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1917 The White Feather by Ray Phillips Antique Australian Fiction Book 1st Ed

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Condition: Acceptable

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1917 The White Feather by Ray Phillips Antique Australian Fiction Book 1st Ed

The White Feather
By Ray Phillips
Published by Melville & Mullen Pty Ltd: Melbourne October 1917
1st Edition - Very Scarce - None Available Online Globally At Time Of Listing

" The White Feather by Ray Phillips (Mrs M. M. Phillips), published by Melville & Mullen Pty Ltd, Melbourne in October 1917, is a very scarce Australian First World War-era novel that reflects the social and moral tensions of wartime Australia. Written during the height of the conflict, the novel engages directly with contemporary ideas of duty, courage, conscience, and social pressure, themes encapsulated in the symbolic "white feather" itself—widely associated during WWI with accusations of cowardice directed at men not in uniform. Phillips approaches the subject with sensitivity and nuance, offering a distinctly Australian perspective on a debate that divided communities and families at home.

The narrative explores the personal consequences of public judgement, examining how honour, fear, and moral conviction intersect under the strain of war. Rather than simple propaganda, the novel reflects the complexity of civilian life during 1914-1918, particularly for those whose paths did not align neatly with prevailing expectations. As a female author writing under her own name at a time when many women used pseudonyms, Ray Phillips occupies an important place in early Australian wartime literature, contributing a voice that balances empathy with social critique.

This copy is the First Edition, October 1917, and is exceptionally scarce, with no other copies located online globally at the time of listing, underscoring its rarity and significance. It will appeal strongly to collectors of Australian WWI literature, early Melbourne publishing, and scarce First Edition Australian novels, as well as to researchers and readers interested in the social history of the Great War and the civilian experience behind the front lines. "

Heavy fading and general wear to covers and spine. Inside hinges split with wobbly covers. Ex Bendigo Library Club bookplate present. Binding is relaxed with no loose pages. Pages heavily age tanned and crisp but otherwise clean. A decent 1st Edition copy of a very scarce title. Please study photos to further understand condition.

Size 18.5cm x 13cm x 2.5cm - 322 Pages

PRODUCT DETAILS


Condition: Acceptable
Binding: Cloth
Special Attributes: ["1st Edition", "Original Cloth Bindings", "Ex Bendigo Library Club Copy"]
Region: Australia, Oceania
Subject: Literature & Fiction
Original/Facsimile: Original
Seller Notes: Heavy fading and general wear to covers and spine. Inside hinges split with wobbly covers. Ex Bendigo Library Club bookplate present. Binding is relaxed with no loose pages. Pages heavily age tanned and crisp but otherwise clean. A decent 1st Edition copy of a very scarce title. Please study photos to further understand condition.
Language: English
Author: Ray Phillips
Publisher: Melville & Mullen Pty Ltd: Melbourne
Year Printed: 1917
Sub-subject: Australian Fiction