TO THE SOURCE OF THE YANGTZE. [Author SIGNED copy.]

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn. FINE/NFINE.No owner inscrptn,but SIGNED solely,by the operations leader (and author) with his neat, blue-black ink signature - without dedication - to the title-page,no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright, crisp,clean,glossy laminated,wrap-around colour,scenic, photographic illustrated dw/dj; with negligible shelf-wear and creasing to edges and corners.A small,closed tear to head of spine/backstrip - no other major tears present. Some inevitable,minimal,light,scoring/indents to both panels of dw/dj.Top edge sightly dust-soiled and lightly aged/toned - as usual/normal,fore- edges brighter and cleaner; contents bright,tight and near pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips - possibly an unread copy? Publisher's bright,clean,sharp-cornered, original plain blue cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt letters to spine/backstrip and immaculate,plain white endpapers with no sign of any off-set foxing from dw/dj's inner flaps.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn,1-380pp [paginated] includes introduction,10 chapters+epilogue ,32pp of contemporary colour photographs in 4 blocks of 8pp apiece between pp82/3, pp146/7, pp226/7 and pp290/1 (all called for) respectively,appendices (A-H - includes b/w map of upper 700 miles of Yangtze and a couple b/w diagrams); plus [unpaginated] half-title,b/w map frntis,author SIGNED title page,dedication (to wife+ daughter),contents list/table,a foreword (by Rt Hon.Edward Heath MBE,MP (1991),author acknowledgements,title separator page,and b/w map of Sichuan, Qinghai and Tibet,and 4pp blanks to rear. The River Yangtze - rock-infested,rapid-strewn,the Everest of rivers. No-one has successfully travelled up-river towards the source. Squadron Leader Mike Cole,veteran of hovercraft expeditions all over the world,rose to the challenge.In March 1990,the British Hovercraft Expedition to China was launched from Hong Kong.This was to be adventure with a purpose.With the explorers went a team of doctors, aiming to take a UNICEF vaccination programme to the remote riverside areas.They were joined by engineers to test the new hovercraft materials in the harshest conditions. The obstacles faced by the expedition were immense - endless negotiations with the Chinese authorities,lethal road conditions as they towed the hovercraft over high mountain passes,the virtual cancellation of their ambitious medical programme,and the death-defying challenges of the mighty river itself. Dick Bell tells of the heartaches as well as the triumphs as the team overcame these obstacles.Thirty-two pages of colour photographs give fascinating glimpses of the real China,and capture all the excitement of tackling the great river. Please contact seller @ rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,because of the lighter weight/value of this item,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers -BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. **N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence, then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **