FIRST EDITION OF FIGHTING THE FLYING CIRCUS, INSCRIBED BY EDDIE RICKENBACKER

RICKENBACKER, Edward V. Fighting the Flying Circus. New York: Frederick A. Stokes, (1919). Octavo, original blue cloth, mounted cover illustrations. $1850.

First edition of this “thrilling” account of the 94th Hat-in-the-Ring Aero Squadron, with frontispiece portrait, maps and tables, boldly inscribed on the half title verso: "With my very best wish to 'Edwin S. Bowler,' Capt. E.V. Rickenbacker 1928.”

Commander of the renowned 94th Squadron during World War I (the first and most-decorated American squadron on the western front), Rickenbacker won awards including the Congressional Medal of Honor and the French Croix de Guerre with four palms (ANB). "Eddie Rickenbacker's stories of his air battles in France are of exciting interest, both in the narration of the thrilling adventures with enemy airmen and in the revealment to the reader of his intimate thoughts and feelings, as he went out day after day to attack the boasted champions of the German Air Service." The squadron was the first to go over the enemy's lines, first to destroy an enemy machine, and it brought down the last German airplane to fall in WWI. His stories include his personal association with the first American ace, Douglas Campbell, James Norman Hall, and Quentin Roosevelt. Without scarce dust jacket. Bookplate of the recipient, Edwin S. Bowler. Trace of clippings removal to rear pastedown and rear free endpaper.

Text and plates pristine, inner paper hinges expertly reinforced, bright mounted cover illustrations and cloth. A handsome near-fine copy.