Our India (inscribed by Bishop Francis Tiburtius Roche of the Tuticorin Diocese) by Minoo Masani - 1941

Humphrey Milford: Oxford University Press, 1941. 2nd Edition . Hardcover. Fair-. 12mo - over 6¾ - 7¾" tall. C. H. G. Moorhouse. See photos for condition details. Hardcover, decorative heavy weave cloth boards with paper labels on front and spine. Labels show wear and label on spine is barely readable. Cloth is also spotted and soiled. Interior binding is very bad in spots with a complete binding break at page 48/49 to where the book is only being held together by the exterior cloth. There are also several other small hinge cracks though hinges at boards are still okay. NOTE: This is also an ex-library edition and is stamped in three places (front pastedown, front end page, title page) which reads: "St. John's Preparatory Seminary for the Franciscan Friars of Atonement". The rear end page and pastedown shows where a date card and pocket were glued in. If that was not enough the front end page is also embossed in the upper right corner from the original merchant that appears to read: "Jules A, Menesse & Co., Santa Cruz, Bombay Suburbs". What makes this book unique and still collectible is the nearly full page inscription on the front end page: "To Very Rev. Father Raphael Francis S. A. From His grateful and devoted + Francis Tiburtius Roche, Bishop of Tuticorin, June 12, 1942 - (??)ast of (???) Sacred Heart". Bishop Roche is the first Bishop of the Tuticorin Diocese and also the also the first Indian Bishop of the Latin Rite. Despite the severe hinge issues the book is complete and attached. Stated second edition of November 1941 on the copyright page. Copyright page also shows library numbers written in pencil and 4242 written in pen.