Le grand cirque - Souvenirs d'un pilote de chasse français dans la R.A.F.

First edition, one of 110 numbered copies on vergé pur fil d'arches, the most limited deluxe issue.

A blue ballpoint pen mark to the upper cover, spine and boards lightly and partially sunned, as is often the case.
Untrimmed copy with wide margins, illustrated throughout.
A typed letter of thanks from Pierre Clostermann, signed by him and addressed to Henri Torrès, bound to the left margin of the half-title page.

Our copy exceptionally contains two original watercolours (14 x 10.5 cm) depicting two R.A.F. bomber aircraft flown by Pierre Clostermann: the Vickers-Armstrong "Wellington" and the Bristol Beaufort.

The quality and style of these two signed watercolours are strikingly similar to the works of Paul Lengellé, official painter to the French Air Ministry. Lengellé also designed the dust jacket of the trade issue of this very book, although the signature appearing at the bottom of the dustjacket differs from those on our two watercolours. We are not able to able to attribute these original artworks, signed in what appears to be the name "Cr Belle".