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The War at Sea 1939-1945 – The complete monumental official history of Britain’s naval war during the Second World War, comprising three volumes bound in four books. Of particular significance, Volumes I and II contain contemporary presentation inscriptions signed “Stephen W. Roskill”, dated 1954 and 1957 respectively. Despite substantial condition issues, this is an unusually interesting association set for the serious naval or military-history collector.
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The War at Sea 1939-1945 by Captain S. W. Roskill is one of the fundamental works on British naval operations during the Second World War and forms part of the official History of the Second World War: United Kingdom Military Series. This complete set comprises the three-volume work issued physically as four substantial hardcover books by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
The War at Sea 1939-1945 contains Volume I: The Defensive, published in 1954; Volume II: The Period of Balance, published in 1956; Volume III Part I: The Offensive, covering 1 June 1943 to 31 May 1944 and published in 1960; and Volume III Part II: The Offensive, covering 1 June 1944 to 14 August 1945 and published in 1961.
Of particular collectable importance, Volumes I and II contain handwritten presentation inscriptions signed “Stephen W. Roskill”. The War at Sea 1939-1945 Volume I inscription is dated 22 August 1954, the year that volume was published, while the inscription in Volume II is dated March 1957.
The handwriting, signature construction and presentation wording compare closely with documented examples of Roskill’s signed and inscribed books. The signatures have not been independently authenticated, but both inscriptions appear consistent with known Roskill material and significantly enhance the interest of this otherwise well-used set.
Condition – Fair
Complete three-volume work bound in four hardcover books. All volumes are bound in the publisher’s green cloth with gilt lettering to black spine title panels. All four books remain firmly bound. No dust jackets are present.
Volumes I and II show heavy external wear. The green cloth is extensively rubbed, frayed and damaged at the spine ends, corners and other extremities, with areas of cloth loss and exposed underlying material. These two volumes should be regarded as poor to fair externally despite their firm bindings.
Volumes I and II each contain a handwritten presentation inscription signed “Stephen W. Roskill” on the endpapers.
Foxing is present throughout the set to varying degrees, including the endpapers and portions of the text block. Volume III Part I shows evidence of prior insect damage. Volumes III Parts I and II are considerably more presentable externally than the first two volumes but nevertheless show general wear and foxing.
The War at Sea 1939-1945 is therefore offered primarily for its completeness, historical importance and the two significant signed presentation inscriptions rather than as a fine-condition example.
