This is a specially produced glossy bookplate bearing the original signature of Air Vice Marshal Davis Scott Malden. 
On 10th June 1940 Scott-Malden arrived at 5 OTU Aston Down and after converting to Spitfires joined 611 Squadron at Digby on 23rd June.
He said at the time 'Twelve months before Dunkirk I was receiving Cambridge's Gold Medal for Greek Verse - an unusual qualification for a fighter pilot. A well trained mind is an asset, but in the skies of Britain in 1940 to be too academic was not a recipe for survival. I was lucky to come through. Many of my university friends did not'.
On 4th October 1940 he went to 603 Squadron at Hornchurch. He probably destroyed a Me109 on the 12th, damaged two CR42s on 23rd November and shared a Do17 on the 29th.
Scott-Malden became a Flight Commander in May 1941. On the 11th he took ‘A’ Flight to Drem for a night-flying course.
On the 28th he probably destroyed a Me109 and damaged another, on 7th, 14th, 21st June and 8th and 12th July he damaged Me109s, on 17th, 19th and 26th August he destroyed Me109s and on 18th September he probably destroyed another.
Scott-Malden was awarded the DFC (gazetted 19th August 1941) and in late September he was promoted and given command of 54 Squadron at Hornchurch.
On 4th November he damaged another Me109. In late November 1941 Scott-Malden was posted to HQ 14 Group Inverness on staff duties. He was appointed to lead the North Weald Norwegian Wing in March 1942.
He got a probable Fw190 on 28th April, damaged two Me109s on 4th May, probably destroyed a Fw190 on the 19th and damaged a Me109 on the 27th.
Scott-Malden was awarded a Bar to the DFC (gazetted 5th June 1942). On 19th and 29th June he shared in destroying Fw190s and on 19th August, over Dieppe, he damaged a Do217.