The First Hundred Thousand - Ian Hay /John Hay Beith (Bumpus Fine Binding, 1916)

This William Blackwood and Sons tenth impression (1916) is of interest to collectors of First World War literature, Ian Hay (John Hay Beith), and books with distinguished bookseller provenance bindings.

About: A handsome copy in a full tan leather binding by J. & E. Bumpus Ltd. of 360 Oxford Street, London - booksellers holding the Royal Warrant to His Majesty the King. The raised-band spine with red morocco label is characteristic of Bumpus's quality trade bindings. A distinguished provenance piece combining a celebrated WWI text with one of London's most prestigious bookselling imprints.

Details:

• Title: The First Hundred Thousand
• Author: Ian Hay (John Hay Beith)
• Publisher: William Blackwood and Sons
• Publication Date: 1916
• Edition: Tenth Impression
• Binding: Full leather by J. & E. Bumpus Ltd., 360 Oxford St., London (Royal Warrant as Booksellers to His Majesty the King)
• Condition: Good

Synopsis: Tenth impression William Blackwood imprint in a prestigious Bumpus Royal Warrant binding; a collectible WWI title with distinguished London bookseller provenance, desirable for bibliophiles, military history collectors, and admirers of fine trade bindings.

Review: Ian Hay's The First Hundred Thousand is a semi-autobiographical account of the raising and training of Kitchener's New Army in the early months of the First World War. Written with warmth and dry Scottish humour, it follows a battalion of raw recruits through their transformation into soldiers, capturing the camaraderie, absurdities, and quiet heroism of the citizen-soldier. First published in 1915, it became one of the most widely read British books of the war.