This Was Lidice by Gustav Holm (First Edition with Inscription), 1943 📜🇨🇿⚔️

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a first edition of This Was Lidice, a historical document by Gustav Holm. Published in 1943 by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, this book is a testimony to one of the acts of retribution in World War II. This volume has a personal inscription from a previous owner.

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2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

This Was Lidice recounts the true story of the Nazi atrocity against the Czech village of Lidice in 1942. The book provides a detailed narrative of the events leading up to the massacre and its aftermath. The village was leveled, and its male inhabitants were murdered in retaliation for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich.

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3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

Gustav Holm was a writer and translator whose work provided an account of the Lidice tragedy. The dedication in this book to his mother, a native of a nearby Czech village, establishes the author’s personal connection to the region and the history he is documenting. The book's purpose was to inform and rally public opinion against Nazi brutality.

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4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

The book's publication in 1943 is a critical aspect of its historical context. Published while World War II was still ongoing, it was a contemporary report that brought the realities of the conflict to the attention of readers in Allied countries.

The destruction of Lidice was used as a powerful symbol of Nazi brutality. This book is a product of its time, capturing the immediate shock and grief of the world in response to the atrocity.

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5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is for a curator of World War II history, a scholar of human rights, or a private collector of first editionswith documented provenance. It is an acquisition for an individual who values a book's historical significance and its documented personal history. The unique personal inscription makes this a fit for a collection that cherishes the story behind an artifact.

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6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a true first edition of a historical work, this book is a Rare and desirable asset. The scarcity of a well-preserved first printing is a key factor in its value. The presence of a personal inscription from a previous owner adds a layer of tangible, personal history that connects the book to its historical moment. The rarity is Unique due to the provenance.

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7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This volume is in good vintage condition.

• The hardcover is in a solid state.

• The cloth boards show some minor rubbing and scuffing.

• The pages are discolored consistent with a book of this age.

• The binding is tight and pages are clean.

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8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The destruction of Lidice was an act of revenge for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, a high-ranking Nazi official.

• In response to the massacre, a "Lidice Shall Live" movement was started, which raised money to rebuild the village after the war.

• A memorial to the victims of the massacre was later built in the new village of Lidice, and it includes a garden with 23,000 roses donated by people from around the world.

• This book has a unique personal inscription from a previous owner.

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9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: This Was Lidice

• Author/Maker: Gustav Holm

• Year: 1943

• Publisher/Foundry: G. P. Putnam’s Sons

• Place of Origin: New York, USA

• Format/Binding: Hardcover

• Edition: First Edition

• Rarity: Unique (due to provenance)

• Transcription: This book contains a personal inscription on the front endpaper, which reads: “John & Eileen Doran, May. 1945”.