AIRSHIP

1p., 8vo. On cheap paper stock. Aged, and with chipping and closed tears to extremities. Stamped on the reverse by the Paris bookseller C. F. Labarre (fl. 1970). Printed in the bottom left-hand corner: 'No. 6012.' 37 lines of text.

In a letter to Gertrude Tomkinson of 10 June 1934 (offered separately as part of an archive relating to the loss of HM Airship C8) Evans states that he was 'stationed at Kingsnorth [Airship Station] near Hoo for sometime during the War [...] but not drafted there before the end of 1916'. In another letter to the same recipient on 24 July, he mentions that he is writing an 'account of the work of the Airship during the war'.

Issues of this magazine are excessively scarce, and a full run would appear to be well-nigh unique. The only other copy traced, either on COPAC or on WorldCat, is at the Imperial War Museum (whose inadequate entry implies that it only holds a single issue, stating that it 'lacks advertisement pages before page 1'). The seventeen issues present in this set (vol. 1 nos. 1-12; vol. 2 nos. 1-5) total 448pp., 4to, in a contemporary textured blue-cloth binding, with 'FLIGHTY | KINGSNORTH | AIRSHIP | STATION | 1917-18' in faded gilt on spine (binder's note in pencil on last page).

Seven pages, 8vo, sewn as issued, very good condition, with additional leaf inserted (one printed page), edges staine. The insertion is a Postscript on gun cotton. Two copies on COPAC.

Dimensions 14 centimeters by 9 centimeters. In good condition, although grubby and with creasing to one corner and ink from postmark along one edge. Sepia photograph of airborne balloon with a tangle of guyropes and mass of people beneath it. Hangars in background. The airship pioneer August von Parseval (1861-1942) worked in partnership with the engineer Hans Bartsch von Sigsfeld and the businessman August Riedinge. The "Dragonballoons" (Drachenballone), which he designed for military observation, are predecessors of the present-day blimp.

Card, 4 pages, c.4 x 3", signs of wear but mainly good condition. First page a device of a cross in flowers and the phrase "Thy Will be done"; second page image of airship with a brief account of the disaster; thrid page "In Sacred Memory . . ." as above; fourth page a list of the men who died.