Bidspirit auction | DE GAULLE CHARLES: (1890-1970)

DE GAULLE CHARLES: (1890-1970) - DE GAULLE CHARLES: (1890-1970) French General who led Free France against Nazi Germany during World War II, later serving as Prime Minister of France 1958-59 and President of France 1959-69. Book signed, being a scarce special issue of Volume II of Mémoires de Guerre, L'Unité 1942-44 , first edition, first printing, published by Librairie Plon, Paris, and completed on the presses of the Imprimerie Plon, Meaux, 29th May 1956. The present copy is one of the additional copies specifically printed on Alfa Cellunaf paper and reserved for former members of the Free French Forces and members of associations of combatants and Resistance fighters of the 1939-1945 war, as stated in the publisher's limitation notice. Printed on special matt paper from the Teka paper mills, the copy is further distinguished by a highly unusual red velvet presentation binding, decorated with a large gilt dagger to the upper cover and a gilt Cross of Lorraine to the spine. Signed by de Gaulle to the half-title page and dated 20th November 1957 in his hand. The second volume of de Gaulle's celebrated three-volume memoirs of the Second World War, L'Unité covers the period 1942-44, recounting the consolidation of the Free French movement, de Gaulle's increasingly difficult political relationship with Churchill and Roosevelt, the rivalry with General Giraud, the organisation and unification of the French Resistance, and the establishment of the provisional French authorities following the Liberation. Some light overall age wear, about VG.