Search Results: Signed first editions matching wwi diary

EDMONTON ALBERTA AB CANADA NEAR ARCTIC. Good+. 1925. Offered is a super, original literary and personal archive of Tom Brown Tivey (1895-1966) who emigrated to Canada after WWI, working on the Alberta Great Waterways Railway, who homesteaded and taught north of Edmonton before returning to the UK in 1929 where he published four novels inspired by his time in Alberta. Historians and researchers of the time and place have a unique opportunity to delve into the history Tivey experienced: the archive includes several folders of manuscript material (800 or so pages) which includes two drafts of Tom Brown Tivey's debut novel 'Trapline, A Tale of the North', under earlier titles including Lonely Trail (Chapters 1-VI) and A Tale of the North (Chapters 1-XIV) [editor's note: Trapline was set in the 'wilderness to the east of the Rockies in Northern Canada' and tells the story of Kathleen Barlow's attempts to protect her father's gold strike against rivals and… Read more

HMS AGINCOURT THE NORTH SEA. Very Good. 1914. On offer is a superb relic of World War I and British naval history being a manuscript diary kept by the Commander of the Royal Navy's famed dreadnought the 'HMS Agincourt' at the beginning of WWI during her assignment as part of the British Grand Fleet in the North Sea engaging the German Kaiserliche Marine's High Seas Fleet. This diary begins July 29th with a call to mobilize and then there is the immediate outbreak of the war in August 1914 through to December 1914, very neatly written in ink, with one photograph, some sketches, cruising orders and newspaper cuttings. This important, historical first hand account was handwritten by George Napier Tomlin, RN Rear Admiral [1875 - 1947] gives first hand content and detailed insight into the workings of the British Grand Fleet and documents the confusion that existed in the immediate days after the war broke out on August 5th, 1914. Tomlin's original assignment as he notes on… Read more

ENGLAND UK GREAT BRITAIN FRANCE. Very Good. 1916. On offer is an original small archive of four [4] ephemeral items including: two [2] note pad style diaries and two [2] check books with stubs and unused checks all being handwritten and having belonged to General Alfred E. Bradley (1864-1922), Chief Surgeon of the American Expeditionary Force in France during WW1. This archive relates to his serving as a military observer in England during 1916 and1917 just prior to U.S. entrance into war through to the War's end. Historians and collectors of the era will recognize the uniqueness of original material from high ranking officers. The first diary dated "Trip July-Aug. 1916, and has a French stamp on the cover. Bradley has signed his name in pencil on the cover "Bradley". It starts out seeming to be an accounting book, but morphs into cryptic notes made covering various subjects, including medicine dosages, prisoners, etc., perhaps notes to jog his memory later. Here are… Read more

COLUMBUS NEW MEXICO THEN FRANCE AND GERMANY. Good+. 1914. On offer is a sensational, historical manuscript journal and diary handwritten by John C. Queman of Kutztown, Pennsylvania, a US Army soldier who served first in the 13th Cavalry on the Mexican border in Columbus, New Mexico from Dec. 30, 1914 to Sept. 23, 1916, and later during World War I in France and Germany as a truck driver for Truck Co. #14 (Sept. 23, 1916- Oct. 8, 1917), Truck co. #7 (Oct. 8, 1917 - March 11, 1918), and AEF Truck Co. 2nd Division supply trains (Mar. 1, 1918 - Mar. 10, 1920.) This is a truly unique memorial to one man's service to his country in a number of important areas. Half of the 59 pages written in the massive folio journal retells his service during the Mexican Border War wherein Queman writes very detailed, riveting first hand account of Pancho Villa's raid on the town of Columbus, New Mexico, on March 9th 1916, where he was stationed and then he writes all about the pursuit of Pancho Villa… Read more

SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA. Good. 1909. On offer is a super group of four [4] original manuscript diaries with entries dated 1909 - 1927 handwritten by a recent British immigrant to San Diego California. While the first three books are lesser and sporadically written they along with the full 4th book covering 1918 - 1927 make for an excellent detailed account of life San Diego in the early 20th Century. From references to community happenings such as a new post office opening to prices for various goods and services to one of the many earth tremors that afflict this area, it offers a social historian a valuable window into the city's early life. Chock full of details of the writer's daily life casual research suggests that the writer is John Shippam, who along with some family members, emigrated from England in 1904 or 1905. This is supported by entries that refer to 'Cecil', his brother and 'Delia' his sister who accompanied him to The United States. There is also a… Read more

SYRACUSE NEW YORK WASHINGTON DC. Good. 1905. On offer is an excellent collection of six [6] diaries from a distinguished member of the U.S. Geological Survey The diaries span a 23 year period. 1905 diary measures 3.0 x 6.0, has 121 pages and 100% complete; 1913 diary is 6.0 x 3.0, has 183 pages + extensive memoranda, and 100% complete; 1914 - 6.0 x 3.0, has 183 pages + extensive memoranda, and 100% complete; 1916 - 4.75 x 3.0, has 183 pages + extensive memoranda, 95% complete; 1917 - 5.0 x 3.0, has 183 pages + extensive memoranda, 70% complete; the last diary covers 1922 through 1928, measures 6.5' x 4.25', has 365 pages and is 100% complete. All of the diaries are in good condition. Charles H Darcy was born on a farm in upstate New York 1888. He attended Syracuse University and graduated as an engineer. His initial work took him to Maine. In 1913, he was appointed to a teaching position at Syracuse University. He moved from that position to the United States Geological Survey. To… Read more

MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA. Good. 1918. On offer is an interesting diary of a cadet attending a military academy during the First World War. Measuring 4.5 inches by 3 inches, the diary contains 365 pages plus memoranda. It is approximately 50% complete. The cover is intact but the binding shows wear. There is 1 loose page but otherwise all are intact. The diary belongs to Thomas J. Craven. At the time of writing, Craven is 16 years old. Craven was the son of David and Annette Craven. He has two siblings; D. Steward Jr. and Anne. Craven married Josephine Russell Wales in 1930 and it lists him as living in Delaware at the time of the marriage. His father was a glass manufacturer along with other members of the family. In fact, they were one of the oldest glass manufacturers in the United States. The company opened in 1863 as Hall, Pancoast and Craven. The Craven brothers purchased all of the shares in 1885 and the name changed to Craven Brother's. At some point, they sold the firm and it… Read more

CHAMPAGNE MARNE FRANCE. Good+. 1917. On offer is a sensational archive of World War I manuscript diaries [2] and ephemera handwritten or accumulated by William O. Swenson a 23 year old soldier who was part of the 117th Ammunition Train, 42nd Rainbow Division occupied as a driver. The first diary, 2.5 x 4 inches has 42 well filled handwritten pages starts in Sept. 1917 to Oct. 31, 1917 mostly the trip to overseas, arriving in N.J. getting on boat, go to London, Paris, Parade Day, etc. The second diary that is 2.5 x 4.25 inches has 138 well filled pages starting Jan. 1918 to Dec. 27, 1918. This diary details much more intense war content. Here are some snippets: 'May 1, 1918 We landed at New Port New, VA and at 6:30 we pulled into the Chesapeake Bay and there was a tug boat pulled up beside us with women and 3 men in it. They were the welcoming committee from Kansas. We got off the boat at 10 am, the Red Cross gave us chocolate, a package of Camels and cookies. We lined up and marched… Read more

ASEA. Good+. 1911. On offer is the original pre-World War I and early commencement of the War manuscript diary of Commander Alfred Frederick Bell "AFB" Woodhouse Royal Navy. Entries date from June - August 1911 and May 1914 - April 1915 providing a unique pre-War commentary and then leading up to the actual conflict. Woodhouse begins on HMS Fantome off north west coast of Australia surveying: "...Shifted camp to Byron Islands for 4 days. Got there by 11am. Comber went away sounding in steamboat. I first saw the camp rigged up & then went away coastlining in 2 whaler......Away coastlining again at 7am nearly finished Byron Islands by evening. Enormous number of small islands had to be put in.......Coastlining longcreek about 5 miles in & then small mangrove swamp...Dozens of flies about appallingly stung....Practically no sleep last night owing to bites. Away 7am, started near Beehive. Fixed one point & when turning found myself in whirlpool pass. Went down with… Read more

Camp MEADE USS AGAMEMNON EUROPEAN THEATER. Good. 1917. Hardcover. On offer is an original and simply sensational manuscript relic of World War I being the handwritten diary of Sgt. John Reed of the 316 Infantry Band. Over 120 pages fully written in neat dense hand Reed details his experiences 'To Whom It May Concern'. He begins July 5th retrospectively explaining his being drafted November 3rd 1917 and then spending an easy 8 months at Camp Meade [for him it was an easy transition into the Army life as he had already served in the US Regulars]. From July 5th on he writes with dedication to a very abrupt end June 8th 1918. Reed is a super diarist, has a great personality and is a dedicated American. One cannot help admire this soldier. The very first writings on the free endpaper states: Advance into Germany, Millions of trained fighters, Eagerness to crush Prussianism, Righteousness and readiness to serve, Immense Resources, Crushing blows delivered to Huns, Army unconquerable,… Read more

USS YORKTON USS CLEVELAND, USS COLORADO. Good. 1911. Hardcover. On offer is an interesting, historical manuscript diary and personal log handwritten by United States Navy seaman Vernon [Vernie] K. Kuntzelman. The service provided 'Account Book Diary and Log' has about 75 pages of entries dated November 16th 1911 through November 15th 1915. Vernon, not writing daily, makes notes over the four years and two days of time in the Navy from the banal but notable dates: training assignments, ship changes and movement, sights like the passing of the Golden Gate, transfers, ship board duties etc. to the bombastic and historical: "Watched a battle between rebels and federals on the beach at Acapulco. Rebels won, losing 25. Federals lost 80..... Saw several men get shot." "Left Acapulco to pick up some castaways who were shipwrecked on Clipperton Island." "All hands were sent to Mt. Tamalpois to fight a forest fire." "Arrived in Mazatlan…anchored an… Read more

Good. 1918. On offer is a very interesting manuscript relic of WWI with a unique connection and association to American investor of renown Warren Buffet and his company Berkshire Hathaway being a handwritten notebook on trench warfare compiled by Seabury Stanton in March and April of 1918. Seabury Stanton would later be a Director of Berkshire Hathaway until he was fired by Warren Buffet during a confrontation over the tender offer price of the company's stock which resulted in taking over Berkshire Hathaway in 1964. Seabury Stanton figures prominently in the history of the Berkshire Hathaway Company and was a 50 year employee of the company when he left the company in 1964. Accounts vary as to whether he was fired or quit but he had been the director when Buffet gained controlling interest and was forced out during the takeover. This is Seabury Stanton's original handwritten notebook from his officer training during the First World War. This notebook has about 85 pages copiously… Read more

DINTON, AYLESBURY, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE ENGLAND UK. Good. 1916. On offer is an interesting, original and unique World War I manuscript home front relic. Unusual inasmuch as our author who writes from January 1916 to July, Chris Grut Buckton of 36 Wellesley Road Harrow on the Hill, a law clerk in London, makes no effort to conceal his desire and attempts to avoid being called up to the army.Writing is a small precise hand, filling each day almost in a Nature Lovers' Diary book foretelling his time spent outdoors and with nature he always comments on the weather, mild that year, and Mr Buckton reveals an almost idyllic home life like his cottage in Dinton near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire with, Hettie, his wife but the backdrop on the War hangs like a dark cloud and though he begins writing about how he is looking forward to spending time at the cottage and he seems to have an affectionate relationship with his wife but work is a bit of a soap opera where 'Mr Alfreds' has a drink… Read more

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania PA Mount Joy. Very Good. 1914. First Edition. Original Cloth. Sensational archive of handwritten diaries centered around the Brubaker family of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Twenty [20] books comprised of sixteen [16] handwritten diaries, three [3] small notebooks and one [1] published book with manuscript notes. The diaries are dated 1914, 1916, 1917, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927 and 1927. On average the books are 80% full. There are four authors: J. Henry Brubaker has written 12 diaries and most certainly 2 of the 3 notebooks. His wife Anna has written one notebook in her maiden name [Groff] and daughters, Anna Ethel [3] and Susan Violet [1]. The Brubakers appear to have been prominent rural business people in the farm supply business. A huge family as evidenced by the copious genealogical notes for the Lancaster County area as the notebooks specifically and the diaries are a wealth of family names and the connections.… Read more

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS OAHU HAWAII. Fair. 1917. On offer is a super, original 1917 - 1918 66 page manuscript relic of American World War I training and military procedures handwritten by William K[eliikui] Wilcox Company I 1st Infantry who was born in Ulapalakua Maui Hawaii May 30, 1887. Sergeant Wilcox lists his daily activities, officer's rank and responsibilities, condition of rifle reports, hand drawn maps, trench tactics, gas warfare, hygiene procedures, notes on gas warfare, tactical use of tanks, procedures of courts martial, shoe tests, payroll notes and some financial sections, duty roster diagram, cook's duties, recipe for bread, longhand addition +++. There is also a letter to the Camp Commander of Schofield Barracks regarding a commission to Lieutenant as he has completed Officer's Training School. Wilcox identifies himself on the cover and notes 'Camouflage Chieftain', Military Training Camp, Castner Brks [barracks] Oahu. The journal is kept in a flip style… Read more

U.S. Navy. Fair. 1917. On offer is a fascinating U.S. Navy notebook dating from WWI. The hardbound notebook measures 6.75 inches by 4.25 inches and contains 146 pages. It is about a quarter complete. The cover has the seal of the United States navy embossed on its cover. At some point in the past, a number of pages were torn out of the notebook. The handwriting is legible. Interestingly, the notebook serves as a record of work on 2 US Navy ships, each record beginning from one of the covers. The author of this notebook is Lt (JG) H.R. Hobson, UNSRF (United States Naval Reserve Force). He served on 2 ships in WWI - USS Agamemnon and USS Cape Romain. The notebook is a 'Work Book' detailing a variety of maintenance tasks carried out by the Engineering Department of which he was the 1st Assistant Engineer. The USS Agememnon started life as the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II, named for the German Emperor. She was a 19,361 gross ton passenger ship completed in the spring of 1903. She was designed… Read more

Meadville Pennsylvania PA Midwest USA. Good. 1920. On offer is the diary of young woman, active in religious and women’s causes living in Meadville, in western Pennsylvania. She is incredibly close with her mother, with whom she spends much of her time away from work. She is an active church goer, going every Sunday. She often remarks on who gave the sermon and its topic, though she does not reflect on the sermon herself. She also goes to Sunday School quite often, implying that she is a younger woman, probably in her late teenage years or early 20s. She lives with a man named Frank, who is most probably her husband, though she does not refer to him as such. The diary goes from the April 1921 to the end of 1924, though the diary entries are occasionally sporadic and inconsistent. In 1921, the author and her mother go on vacation in August. They take a train to Cleveland then a boat to Detroit (“the boat ‘Western State.’”). They spend a couple days in Detroit,… Read more

Melbourne: 6th Machine Gun Company (A.I.F.) Association. 1937. pp.434, b/w plates, maps, incl fold col map, colour leaf with the insignia of the Battalion, re-bound in qtr mor., gilt dec spine, signed by the author on half-title, a near fine copy of this scarce title. The 6th Machine Gun Coy, part of the 2nd Australian Division, served through Gallipoli and the Western Front, a complete unit history based on official diaries and records of the Company and associated units, the author's diaries and those kept by members of the Company as well as available letters. Includes Roll of Honour, Nominal Roll of Members, Decorations and Mentioned in Despatches, and the Itinerary of the Company. 1st edition.

TORONTO ONTARIO ON CANADA. Very Good. 1915. On offer is a very interesting 1915 handwritten manuscript diary kept by a young lady living in early World War I Toronto, Ontario. There are entries for every day from January 1st until August 1915, after which the entries are sporadic. She was a sales clerk at Eaton's Department Store. In March she suddenly became ill and was hospitalized. She was operated on the same day, and remained in hospital recovering for about two weeks. She doesn't identify her illness. The entries take one back to a simpler Toronto as she notes her day to day life including day trips to Port Credit and the Toronto Islands, skating parties at Varsity Stadium, seeing soldiers at church, work, friends, family, etc. She also records the deaths of an aunt and uncle in Detroit in late 1914. The family name of the girl was McClelland. In august she appears to have begun seeing a young man named Harold Byers. Later we find he has joined the Canadian Expeditionary… Read more

New York: George H. Doran, 1918. Hardcover. Good. First edition. Tall octavo. 61pp. Illustrated. Quarter cloth and papercovered boards with printed paper labels. Spine label chipped, front hinge neatly restored, split at the top of the rear top joint, a good only copy. Inscribed by Taylor: "To Malcolm Watson with my compliments, Laurette Taylor 1918." Account of a tour to raise money during WWI by the important stage and silent film actress whose legend and influence far exceed her modern name recognition. Her late career reemergence in Tennessee Williams's *The Glass Menagerie* in 1944 won her the New York Drama Critics Award for Best Actress.