King Albert's Book & Princess Marie-Jose Book for Children

Germany invaded neutral Belgium on 4th Aug 1914. Belgian resistance and German fear of francs-tireurs led the Germans to implement a policy of terror (schrecklichkeit) against Belgian civilians soon after the invasion, in which massacres, executions, hostage-taking and the burning of towns and villages took place and became known as the Rape of Belgium. (Wikipedia) These tactics created international outrage and a wave of support for Belgium which included the creation of these two books King Albert’s Book is richly illustrated wartime tribute, published to honour King Albert 1 and raise support for the Daily Telegraph Belgian Fund Princess Marie-Jose’s (Albert’s youngest Daughter) Book for Children was to provide funds for a society providing for the babies behind the firing line in Flanders. The worlds leading artists, writers and musicians donated and dedicated (facsimile signed) their works freely to these books to raise funds. Poetry by Hardy, Kipling and Galsworthy. Music by Elgar and Debussy. Tipped in plates by Rackham, Neilson, DuLac and many other Royal Academicians, tributes by Churchill, Sarah Bernhardt, Jack London, Kitchener, Monet, Anatole France, Nansen, Rider Haggard and the Aga Khan. King Albert’s Book First edition. Published Hodder & Stoughton London 1914 Cover note. Originally published with cloth covered hard board as sold by Bennett's P Nth, but appears to have been recovered by (a very impressed) original owner into black leather. 16 Colour tipped in plates, 1 coloured plate, 8 monochrome plates, and music sheets. Copy is in good sound condition and complete. Fore pages browned with very little foxing, binding strong Princess Marie-Jose’s Children’s Book First edition. Published 1916 Cassell Company Ltd for the Vestiaire Marie-Jose Hardback with binding strong, copy clean and bright with only minor foxing on page edges. Frontispiece Black and white photo of Princess Marie-Jose tissue protected. 16 Coloured and black and white tipped in plates and a profusion of illustrations.