William Reese Company

Prominent War Artist's Captions for Battlefield Sketches

[Autograph Manuscript of Text for:] DAYS OF GLORY THE SKETCH BOOK OF A VETERAN CORRESPONDENT AT THE FRONT … INTRODUCTION BY PHILIP GIBBS.

[World War I]: Villiers, Frederic (1851-1922):

[Np]. [ca. 1919]. [1],49,[1] leaves. Octavo (21.5 x 13.5 cm). Autograph manuscript in ink, on rectos only, with occasional corrections or revisions. Some rustmarks from an absent paperclip, several leaves have marginal creases and chipping, in only one instance affecting a word, but generally very good. Item #WRCLIT88520

The autograph manuscript of the substantive descriptive text for Villiers' battlefield illustrations as they were published in 1920 by George H. Doran & Co. The text of Gibbs's "Salute. ..." to Villiers is not included here. A coversheet written in pencil in another hand on the blank verso of a half- sheet of Doran publicity copy notes the return of the manuscript "To Miss Scherer [sp?]," and is dated "16/9/19." Villiers (1851-1922) was among the most widely- traveled and published of his generation of British war correspondents and artists. Beginning in 1867, with the declaration of war by Serbia against Turkey, Villiers worked for THE GRAPHIC, THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, THE STANDARD and other papers, sending reports and drawings from the front lines of wars, both major and minor, on several continents. He was recipient of a number of awards, including medals and decorations from Russia, Romania, Egypt and Serbia. He gave frequent illustrated lectures and is notable as the earliest war correspondent to take a motion picture camera into action. He is generally regarded as the model for Kipling's character, Dick Hedlar, in THE LIGHT THAT FAILED. Among the subjects are "Burying the Dead," "An Air Fight over Ypres," "The First Poison Gas Cloud," "Within Fifteen Yards of the Huns," "The Hell of La Boiselle," "The Capture of Loos," "Fighting on the Face of the Waters," etc.

Price: $1,500.00