La Russie des tsars pendant la Grande Guerre, 3 Juin 1915-18 Aoűt 1916

Title: La Russie des tsars pendant la Grande Guerre, 3 juin 1915-18 août 1916

Author: Paléologue, Maurice

Publication: Paris: Librairie Plon, Plon-Nourrit et Cie., 1922.

Description: Memoirs of Maurice Paléologue, French diplomat and ambassador to the Russian Empire during World War One. Vol. 2 only of three-volume set. First edition, limited to 50 copies on Van Gelder paper, 2100 copies on alfa paper, and 100 hors-commerce copies on alfa paper. Illustrated with ten black-and-white plates, including many fold-out. In custom binding of half red calfskin leather with marbled paper over boards; spine with gilt lettering, tooling, and four raised bands; top edge gilt. 9 x 5.75 inches; [6], 346, [4] pages, [10] leaves of plates. With the bookplate of Walter and Mildred Farwell. Binding with front hinge fully split, but text block intact; moderate edgewear; foxed endpapers; and lightly toned text. Very Good in a Good only binding. Mildred Farwell, a previous owner of this book, was voted "the most beautiful woman in America," but what is most memorable is her work as a war correspondent for the Chicago Tribune during World War One, for which she traveled to multiple fronts in Europe, while also volunteering with the Red Cross. She was captured in Serbia by Bulgarian soldiers and held for three months. For her bravery, France awarded her the Croix de Guerre. Her husband, businessman Walter Farwell, also served in the war. The Farwells' home on Long Island, called Mallow, is known for being a fine example of Georgian architecture.