NAUTILUS 90 NORTH

NY: World Publishing Company, 1959. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good +/Very Good. First edition, third printing. First-hand account by the Commander of USS Nautilus (SSN 571), the world's first operational nuclear-powered submarine and the first submarine to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole (on 3 August 1958). Laid-in is a TLS from author Anderson on Nautilus letterhead dated 11 Feb 1959 to George Griswold, President of the Western CT Council of the Navy League of the US, repsonding affirmatively to the invitation to be the principal speaker at the chapter's annual dinner. The book is inscribed to Griswold by Cmdr. Anderson's Ltnt Commander Frank Adams, on the historic transit, "With best wishes from the officers and crew of the Nautilus (SSN 571). LCDR F. M. Adams Executive Officer" Also laid in is a ANS from Adams to Griswold dated 8 July 1959 thanking Griswold for his hospitality to him and his wife at Griswold's home in CT. Laid-in, too, is an ANS on correspondence card with Commander Submarine Force US Atlantic Fleet letterhead from Cmdr Fred Warder (who was awarded the Navy Cross for submarine service in WWII) thanking Griswold for a "color print" presumably a photo taken at the annual dinner. Finally, also laid-in, albet indirectly to this grouping, is a TLS from Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gates, dated 13 Feb 1957 to Abijah Fox, who was involved in US funding of Germany post-war, trying to set up a luncheon date with him and WSJ editor Vermont Royster. While Gates was Navy Secretary 1957-59 the Nautilus made its historic maneuver: as Defense Secretary 1959-61 he set nuclear strategy for the US and authorized U2 reconnaissance flights over the USSR. A noteworthy archive. Solid, clean book. Dustjacket, slightly toned, states second printing, but the book states third.