BEHIND THE ROSE: PLAYING RUGBY FOR ENGLAND. [AN OFFICIAL LICENSED PRODUCT with VALID hologram.]

UK,Heavier 8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn. [An Official Licensed product includes England Rugby hologram on rear panel of dw/dj.] No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,matt wrap-around pale grey background with colour photograph of England Rugby jersey's embroidered red rose motif to front of dw/dj with a thumbnail colour illustration of same rose to front's top edge; with capitalised,embossed,glossy black+brown lettered part+sub-title with capitalised,embossed,glossy black-lettered author's names and capitalised,brown-lettered official Licensed Product credit; spine/backstrip with thumbnail colour illustration of England red rose motif to its head; capitalised black+brown-lettered part-title and capitalised ,black-lettered joint author's names and publisher's b/w lettered+illustrated colophon to foot of same; rear panel of dw/dj with jersey's colour motif illustration an Official Licensed product credit and England Rugby authentification silver hologram.Negligible shelf-wear,bumping,creasing to edges and corners – no nicks, tears or splits present but internally to dw/dj - a residual waterstain at foot of spine,spreading approx. half-way along the frony's lower edge - bit not visible to front's exterior.Top+fore-edges bright crisp,clean without blemish/foxing/spotting ; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound – no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips – appears unread, apart from my own collation. Publisher's bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered,original plain black cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt lettering to spine/backstrip,a b/w striped headband,and immaculate plain red endpapers. UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,II-Vpp+2- 460pp [paginated] includes joint-authors' Introduction,25 chapters,profuse part+full page contemporary b/w+colour sports action,player portrait photogrphs interspersed throughout the text and the book; plus [unpaginated] rose motif'd half-title+title pages,a Contents list/table,joint author's Acknowledgements,a Foreword by Jason Leonard, MBE.and to the rear,2pp Bibliography and Photographic credits and to reverse of last page,publisher's colour illustrated advertisement for two other rugby-related titles: 'Behind the Lions' and 'White Gold: England's Journey to Rugby World Cup Glory.' Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional and particularly internally,is also in an exceptional condition/ state of preservation and presentation. It is only the interior fault described that prevents a slightly higher overall grading.Despite that,it really is still an exceptional, exemplary exmple for its cleanliness,brightness and lack of use and any other major detracting faults. This is a complete history of the England rugby union team - told by men who have donned the white shirt with its iconic red rose. Based on painstaking research into the early years of the England rugby union team and interviews with a vast array of Test match players from the Second World War to the present day, world-renowned rugby writers Stephen Jones and Nick Cain delve to the very heart of what it means to play for England, painting a unique and utterly compelling picture of the game. Detailing the glory, drama, and honor on the field, as well as the heart-warming tales of friendship and humor off it, this book is an absorbing and illuminating work that is a must-have for all supporters who have ever dreamed of walking the hallowed corridors of Twickenham as a Test match player and marching out to that field of dreams with the deafening roar of the crowd in their ears and the red rose emblazoned on their chest. Please contact seller,because of the heavier weight of this item - 1.25Kg unpackaged - for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **