'Qantas Rising', 'Qantas at War', and 'Wings to the World' Complete set in three volumes
Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1965-70. Three octavo volumes, original textured blue cloth Volumes 1 and 3, Volume 2 has blue hardcover, gilt lettering on all spines. Volume 1, Qantas Rising: xii, 296 pp., frontispiece, nine appendices included. Volume 2, Qantas at War: xii, 244 pp., frontispiece, nine appendices included. Volume 3, Wings to the World: xii, 236 pp., 10 appendices included. Each volume illustrated with numerous double-sided black-and-white plates. Volume 1, Qantas Rising: spine ends and corners slightly bumped and rubbed; Volume 2, Qantas at War: tail end of spine slightly bumped; Volume 3, Wings to the World: small hole in front cover of dust-jacket without loss of text. Light foxing on some leaves of Volumes 1 and 2; edges of dust-jacket a little worn and torn on each volume; overall, a very good first-edition set. First edition, three-volume autobiographical set of (and by) Qantas founder Sir Hudson Fysh.
To quote Fysh: "An increasing number of friends and well-wishers have asked me when I was going to write my story and that of Qantas for the sake of history, much of which is so often lost or distorted. They said that this should be done before time ran out on my ability to do it."
In these three engaging volumes, Fysh fulfils his mission by telling his life story, and the parallel story of the creation of one of the most well-known airlines in the world: Qantas. This set is not only an autobiography, but also a history of one of the most exciting and important series of events in modern times: the development of international transport.
Qantas Rising recounts the founding of Qantas by ex-servicemen Hudson Fysh and P. J. McGinnes, along with Fergus McMaster and Ainslie Templeton. Fysh tells the tale in thrilling detail, recounting the adventures that led to the establishment of the airline and its history up to 1934. Qantas at War follows the airline, its pilots, partners and rivals during the dramatic years of World War Two. Wings to the World is the third and concluding volume of the trilogy and tells of Fysh's and Qantas's life after the war, from 1945 to 1966. Item #5132
Volume 1 has the following inscribed in blue ink on the front free endpaper: "Owner S. M. White, 21 George St N. R. Please return"
Price (AUD): $360.00