"THIS ACCOUNT OF… AN UNAMBITIOUS SOLDIER IS RARE—SUCH MEN SELDOM WRITE THOUGH THEY FORM 98% OF THE SERVICE": GEORGE PATTON'S PERSONAL COPY OF MEMOIRS OF A NAPOLEONIC OFFICER, THRICE SIGNED BY HIM, WITH MARGINAL ANNOTATIONS, TWO LENGTHY AND INTITIALED

(PATTON, George S.) BARRES, Jean-Baptiste. BARRES, Maurice, editor. Memoirs of a Napoleonic Officer. New York: Dial Press, 1925. Octavo, original burgundy cloth. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.

Fantastic association copy of the first American edition of the memoir of Napoleonic officer Jean-Baptiste Barrès—General George Patton's own copy, thrice signed by him—on the front cover, the spine, and "G S Patton Jr. 1928" in blue pencil on the front free endpaper—and with six penciled marginal annotations, two quite extensive, in his hand through the text, indicating that he carefully read and studied this copy.

"General George S. Patton Jr. has earned a place in the pantheon of authentic American heroes…. [Yet] his great success on the battlefield did not come about by chance…. He read voraciously" (D'Este, Patton, 3-4, 317-18). No other military leader wrote so frequently in his letters or diary what he was reading, and no leader's library was so well-documented since Napoleon's. Patton often traveled with what he was reading, even on campaigns, and his books typically show signs of substantial wear. Patton's library, which was almost entirely inherited by his son, Major General George Patton III, was given to West Point, with just a small portion of books, including these volumes, inherited by other descendants or friends. Some years ago, when a prominent bookseller was discussing Patton's library with his son, his son remarked, "My old man could afford to buy the books and he could afford to write in them—nobody else in the army had any money." Patton's book collection remains a testament to the value he placed on books and the interest he took in them as tools for learning.

This copy of Barrès' Memoirs of a Napoleonic Officer—Patton's own copy—bears Patton's very bold ownership signature and date acquired ("1928") in blue pencil on the front flyleaf. He has also signed the front cover and the spine, as he often did with his books, though both of these signatures are somewhat faded and difficult to see on the dark cloth. In all he has made interesting markings or annotations in pencil on six pages, some brief notes like "not true," "self-inflicted," "straggling and a cure for it," and "generals fought them." Two of the notes are longer summaries, each additionally initialed by Patton. On page 201, at the end of a chapter, Patton writes, "The complete loyalty and general ignorance of Barrès is most interesting. The important part played by 'Glory' in Napoleon's army is emphasized. The leading nature of command is shown by the actions of the several generals discussed. GSP Jr." On page 309, the last page of the book, Patton writes, "This account of an average an unambitious soldier is rare such men seldom write though they form 98% of the service. GSP." Without original dust jacket. This volume acquired directly from the Patton family.

Restoration to spine head, wrinkling to cloth on rear cover. An extremely good and desirable annotated Napoleonic military memoir from Patton's library.