Borneo Burlesque - Sandakan Entertainment
Artwork Don Johnson and Jock Britz, Story George Forbes, production Bill Clayton. 130pp. No publisher, 1947. First edition of 338 this being 323, signed by all four.
In July 1942, 'B Force', 1,500 Officers and men were moved from Changi POW camp to Sandakan, then on to Kuching.
The harsh treatment from Japanese captors was relieved by entertainments devised and performed by the prisoners.
This is a post war record of the many shows produced in the middle of malnutrition, berri berri, broken bodies and souls.
Initial text gives the history and a sequential paragraph of the performances, with some background notes, followed by pencil portraits of 170 men.
Subsequent contents are show by show with a colourful mock up poster with Cast and Synopsis for each, 21 in all.
Final pages on the efficacy of these shows and a philosophical wrap-up.
Interesting and scarce. The Department of Veteran's Affairs republished a portion of this in 2011.
Pale green illustrated cloth boards are marked and aged. Older fabric repair to internal front hinge. Contents very mildly toned, colour poster plates are excellent, text clean and unhandled. A handful of foxing marks. (26x20cm)



Estimate $200-400