Rare Aviation Books

Souvenir of Ninety-Four Gift Battleplanes which Helped Us to Victory [alternate title: Souvenir of the Australian and Malayan Battle Planes 1914-1918]

BAKER, C. Alma [Charles]

London: The Field Press, 1920. Large quarto, original pale Japon vellum with gilt lettering and crest to the front board; top-edge gilt and others uncut. The unpaginated preliminary leaves comprise a colour ornamental title-page, a photogravure portrait of C. Alma Baker and a further decorated leaf, followed by single leaf listing contents and plates; then 148 continuously paginated letterpress leaves with 52 photogravure plates throughout. Boards moderately thumbed and rubbed with a few scattered spots, but overall a most attractive example, internally fresh and excellent with tissue guards extant. One of the most lavish and desirable books on the history of Australia and First World War aviation. This copy is an example of the superior Japon vellum binding, and was also offered in more modest demure blue cloth. The Japon vellum copies were presented to the wealthy benefactors of the war-planes scheme, as a gesture of gratitude for the very considerable sums advanced towards the war effort.

In the introduction, plantation owner and agriculturalist Alma Baker writes: 'during my visit to Australia in the early part of 1916, I came to the conclusion that there were many people living in the Commonwealth who, unable to go the front themselves, would be glad to subscribe towards battleplanes to represent them in the firing-line if an individual appeal be made.'

And so began the bold plan of gifting aeroplanes from Australia and Malaya for use in the European war. This book is a lavishly printed souvenir for presentation to donors and dignitaries. It lists the aeroplanes, typically costing some £2,700 apiece, along with their donors, including great Australians such as graziers Sidney Kidman and Henry White of Belltrees (who both respectively paid for two aeroplanes). Some were funded collectively, for example the citizens of both the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland separately raised the funds for aeroplanes. Each of the Australian gifts is illustrated in 21 fine photogravure plates.

A more detailed account of the practical and strategic use of the Australian and Malayan gifted aeroplanes is provided in a chapter of some 30 pages by Lieutenant-Colonel Boyd Cable of the Royal Air Force. This is followed by description and illustration of the Malayan effort. Noffsinger 66, revised edition 115; not listed in Myron Smith. Item #3291

Price (AUD): $1,600.00