Canada. An Official History Of The Canadian Forces 1914-19, General Series Volume I, From The Outbreak Of War To The Formation Of The Canadian Corps, August 1914 - September 1915".

1. Volume I actually consists of two books, hardcover, each with a maroon cloth cover, both covers bearing the Canadian coat-of-arms in gold-coloured ink, entitled "Official History of the Canadian Forces 1914-19, General Series Volume I, from the Outbreak of War to the Formation of the Canadian Corps, August 1914 - September 1915" by Colonel Archer Fortescue Duguid, D.S.O., B.Sc., R.C.A. The books were issued by the Department of Defence, with Duguid planning eight volumes, but even that modest goal was never reached. Duguid published Volume I in 1938 in two books, essentially covering the first year of the war. However, the whole effort stalled and the subsequent volumes were never issued.

2. First Book of Volume I is entitled "Official History of The Canadian Forces in the Great War 1914-1919, General Series Volume I, from the Outbreak of War to the Formation of the Canadian Corps, August 1914 - September 1915", by Colonel Archer Fortescue Duguid, D.S.O., B.Sc., R.C.A., Director of the Historical Section, General Staff, Maps and Sketches compiled and drawn by Captain J.I.P. Neal R.C.E., published by authority of the Minister of National Defence, printed in 1938 by J.G. Patenaude, I.S.O. of Ottawa, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, and coded "15135-A½". The Note at the beginning of the book states: "In writing this history the author has been given full access to relevant official documents in possession of the Department of National Defence; but the inferences drawn and the opinions expressed are those of the author himself, and the Department is in no way responsible for his reading or presentation of the facts as stated." It is named in black ink to "CAPTAIN H.M. JACKSON / Canadian Military Headquarters, / London, March, 1940." on the flyleaf. The book begins with a Preface, followed by a Contents page stating that the book is divided into twenty chapters: I - The Outbreak of War. 28th June - 22nd August; II - The First Contingent at Valcartier. August and September; III - Across the Atlantic. 3rd-14th October; IV - On Salisbury Plain. October, 1914 - February, 1915; V - The 1st Canadian Division Enters the Line Fleurbaix. 11th February - 7th April; VI - The Ypres Salient. 7th-21st April; VII - The FIrst Gas Attack 22nd April, 1915; VIII - The Midnight Counter-Attack. 22nd/23rd April; IX - Securing the Flank. Friday, 23rd April; X - The Battle of St. Julien Opens. 24th April; XI - The Attack of Hull's Force and the Loss of the Gravenstafel Ridge. Sunday, 25th April; XII - An Inter-Allied Counter-Stroke. 26th April; XIII - Attacks, Negotiations and Withdrawal; XIV - Frezenberg Ridge. 8th May; XV - Features and Results of Ypres 1915; XVI - The 2nd Canadian Division; XVII - Festubert. 4th-22nd May; XVIII - Festaubert. 22nd-31st May; XIX - Givenchy. 1st-24th June; XX - Ploegsteert and Hill 63. 26th June-13th September. The First Book of Volume I contains 624 pages of text, printed in black ink on an off-white newsprint-like paper stock, incorporating ten colour fold out panels placed at various locations throughout the book, which include nine maps, along with a chart entitled "Employment of Canadian Formations 1914-15", printed on a white paper stock, the book measuring 170 mm (w) x 253 mm (h) x 55 mm (d).

3. Second Book of Volume I is entitled "Official History of The Canadian Forces in the Great War 1914-1919, General Series Volume I, from the Outbreak of War to the Formation of the Canadian Corps, August 1914 - September 1915, Chronology, Appendices and Maps", published by authority of the Minister of National Defence, printed in 1938 by J.G. Patenaude, I.S.O. of Ottawa, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty in 1938, coded "15135-A½". The Note at the beginning of the book states: "In the preparation of this appendix volume the historian has been given full access to relevant official documents in possession of the Department of National Defence; but the inferences drawn and the opinions expressed in the notes and monographs are those of the author himself, and the Department is in no way responsible either for them or for his selection or presentation of the material." It is named in black ink to "CAPTAIN H.M. JACKSON / Canadian Military Headquarters, / London, March, 1940." on the flyleaf. It begins with a Compilation page, followed by a List of Contents that entails 32 pages, and a List of 855 Appendices, the various appendices constituting the bulk of the book. The back of the book has a cardboard sleeve placed on the inside back cover that houses fourteen 480 mm (w) x 368 mm (h) folded colour maps, each of the maps numbered 1 through 14, matching the key that appears in the listing in the First Book of Volume I. The Second Book of Volume I contains 520 pages of text, printed in black ink on an off-white newsprint-like paper stock, the fourteen maps within the cardboard sleeve on a white paper stock, the book measuring 170 mm (w) x 253 mm (h) x 55 mm (d).

4. Together, the two books making up Volume I weigh 2.7 kilograms, the First Book with light discolouration on the edges of the pages, along with light wear on the maroon cloth of the cover; the Second Book with light discolouration on the edges of the pages, with light wear on the maroon cloth of the cover, the upper corners on both the front and back covers pinched, along with exhibiting light soiling on the back cover. The pages and maps on the inside of both books remain unaffected by the aforementioned issues involving the covers. Better than very fine.

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