Description
A Military History of the Western World by British military historian John F.C. Fuller, from the private collection of Charles Lindbergh. This set was a gift from Lindbergh to his official biographer, Lt. Colonel Raymond H. Fredette.
Octavo, [three volumes], xiii, 602pp; x, 561pp; xii, 666pp. All three volumes in gray cloth, title stamped in silver on spine. All in fine condition, possibly never read. Housed in the publisher’s slipcase, title on label affixed to spine. All in the publisher’s dust jackets, fine condition, $7.50 retail price on front flap.
Volume I is inscribed: “To Raymond H. Fredette / With best wishes from / Charles A. Lindbergh.”
This set includes the original shipping box, personally addressed by Lindbergh to “Col. Raymond H. Fredette,” postmarked May 19, 1973.Each volume with the ownership inscription of “Lindbergh” on the front free endpaper.
Colonel Raymond H. Fredette (1924-2022) was a distinguished U.S. Air Force officer and historian, and the official biographer of Charles A. Lindbergh. In 1970, after his retirement, Col. Fredette contacted Lindbergh about his Medal of Honor, which he received in 1928 from President Coolidge, in honor of his historic flight. The two aviators met for lunch in Washington, D.C., and began discussions about writing an official biography. Lindbergh agreed and opened his private papers to Fredette, which were held at Yale University. After Lindbergh’s death in 1974, Anne Morrow Lindbergh authorized Fredette to continue his writing, but after a dispute with his publisher, a book was never released. Fredette was the author of The Sky on Fire: The First Battle of Britain 1917-1918, which provides a detailed account of the German air raids over London and the defense mounted by the British Royal Flying Corps.
