The Conquest of the Air; Aeronautics, Aviation; History, Theory, Practice

William Heinemann, London, 1911. Reprint. Hardcover (Original Cloth). Fair Condition. Illustrator: Photographic. Preface to the first English edition, preface to the second English edition, introduction by author, list of illustrations, appendix, glossary of aeronautical terms, metrical measurements with English equivalents and index. Black and white photographic frontispiece, showing the aeroplane 'Bleriot' making the first return journey from Toury to Artenay – the first 'heavier than air' craft to do so. The text is illustrated with black and white photographic plates showing early aeroplanes and dirigibles. Blue coloured cloth covered boards with white coloured embossed illustration and titles to the front panel. As the title would suggest a early history of Aeronautics and aeroplanes – the work was 1st published in 1909. The book is only in fair condition – inasmuch as a lot of the plates have become detached from the text block (which is tight) – the book does need some TLC from a sympathetic rebinding – please see photograph. Softening, rubbing and some fraying of the back strip edges – some of the board is visible. Bumping and rubbing to the book corners – again the board is visible. Light tanning and foxing to the text block edges stop rubs, marks and scores to the panels. Offset tanning and some foxing to the end pages and the next couple of pages. Previous owners' details to the free front end page and a small gift inscription, dated May 1914, to the top right-hand corner of the half title page stop original bookseller's rubberstamp (E. W. Cole) to the top left-hand corner of the front paste-down. Reised Edition. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. [6], VII - XX, 249, [3] pages,. Please refer to accompanying picture (s). Illustrator: Photographic. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Aviation; 1900-1920; History. Inventory No: 0286349. .