Detour ; The Story of OFLAG IVC (Colditz)

The Falcon Press, London, 1946. First Edition. Hardcover (1/4 Cloth 3/4 Boards). Poor Condition/No Dust Jacket. Illustrator: Lieut. J. F. Watton. Acknowledgements, foreword by Field-Marshall the Lord Chetwode, Foreword by the Right Honourable Viscount Addison, Secretary Of State for Dominion Affairs,Foreword by the Right Honourable Vincent Massey, the High Commissioner for Canada, Foreword by the Right Honourable S. M. Bruce, CH. MC, High Commissioner for Australia, foreword by Mr W. J. Jordan, High Commissioner for New Zealand, foreword by Mr George Heaton Nicholls, High Commissioner for South Africa, introduction by editor, and list of illustrations. At the beginning of the text there is a coloured illustration of the late Lt. A. M. Sinclair (killed while attempting to escape close bracket. The text is illustrated by coloured and black and white drawings and cartoons. The various High Commissioners' etc. are accompanied by a black and white photograph. 1/4 dark red coloured cloth covered back strip with gilt coloured titles. 3/4 khaki coloured boards with gilt coloured embossed titles to the front panel. Written just after World War II, this is an account of escapes and extreme bravery by the prisoners of OFLAG IVC, known as Colditz, of young men of various nationalities who found themselves in this extreme situation. The book is definitely showing age and wear – please see photographs. Bumping, rubbing and fraying of the back strip corners and there is very nasty bumping of the book corners, to the extent that they have now become rounded and the underlying board is visible. The panels are stained, rubbed and faded and there is a dirty great number "51" placed on the front panel. The back strip is rubbed and stained and there is a 3.75" split to the front spine gutter edge, closest to the bottom edge. A smaller split is also visible to the same edge and some insect damage can also be seen. Scribble marks to the rear panel. Tanning and foxing of the text block edges, though light age toning has occurred to the pages. The staples are have started to rust and some foxing is also present to the text. Between pages 30 and 32 there has been cracking of the spine and the underlying webbing is very visible. The gilt lettering is very faded. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. [26] 183, [10] pages,. Please refer to accompanying picture (s). Illustrator: Lieut. J. F. Watton. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Military & Warfare; Prisoners of War; WW II; Inventory No: 0128520. .