pp. 117.

Condition Report: Very Good. The book is securely bound in a publisher's plain dark binding, currently housed beneath a clear protective plastic sleeve. The binding remains remarkably tight with no splitting to the joints, though the spine ends and board edges display mild creasing and standard shelf-wear. Internally, the most notable physical flaw is the heavy, uniform oxidation and browning to the paper stock and text block edges; a direct chemical consequence of the highly acidic, low-quality pulp mandated by wartime economy measures in 1917. Despite the aging paper, the letterpress impression remains crisp, and the leaves are clean and free from serious marginalia, rendering it a highly readable, structurally sound survivor of a fragile wartime production.

Catalogue Note: First Edition. Published during the height of the First World War in 1917 by John Murray. This title was issued in various publisher's bindings, including fragile pictorial paper wrappers; the present copy is securely bound in plain dark boards with gilt-lettered spine and upper panel, likely representing a standard or secondary wartime trade binding.

The book is a scarce contemporary artifact, written under the pseudonym "Theta" by L.F. Hutcheon. Complete, original copies of this First Edition are scarce on the open market, as the ephemeral nature of wartime materials meant few examples survived in a collectible state.

Written by a young Royal Flying Corps pilot for his family back home, War Flying offers a candid, firsthand account of early military aviation during the First World War. From the nerve-wracking days of flight training to the perilous reality of active service over the Western Front, "Theta" captures the visceral, day-to-day experience of aerial combat and reconnaissance. His letters preserve the characteristic blend of youthful bravado, technical fascination, and understated courage that defined the pioneer aviators of the Great War, providing an invaluable primary source for historians and aviation enthusiasts alike.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: L.F. Hutcheon ("Theta")

Book Publisher: John Murray

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Military

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 117

Book Publication Year: 1917

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

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.