The Air Combat Paintings of Robert Taylor

Newton Abbot: David and Charles, 1993. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Newton Abbot, David and Charles, 1993 (sixth impression)/ 1987. Large oblong folio, 128 pages with numerous illustrations (many full-page, and many in colour) plus pictorial endpapers. Papered boards slightly bumped at the extremities; top edge lightly foxed; an excellent copy with the lightly scuffed dustwrapper. Inscribed and signed by the artist on the half-title (19 February 1995). All artwork relates to the Second World War, and on the blank verso of the front flyleaf there are nine signatures (often with service details and awards) of wartime aviators. These include some significant Australian RAAF veterans: Bob Cowper DFC & Bar; Bobby Gibbes DSO DFC & Bar; Rollo Kingsford-Smith DSO DFC; and Brian 'Black Jack' Walker DSO. The other signatures are Wing Commander Arthur William Doubleday DSO DFC MID; W.K. (Bill) Perry DFC; Warrant Officer James Keen, 84 Squadron; Flying Officer Allan A. 'Troppo' Davies, 87 Photo Reconnaissance Squadron; and Karl-Heinz 'Henry' Nebel, 9/JG 51 (Mölders) [9 Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 51: 9 Squadron, 51st Fighter Wing, the most highly decorated fighter wing in the Luftwaffe]. Loosely inserted are four colour pictorial prospectuses for limited edition prints by Robert Taylor (one is signed and inscribed by him), and a prospectus for Walker's autobiography.