SAS Regimental Association Publishing and Extraordinary Editions announce the release of the Exemplary Edition of just 22 copies to celebrate the publication of the Diary.
At £15,000 the Exemplary Edition of the Diary will be the rarest and most expensive military history ever produced.
The Exemplary Edition broke cover for the first time at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst at a presentation of two copies of the Diary by the Sandhurst Foundation to the Academy.
Each book is individually crafted, with over 300 photographs, newspaper and magazine articles stuck in by hand to create the most accurate possible replica of the original scrapbook. The completed book is then gilded along all three edges before being bound in a bespoke full leather casing embossed with the badge and wings of the Special Air Service.
The diary comes in a stunning presentation box lined in a Cambridge blue silk and covered in a blind embossed Oxford blue leather. Each box is finished with sterling silver corners and completed with an 6 inch solid silver winged dagger set in the top. Each completed Exemplary Edition is delivered in a solid wood ammunition box.
Each copy of the Diary measures some 17 x 12 x 4.5 inches and weighs approximately 25lbs.
The original diary was made in 1946 and is an immense scrapbook containing all the regimental history that could be saved after the Regiment had been disbanded in 1945. It is the personal and private history of the Regiment , from the inside, by the SAS , for the SAS, it is one of the most astonishing manuscripts to come out of the Second World War.
Published in late September 2011 the SAS War Diary has sold over 1000 copies. The lion’s share of the profit from the project goes to the welfare fund of the SAS Regimental Association.
There are several editions of the Diary from the Anniversary at £975 to the Originals at £2500, which is nearly sold out.
Oxford and Cambridge blue are the Regimental colours.
Extraordinary Editions are based in London and specialise in hand crafted limited edition books produced using only the finest materials and made by hand by leading craftsmen.
The Sandhurst Foundation is for alumni of RMAS – www.sandhurstfoundation.org
