just got Coastal Command to add to Battle of Britain Roof over Britain also along the sames lines and very interesting Land at War: The Official Story of British Farming, 1939-1944 - Tim Coates
I've got a good collection of these too; yet my favourite has got to be the most common. 'Front Line' is found everywhere, and is an excellent reference start for anyone wanting to know more about the functioning of the Civil Defence/ARP services in the war. Peter
I only have four of these two of which I recently picked up at a car boot, for half the price they seem to cost elsewhere, I left three behind as they were not my area of intrest perhaps at the price I should of bought them as well but saying that I got no room now
I have built another montage for fellow collectors comprising of some images from the extended series, as per Mr. James's index, and some which I feel are pertinent to the events of 1939 to 1945 and the post war issues. All very topical and again, wonderful reading! Even the "white papers" with the uninspiring front page have a way of winding the clock back and putting you in the front row. It may have something to do with the smell of the old newsprint for which I confess to a little fetish. I encourage you to try one or two anyway! You will note in the top left of the image a few titles which require a little explanation. The "WW2 HMSO Paparbacks Collectors Guide", "A Bibliography Of WW2 HMSO Paperbacks" and "Informing The People" all written by A.R. James in the mid 90's are absolutely essential reading and have been compiled by the "master" on the subject matter. These books are still available on the internet at very reasonable prices. I should pick up some fresh copies too as mine are getting a little tatty. "Book Collector" for August 1995 is also easy to find and in this issue Mr. James explores in depth many of the authors, phantom and otherwise of the series. Again, easy to obtain a copy on the internet and very informative. Finaly, "Womans Magazine" March 1946!!! (No wierd fetish here by the way). I have no idea where I came up with this one but it seems to be the first publication which recognized the existance of the HMSO series. The author, Marjorie Hessell Tiltman, there's a bonny name for you, suggests 66 titles were published in the series. Sadly she does not itemize her full list. Also remember she can't include titles published after she wrote the article but have since become part of the series. Nevertheless, do try and find a copy as the subject matter seemed to go to sleep for the next 50 years until Mr. James woke up the subject. Sorry to go on but I hope this all may be of interest to you. Regards from the frozen North, John
Thank you for the interesting information John. I added Frontline and The Northern Garrisons to my collection today.
I haven't seen any of these in the second hand shops near to work.. I got "Over to you" a few years back at what is probably a very inflated price in a swanky shop in some village or other in Surrey. I would love to collect some of the others, is it worth trying the online sops (Abebooks etc) or are they silly prices there?
I haven't seen any of these in the second hand shops near to work.. I got "Over to you" a few years back at what is probably a very inflated price in a swanky shop in some village or other in Surrey. I would love to collect some of the others, is it worth trying the online sops (Abebooks etc) or are they silly prices there? Yes, it can be fruitful online searching. I have found the prices higher however and remember the postage costs too. Most dealers will combine postage if you buy more than one copy though and this does help to keep prices more reasonable. The booksellers description regarding the condition of the book also seems to be more realistic than with, for instance, e-bay. About 4 years ago I was in the UK and came upon a bookseller in, I think it was Dorset, "The Biggest Book Barn In The World" if I remember. They had probably 200 mixed issues, although none of the scarce ones, in a variety of conditions for just a pound or two each. I did fish out I think 5 which were as near to "MINT" as you can find. May be worth exploring again. Good luck with the project! John
Thank you for the interesting information John. I added Frontline and The Northern Garrisons to my collection today. That's great! Best advice I can offer is don't give up when you get down to the final few. These can be elusive. Mr. James told me of a fellow paying four hundred pounds to a dealer in Hay-on Wye for a copy of "Friends In Need". No need for that. When you find that copy in a bargain bin it is like winning the lottery. All part of the hunt. Let me know how you get on. I am by the way, deeply indebted to Mr. James and have some issues to deliver to him on my next visit. Best wishes, John
I just discovered this thread. I have only a few of these, The Tiger Kills and the Tiger Triumphs, the Abyssinian Campaign one and another one I don't see here so far, its got a War Artists pics with the desert war and contains pictures of mixtures of British and Indian troops drawn in pencil. Wish I could remember the title, and it has the right "look" to be in the series, but appears not to be! Mind you, compared to some of what appears to be called the "extended" collection there seems to be very little to link them together, except the HMSO printed them. It also printed a lot of paperwork for the forces for training. Is this just a list of what someone decided should be lumped together into a 'collection'..?
I just discovered this thread. I have only a few of these, The Tiger Kills and the Tiger Triumphs, the Abyssinian Campaign one and another one I don't see here so far, its got a War Artists pics with the desert war and contains pictures of mixtures of British and Indian troops drawn in pencil. Wish I could remember the title, and it has the right "look" to be in the series, but appears not to be! Mind you, compared to some of what appears to be called the "extended" collection there seems to be very little to link them together, except the HMSO printed them. It also printed a lot of paperwork for the forces for training. Is this just a list of what someone decided should be lumped together into a 'collection'..? Good evening Matt, and sorry for the somewhat tardy reply! Sometimes I have ample time on this machine and othertimes it is elusive. Anyway, you may wish to seek out "The Tiger Strikes" to complete the trilogy. Again, not HMSO but published in Calcutta in 1942. It tells of the troops from India, British and Indian, in the Middle East in 1940-1941. It was published in soft and hardback. Quite scarce but absolutely riviting reading. You are quite correct regarding the HMSO output. I think a good read of "Informing The People" will justify the inclusion of the publications in the "extended set". Do remember of course that there was no intention to produce these books as anything like a set in the first place. Let me know the title of the phantom book you mention and I will see if I can cast any light upon it. Regards, John
That's great! Best advice I can offer is don't give up when you get down to the final few. These can be elusive. Mr. James told me of a fellow paying four hundred pounds to a dealer in Hay-on Wye for a copy of "Friends In Need". No need for that. When you find that copy in a bargain bin it is like winning the lottery. All part of the hunt. Let me know how you get on. I am by the way, deeply indebted to Mr. James and have some issues to deliver to him on my next visit. Best wishes, John Hi John, I'm quite lucky in living next door to a second hand bookshop but sadly I have cleared out his collection for now! I have a long way to go to complete the collection but its an interesting collection to build up. Thanks for the tip about Friends In Need.
Worrals "I'm quite lucky in living next door to a second hand bookshop". You lucky sod I take it as a regular you get discount.......... or is the owner the normal tight fisted bookseller
Hi John, I'm quite lucky in living next door to a second hand bookshop but sadly I have cleared out his collection for now! I have a long way to go to complete the collection but its an interesting collection to build up. Thanks for the tip about Friends In Need. Not too sure about being "lucky" living next door to a book store! Not when you have an addiction like mine anyway. How are his prices (just out of interest)? If you ever get down to Dorset that huge book barn could well be worth while. Regards, John
Well, I am addicted to books! I picked my copies up for between £3 and £5 depending on quality so not too bad. I do get a discount as well, being a very good customer especially in the war books section
Well, I am addicted to books! I picked my copies up for between £3 and £5 depending on quality so not too bad. I do get a discount as well, being a very good customer especially in the war books section Three to Five pounds is fine. I pay that for postage if buying on the internet and taking a chance on the condition to boot. When you think of the price and content of a modern magazine, there is no contest at all! Good hunting, John
Rummaging in a Charing Cross Road bookshop this week, I picked up this one... ...which although not strictly from the HMSO paperback series, is similar in style and written by one of their authors, Hilary Saunders, who did 'Battle of Britain', 'Bomber Command', 'Air Sea Rescue', 'Bomber Command continues', 'Coastal Command', 'Combined Operations', and 'By air to battle'. It was, I believe, published in 1946. It is not mentioned in Anthony James 'collectors guide' from 1995, but might be in his later book, which I do not have. As well as the usual text, it has some interesting photos, like this one of a German aerial pic of the Dagenham plant as well as several paintings by an artist called Helen McKie, such as... ...which (putting my China hat on) seem rather "socialist realist" in style ! Interesting find...not bad condition, and £12...which probably isn't bad. Abebooks has several, but all at prices north of £25
I think someone needs to do some research before he prices things !!!! The Army At War THE EIGHTH ARMY United Kingdom 1944 - eBay (item 140456120808 end time Oct-19-10 20:10:40 PDT)
