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Saturday 11 March 2017

Some newly acquired old books

Back in the early 1970s I was first a poor students and then an even poorer teacher. My income barely stretched to paying my rent, feeding myself, and keeping clothes on my back. There was no surplus, and as a result quite a few books that were published around then – and which I would loved to have bought – remained out of my reach ... until now!

During a recent visit to Falconwood Transport and Military Bookshop in nearby Welling, I found two books from that time that I have long coveted but never owned. They are Martin Windrow and Gerry Embleton’s MILITARY DRESS OF THE PENINSULAR WAR (published in1974 by Hippocrene Books [ISBN 0 88254 273 7]) ...


... and René North’s REGIMENTS AT WATERLOO (published in 1971 by Almark Publishing [ISBN 0 85524 024 5]).


I really could have done with these books when I set out on my Napoleonic project, but now that I own them I am sure that I am going to get lots of use out of them.

20 comments:

  1. Bob I have been lucky enough to have both these books for many years, the Peninsular war one is invaluable. The problem I find with the paperback Almarks is that they are "perfect bound", which means the individual pages are glued into the spine. They don't survive the years too well and you can't open them flat without breaking their back, which isn't helpful in a reference book.

    I have found some excellent military titles I was unaware of by reading Don Featherstone's old reviews in Wargamer's Newsletter and then tracking copies down on Abebooks or elsewhere on the web.

    I am glad you finally own both these books

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    Replies
    1. Vintage Wargamer,

      They are both great books, and my copy of the Almark one is a hardback and its binding is still in excellent condition.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  2. Hi Bob! There are few things as satisfying to "The Inner Child", as being able to find and PURCHASE something that was denied long ago. I still remember the thrill I got, when I came across a hardback copy of Morchauser's "How To Play Miniature Wargames", a few years ago. It was an exact copy of the one I had on "permanent loan" from the school library back in the day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Martin,

      The pleasure of finding and buying a book - or books - one has wanted for long time is tremendous!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  3. Over the last couple of years I have found that there can be a certain satisfaction to finally fulfilling an old desire to have a certain book or miniatures.

    Well done for exploiting the opportunity!

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    Replies
    1. Ross Mac,

      Small triumphs like this bring all sorts of joy and can really make one's day, week, or even month!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  4. Bob,

    Well done sir! I must say that over the last few months, I've picked up all my 'missing' Featherstone titles, plus some Almark titles (some still hold their price), plus George Gush, John Tunstill, F E Perry, elderly Men-at-Arms etc. on Amazon. Nostalgia is alive and well!
    Regards, Stuart

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    Replies
    1. Stuart Asquith,

      Hunting for 'missing' books to complete a collection is almost a hobby in itself ... and thanks to John Curry and the 'History of Wargaming' project some of the very rare books are available again.

      Good hunting!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  5. I've had the North book since the 70's.

    I was (luckily) never a 'poor' student but was a comparatively well paid one as my studies were on a day release course.

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    Replies
    1. Jim Duncan,

      My annual grant from my local authority was £26 per term! I had to work part-time during term time and full-time during the holidays just to make ends meet.

      Not that different from the situation of most modern students I suppose.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  6. Wonderful! Congrats on finally acquiring these for the collection...

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    1. Michael Mills,

      Cheers! The books were well worth the effort of finding them.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  7. These look like great finds. I think there was a certain quality in these older books. I first got into military uniforms with Andrew Mollo's Armed Forces of World War Two, and I've slowly been accumulating a lot of the Blandford Books military uniform series. Thanks for highlighting these other books to us all as well.

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    1. Colonel Scipio,

      These early books were written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, hence their quality.

      I was lucky enough to buy the Blandford books as they were published, and I still use them regularly.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  8. I have both of those books from when they were first published. The one by Rene North is falling apart, covered in thumb prints and paint marks, as it was my primary reference source back in the 70s. I have several Almark publications and keep my eye open for them when I scan the shelves in second hand bookshops. I think I have most of the blindfold series too, and they are pretty dog eared as well. Bob

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    1. Bob Kett,

      The Almark books were all very useful, and if I ever see one that I don't already have, I buy it!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  9. I mean Blandford - automatic spell check!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bob Kett,

      I guessed as much. Automatic spellcheckers are a mixed blessing.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

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