PENIAKOFF VLADIMIR ´POPSKI´: (1897-1951) A remarkable and extremely rare presentation copy

PENIAKOFF VLADIMIR ´POPSKI´: (1897-1951) A remarkable and extremely rare presentation copy

PENIAKOFF VLADIMIR ´POPSKI´: (1897-1951) Belgian Lieutenant-Colonel, the founder and commanding officer of No. 1 Demolition Squadron, PPA (´Popski´s Private Army´) during World War II. A fine and extremely rare book signed and inscribed, being a hardback edition of Private Army by Peniakoff, First Edition published by Jonathan Cape, London, 1950. The book, an account of the Lieutenant-Colonel´s daring exploits with his highly successful special forces unit during World War II, is complete with four fold-out maps and numerous black and white photographs. Signed (´Popski´) by Peniakoff to the front free endpaper with a remarkable presentation inscription, ´For Menina, who has done much more work on this book than I have, very gratefully, Popski´, and dated London, 13th February 1950, in his hand. Bound in the publisher´s original brown cloth with gilt title to the spine and gilt emblem (featuring an astrolabe) of the No. 1 Demolition Squadron to the front board. Accompanied by the dust jacket (some very light, minor age wear and a little faded to the spine). A unique presentation copy. VG

Menina Mesquita - secretary to the British publisher Jonathan Cape who was tasked with the responsibility of typing the manuscript of Popski´s Private Army.

The present copy is probably the only surviving presentation copy in existence. We are aware of only one other signed copy (without a presentation inscription, and dated May 1950) and the Auction and Book Sales Archive (ABSA), which incorporates the records of American Book Prices Current (ABPC), do not record any other signed copies of Private Army by Popski as ever having appeared at auction.