Author: (MacVeagh, Lincoln). Tarsouli, Athina.
Title: Iles Blanches. [Signed and Further Inscribed by the Author/Artist to the American Minister to Greece, Lincoln Macveagh].
Description: Athenes: Imprimerie Rythmos, 1939. 1939. ASSOCIATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO THE AMERICAN MINISTER TO GREECE LINCOLN MACVEAGH - Quarto, 8-1/2 inches high by 6-1/2 inches wide. Hardcover, bound in tan buckram hand-painted with the image of a Skyros windmill in brown, blue & white, titled in white on the front cover and signed by Athina Tarsouli. The spine is slightly darkened. The original wrappers are bound in and feature a lithographic front cover with a variation of the Skyros windmill in blue & white. 133 pages with profuse textual illustrations in black and white & 3 tipped-in color plates. The text block is cracked opposite the title page and there is some occasional soiling and darkening to the top edges of a few pages. Very good.

First edition.

Inscribed by Athina Tarsouli on the title page: "A Monsieur et a Madame Mak Vey [sic] les grands amis de la Grece et auteurs inspires du beau livre 'Elliniko taxidi' / Hommage respectueux de l'auteur Decembre 1940." In addition to the personal inscription all copies of the book were signed by Tarsouli on the verso of the half-title. The reference she makes to the book by the MacVeaghs is to the Greek edition of "Greek Journey", an illustrated children's book by the couple published by Dodd, Mead & Company in 1937.

The islands included in the description are Tinos, Myconos, Paros, Antiparos, Naxos, Santorin, and Skyros.

Athina Tarsouli (1887-1975) was born in Athens. She studied painting in France and as an artist was represented in several group exhibitions in Athens, Alexandria and Cyprus. She was in addition to being a painter she was also a folklorist with a special interest in Greek folklore. She was a member of the literary section of "Parnassos" and the Lyceum of Greek Women.

From the library of Lincoln MacVeagh and his wife Margaret with their "Arcades Ambo" bookplate on the front paste down. Lincoln MacVeagh (1890-1972), a Renaissance man, graduated from Harvard magna cum laude in 1913. He went on to study languages at the Sorbonne and became fluent in German, French, Spanish, Latin, Greek and Classical Greek. After World War I he became a director of the Henry Holt and Company publishing firm where he became friendly with the poet Robert Frost. In 1923 he left the firm and founded the Dial Press. His name appears on the imprint of many of their publications. In 1933 President Roosevelt appointed him Minister to Greece. He followed presentation of his credentials with a speech in Classical Greek. While in Greece he conducted excavations beneath the Acropolis and made archeological contributions to the National Museum in Athens. He left Greece in 1941 when the German army over ran the country. From there he was appointed the first US Minister to Iceland where he negotiated agreements for the construction of the Keflavik airfield. In late 1942 he became Minister to the Union of South Africa and coordinated American wartime agencies there. In 1943 he was sent to Cairo as Ambassador so that he could assist the governments in exile of Greece and Yugoslavia. He returned to Athens as Ambassador in 1944. MacVeagh gave secret testimony before Congress concerning the Balkans in 1947, testimony that was an important factor in the formation of the Truman Doctrine. In 1948 as Ambassador to Portugal MacVeagh was influential in admitting her into NATO. In 1952 President Truman named him Ambassador to Spain. President Truman wrote to him on March 9, 1948: "On the occasion of your appointment as Ambassador to Portugal, I would like to make some personal expression of appreciation for the high services you have already rendered your country. During the past fifteen critical years you have served with distinction as Chief of the United states Missions to Iceland, the Union of South Africa, Yugoslavia and Greece. In this last post especially - as Minister from 1933 to 1941 and as Ambassador since 1943 - your scholarly statesmanship and diplomatic judgment have been of the utmost value. Very good .

Keywords: TRAVEL; HISTORY; EXPLORATION; ATHINA TARSOULI; ILES BLANCHES; ILLUSTRATED BOOK; TRAVEL; GREECE; LINCOLN MACVEAGH; FIRST EDITION; 1ST EDITION; 20TH CENTURY; TWENTIETH CENTURY; COLOR PLATES; CYCLADES; FRENCH; SIGNED BOOK; PRESENTATION COPY; HAND PAINTED BIN

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