The Mint by T.E. LAWRENCE
LAWRENCE, T.E. The Mint. A Day-Book of the R.A.F. Depot between August and December 1922 with Later Notes, by 352087 A/c Ross. London: Jonathan Cape, 1955.
First British edition. Although an American edition was printed in 1936, the first British edition was printed from later, revised version of the text. This edition had all objectionable barrack-room words lifted out of the text, leaving blank spaces in their places.
In 1922, his dreams of an independent Arabia shattered, T.E. Lawrence enlisted in the RAF under the assumed name John Hume Ross. Upon the discovery of his identity, he was discharged, but allowed to re-enlist two and a half years later, this time using the name of Shaw, under which he had served in the Tank Corps. With poetic clarity, Lawrence brings to life the harsh realities of barracks life and illuminates the strange twilight world he had slipped into after his war experiences.
4to, 206 pp. Original cloth (bound by A.W. Bain &Co. Ltd.), slightly faded, front board blocked in blind with RAF eagle device, gilt to spine, top edge blue. Very good in dust jacket (price-clipped on front flap, the rear flap retaining the price (17s. 6d.); light creasing; slightly marked).