Lawrence Bachmann — The Phoenix

London, Collins, 1955 . First edition. Cloth. A signed first edition, first impression of this Laurence Bachmann novel, set in Berlin after the Second World War. The first edition, first impression of this novel by Lawrence Paul Bachmann, American film producer who also served in the US Army Air Forces and was the principal overseas correspondent for Air Force magazine. After a long career in the motion picture industry, he started writing novels again. A fascinating novel set in 1945 Berlin, surrounding six men who find employment in disposing of the bombs scattered about the city.A signed presentation copy, inscribed to the front free endpaper to American novelist Paul Gallico: 'For Paul - whom I resemble - in work, I hope, as well as in appearance - Affection, Larry&apos. This inscription is dated London, Nov. 1955. Acquired from the sale of Gallico's library. Gallico was a prolific writer, but is perhaps now best remembered for his 1969 novel 'The Poseidon Adventure', adapted into the successful 1972 motion picture. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with price unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, bright. Bumping to spine head and tail. Spotting to reverse of dust wrapper, with patches of foxing to flyleaves. Chipping to back strip head and tail, with marks to rear wrap. Inscription to front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None. Very Good Indeed/Very Good.