WW2 Aust publications - 'As You Were', 'Stand Easy', etc

[hrpearce]

I finally sorted the books, I have 24 titles.
The two books in the first picture were the hardest to find.
I bought the book in the second picture thinking it was different, turned out to be the same as book two.
Pictures three and fore show the best copies of the rest of my collection.
Picture five shows the double ups and one in original packing.
Some books I bought thinking they were different only to discover the cover colour was the only difference.

[lynx42]

Hi Robert,

You have quite a collection, I wonder who started you off on them??

Might have to do a deal with you on the RAAF books as I do not have any of them.

Regards Rick.

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Robert,

Yes, those two WW1 pictorials are difficult to find, especially in reasonable condition. Like you, I'm fortunate to have both. Another nice find is the Bruce Bairnsfather series of cartoon magazines published during the war. I was pleased to find both a complete hard-cover bound set, plus four of the magazines in their original covers, all in good condition. Still don't have a complete set of the WW1 official history, but as these are all digitized on-line on the AWM site, the need is not so pressing.

Like every Australian enthusiast, I have picked up several volumes of the WW2 series, mostly the Army books and the later 'As you were' books up to the 1950s - a poor showing compared to yours and Rick's collections! Only one in an original posting box, however. The more valuable books for me are a complete set of the WW2 official history, and a complete set of the Australian Pictorial History of WW2.

We also have several of the US Official history of WW2, and a set of the rare first edition of the pictorial history of the US Civil War, published about 1900 (the blue-spinned, 10 volume set below the Aust official history).

And what's an office to work in without some original art to gaze upon from time to time?? Confederate 12-pounder Napoleon ML SB cannons firing on Harper's Ferry from Bolivar Heights, flanked by portraits of a Confederate officer and an enlisted artillerist.

Mike

[jack neville]

I have a full set of the WW2 AWM books which I have improved over the years to include mostly original issues and most with complete dust covers. I managed to obtain two of the WW1 books with the The Anzac Book having a very good dust cover.

[jack neville]

I have set of the WW1 Official History including two of the Medical History volumes. The set is in very good condition and originally belonged to Colonel Frank Hewiston who was a long time member of the Australian Army Staff College at Queenscliff until his retirement. His widow gifted them to me some years after his death.
My set of AWM Pictorial History and 16 of the WW2 History volumes all came from the long forgotten Amenities Library that was housed at the now defunct Russell Street Police Headquarters in Melbourne. A couple of years before the complex was closed the library ceased to operate. It was rumoured that the books were all to be sold by tender. The collection contained many original issue battalion histories. When the tender went through the main interest was in the antique shelving not the books. The elderly volunteer librarian had since departed and not many people had access to the keys. You can be lucky sometimes.

[jack neville]

But my favourite book is this All Australian Memorial printed in 1917. It contains many unique photos which are pasted in and has the Roll of Honour for 1914-1916. I assume there were later editions to cover the later war years but I am very pleased to have this not least because it contains my grandfathers name. 1932 DRIDAN, J.H., Amphitheatre. V

[Mike K]

In my experience the most rare publication of the WW2 AWM series , is "SIGNALS" If you have one hold onto it.

The op shops were filled up with those WW2 AWM books in years past. Those days are gone.

[hrpearce]

Still a fair few on ebay of the easy to get ones. I still check what is available hoping to get better copies, plenty of water damaged ones around. Asking prices vary greatly and some cheap ones have outrageous postage added.