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SAVILE, Albany Robert, & Ferdinand Henry Wheeler Milner.
The Anglo-Afghan War of 1878.
[together with;] The Anglo-Afghan War of 1879-80.
Publisher: London: Intelligence Branch, QMG's Dept, War Office, 1878-81
Stock code: 49136
Price: £6,750 Currency Conversion
First and only editions, classified "Confidential." Rare, the only other set of these papers that we have been able to trace is that in the India Office Records (IOR/L/MIL/17/14/26-7), the Foreign Office set - which appears to have been incomplete - was found to be missing at the time of transfer to the National Archives. The first paper is in 3 sections, covering the war chronologically, the first 2 by Savile, the final section by Milner; the second paper is in 5 sections all compiled by Milner. Bound between these two items is a further confidential paper "Memorandum on Afghanistan with reference to the probable British Operations consequent on the Murder at Kabul of the Resident and Escort, on 3rd September, 1879." also credited to Milner. Around 600pp, this is a highly-detailed official account of the operations of the Second Afghan War, investigating the causes; providing a narrative of the progress; interpreting topographical apects of the campaign; and describing and analysing the logistical problems of troop movements, road and railway transport and telegraphic communications. Much enhanced by the superb mapping.
Foolscap quarto (304 × 195 mm) Contemporary half calf on black moiré boards, black morocco label, ruled compartments, edges sprinkled red. 12 linen-backed, folding lithographed maps and plans, folding letterpress table. Ex-Staff College Library with their ink stamp to the front pastedown only, a little rubbed at the extremities, light browning, table slightly misfolded and consequently with a few splits at the edge, but overall very good indeed.
