Rare 1944 Free French WWII Presentation Copy No 17/250 French Provincial Costume For Sale

Rare 1944 Free French WWII Presentation Copy No. 17/250 - French Provincial Costumes - Paper Dollsby Dorothy Rogers / Photographs by Arpad Elfer - Carlton Gardens - London🔴 ITEM OVERVIEW:
An exceptional, highly rare piece of World War II Anglo-French historical ephemera. This is a limited, non-commercial luxury presentation copy (hors commerce) of \"French Provincial Costumes\" by Dorothy Rogers, published by Hachette (London) in December 1944.Crucially, this copy includes the original, loose numbered presentation card (Numbered 17 of only 250 copies printed), issued directly from General Charles de Gaulle’s wartime Free French Headquarters at Carlton Gardens, London.📜 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The loose presentation card features a printed French dedication translating to:
\"This edition, not for sale, numbered 1-250, has been published specially in tribute to our friends who, through their dedication and their activity, have contributed to the expression of the prestige of France in Great Britain since June 1940. Carlton Gardens, London. December 1944.\"Issued just as France was being liberated, this specific book was utilized as an official diplomatic or presentation gift from the Free French government-in-exile to a high-profile British ally, supporter, or dignitary who aided the French cause during the occupation. Being Number 17 out of 250 represents an incredibly early pull from this strictly limited, elite print run.📖 BOOK DETAILS & CONTENTS:
As stated on the introductory page of the book:\"The illustrations are from figures which were designed for an exhibition \"The spirit of France\" circulated in Great Britain during 1943 and 1944 by the information service of the fighting french forces. They were photographed in colour by Arpad Elfer.\"Rather than standard toy paper dolls, the pages feature beautiful, full-page artistic color photographs of the stylized three-dimensional figures used in this important wartime traveling exhibition.✨ CONDITION REPORT:

• Format: Plastic spiral-bound softcover, as issued.
• Overall Condition: Complete and in excellent vintage condition.
• Internal Pages: All photographic plates x 24 (including Alsace, Brittany, etc.) are entirely intact, crisp, clean, and completely free from any cutouts, clipping, child\'s doodles, or markings.
• The Presentation Card: The loose, numbered insert card is present, authentic, and safely preserved inside.

A magnificent, museum-quality crossover piece perfect for serious collectors of WWII militaria, Free French Forces (FFL) history, Charles de Gaulle ephemera, or rare mid-century costume and photography books.

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