The Red Badge of Courage An Episode of the American Civil War

n. p.: Westvaco, West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, 1968. Limited Edition. Fine in full black, pebbled leather covered boards with gilt text on the spine, blind embossing on the front board and decorated end sheets. It is important to note that a circular hole 7/16" (the same as a .45 caliber bullet) in diameter has been drilled through the front board and the first 190 pages of text. This hole does not effect any of the printed text as it is placed in the lower margin of each page. This hole was deliberately produced by the publisher and printer to provide a more realistic appearance for the book. Splashes of "blood" appear on many pages throughout the entire text. As a result of this treatment this volume has since been dubbed the "Red Badge of Courage with the bullet hole". Without a dust jacket as issued; however, the book is contained within a very good+, paper covered slip case with tanning to three side and rubbing at two corners. Part of the preface to the book is a facsimile reprint of the illustrations which appeared in the Rules for the Management and Cleaning of the Rifle Musket, Model 1863 for The Use of Soldiers with Descriptive Plates. These plates provide a detailed perspective of the hardware and mechanics for this rifle which was standard issue to troops in the U.S. Army during the Civil War. 203 pages of text with illustrations as aforementioned. The Westvaco Christmas release of 1968 which was the 11th volume in the series. An extremely unusual and highly prized volume in the Westvaco collection of Christmas classics.