ARTEMIS.** [Author SIGNED copy.**]

UK,12mo p/back,SIGNED,1st edn.[Complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2.] NFINE.No owner inscrptn but author's instantly recognisable, neat handwritten blue ink signature and underscore - without dedication - to title page.Waterstone's b/w circular 'Signed by the author at Waterstone's' adhesive sticker to upper wrap.Bright,crisp, clean,wrap-around colour pictorial artwork by Geoff Hunt,illustrated card wraps; with negligible shelf-wear and creasing to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present - but obvious reading creases to spine/backstrip.Top+fore-edges lightly aged/toned but generally still bright and clean without any foxing/ spotting: contents bright,tight and near pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners.UK, 12mo p/back,SIGNED,1st edn,1-440pp [paginated] includes a prologue,11 chapters and author's note,(plus a prologue and first chapter of forthcoming HB title,'Quarterdeck' from H&S in October,2004 and p/b issue in April,2005,towards the rear); plus [unpaginated] critics' reviews,author SIGNED title page,quotation page (Articles of War,1749),individual separator pages announcing reading further adventures of KYDD and publisher's advert for 'QUARTERDECK' the next forthcoming KYDD novel,2pp advert for Limited Edition prints and website/email community relating to author,also towards rear. See also my book ID's rja34789,rja454713,rja469414 and rja743617 for other UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edns of this same title. Author's 2nd title of a planned series of 11 titles in this series, from this author, favourably compared to Patrick O'Brien and Alexander Kent, hence the first two books are fast becoming harder to find.This title was very quickly reprinted. In the great age of fighting sail,life ranging the seas for prey and prize money in the crack frigate HMS Artemis is fast and exciting.It is also a world away from the harsh experience of a man pressed aboard the old ship-of-the-line Duke William that was wig-maker Thomas Paine Kydd's brutal introduction to the sea.Now a true Jack Tar,Kydd sails into Portsmouth Harbour and a hero's welcome after a ferocious battle against the French.However his jubilation is cut short when a family matter threatens to take him from the life he has grown to love;he must return to Guildford.But the sea beckons irresistibly and Kydd manages to ship out again in his beloved Artemis - a voyage that will take him to the fabled East and present him with fierce challenges,both personal and physical. Finally homeward bound,he faces death itself in the cruel waters of the Great Southern Ocean. 'Artemis' is based on dramatic real events and is classic storytelling at its very best - fast-paced and filled with exceptional characters. Want more Julian STOCKWIN titles? For similar and other available titles - please search my MODERN FIRSTS2 and SIGNED catalogues.
Please contact rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! ** N.B. UK and all overseas buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if item is offered P+p included or postage free.
** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIR postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. between 1/2 to 2/3rds of standard AIR quote/ rate - sometimes arriving within a week or so,and sometimes before the quoted 42 days - but not always.