Post by rickthelibrarian on Jan 16, 2012 7:41:06 GMT -5
UPDATE - all items marked "SPF" no longer available (sold).
I’ve been “hunting and gathering” and have come up with just possibly the best group of books I have ever offered. These are the “cream of the crop”! It is really hard not to list ALL of them as “Rick’s Choice”. A superb group of books on the Philippines, some excellent books on WWII and turn of the century U.S. warships and my favorite Patrick McManus books, to boot! Don’t let the lack of a dust cover fool you on a few of these books. They are excellent where it counts – between the covers!
A) Payment can be made by check or money order. I may have to hold checks until they clear unless you are known to me or other arrangements are made. Money orders will get instant next business day mailing. Paypal can be used, but a 4% premium will be added to offset fees charged by Paypal.
B) All prices do not include shipping. Shipping is done by Media Mail, which I have found economical and secure. I will quote a shipping price, when you make an offer. Insurance is optional.
D) Books vary in condition and I do my best to describe them properly. Books are hardbacked unless otherwise mentioned. Any questions will be gladly answered. I will also provide reasonable pictures of the books or their content.
E) When you contact me about these books, please inquire by book title, not number. You can contact me through this forum or at –rrsbls@msn.com-- (remove dashes)
I. “Rick’s Picks”
1. “Battleship at War” by Ivan Musicant. SPF
2. “The Regulars” by Edward Coffman. Before this book came out, there was not a good social history of the U.S. Army in the pre-WWII era. Coffman effectively fills the bill, He discusses the U.S. Army from 1898 to 1941. Both officers and enlisted men, as well as their families are discussed. All branches and ranks, too. Much of the book is in their own words. Duty in far-off Pacific posts, the west and comfortable eastern posts is well described. If you have a Krag, 1903, 1917 or other weapon from this era and are interested in what kinds of soldiers carried these weapons and what their lives were like, you MUST have this book! Near new condition, $15.00
3. “Strong Men Armed” by Robert Leckie. SPF
4. “World War II: Order of Battle” by Shelby Stanton. A “coffee table”-sized book, telling the history of EVERY battalion to division-sized unit in the combat arms (infantry, armor, artillery, engineers, coast artillery, etc) that served in World War II. The division sized units have over a page on each and tell subsidiary units, casualties, commanding officers, casualties and much other data. Regiments have crest, what units they were assigned, history, where activated, disbanded, etc. In addition, this 700+ page 10x13” sized book has data on how units changed over the course of the war, unit patches, separate battalions and much other information. If you study the U.S. Army in WWII and want a book you will refer to over and over again, this is the one. It is not often seen and sells in the $100 range (and up) when it is available. $45.00. (One copy left)
5. “The Irish Civil War” by Tim Pat Coogan. This is a large (10x13”) book on the “Troubles” in Ireland, especially the fighting between the British and Irish after WWI, and especially the fighting that resulted after a treaty had been signed, starting the Irish Free State. On one side was the Irish government, many former IRA, and the radical elements of the IRA. This is pictorial book with scores of never-seen pictures. Plenty of photos of SMLEs, Lewis guns, 18-pounders, armored cars, etc. If you find history interesting, or like British arms of the WWI period, this is excellent. A LARGE trade ppk. Near new and hard to find, $20.00
6. “The American Steel Navy” by John Alden SPF
7. “U.S. Armored Cruisers” by Ivan Musicant. SPF
8. “The U.S. Marine Corps” by Charles CuretonSPF
9. “Garde D’Haiti” by James McCrocklin SPF
II. Philippines (As you know, my “specialty” has been the Bataan-Corregidor campaign. I gathered some good ones!)
1. “The Fall of the Philippines” (U.S. Army WWII series) by Louis Morton SPF
2. “Bataan: The Judgment Seat”, by Allison Ind SPF
3. “Lieutenant Ramsey’s War, by Edwin Ramsey SPF
4. “Ghost Soldier” by Hampton Sides. SPF
5. “Soldier Slaves” by James Parkinson. Another book on prisoners of war of Japan. However, this book is from a different angle: the attempts by the few remaining survivors to gain payback from the Japanese and the Japanese industrial concerns. Near new, $8.50
III. World War II and General History
1. “Hitler Moves East” by Paul Carell. SPF
2. “Guadalcanal” by Richard B. Frank. Both SPF
3) “Victory at Mortain” by Mark Reardon. Before Patton and the rest of the Allies could be launched across France in the fall of 1944, Hitler’s attempt at a counterattack had to be stopped. This was done, mainly by elements of the 30th Infantry Division at Mortain. Reardon details the heavy fighting, which in some places was hand-to-hand and to the last ditch. He highlights the fighting qualities of the individual G.I. Near new, $10.00
4) The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt”, by Edmund Morris SPF
IV. Humor
1) “Homes and Other Black Holes”, by Dave Barry SPF
2) Patrick McManus book set. Outdoor humorist McManus is one of my favorite authors, with hilarious (but clean) short stories on camping, fishing, hunting, etc. Several excellent stories on guns and gun collection – “Gunrunning” in “The Grasshopper Trap” is a scream and all too true (and worth the price of the whole book!!)
a) “The Grasshopper Trap” – contains “Gunrunning” trade ppk. (worth the price, alone!) Ex. $5.50
c) “”They Shoot Canoes, Don’t They” trade ppk. – Ex. $4.50
d) “How I got This Way” – SPF
I’ve been “hunting and gathering” and have come up with just possibly the best group of books I have ever offered. These are the “cream of the crop”! It is really hard not to list ALL of them as “Rick’s Choice”. A superb group of books on the Philippines, some excellent books on WWII and turn of the century U.S. warships and my favorite Patrick McManus books, to boot! Don’t let the lack of a dust cover fool you on a few of these books. They are excellent where it counts – between the covers!
A) Payment can be made by check or money order. I may have to hold checks until they clear unless you are known to me or other arrangements are made. Money orders will get instant next business day mailing. Paypal can be used, but a 4% premium will be added to offset fees charged by Paypal.
B) All prices do not include shipping. Shipping is done by Media Mail, which I have found economical and secure. I will quote a shipping price, when you make an offer. Insurance is optional.
D) Books vary in condition and I do my best to describe them properly. Books are hardbacked unless otherwise mentioned. Any questions will be gladly answered. I will also provide reasonable pictures of the books or their content.
E) When you contact me about these books, please inquire by book title, not number. You can contact me through this forum or at –rrsbls@msn.com-- (remove dashes)
I. “Rick’s Picks”
1. “Battleship at War” by Ivan Musicant. SPF
2. “The Regulars” by Edward Coffman. Before this book came out, there was not a good social history of the U.S. Army in the pre-WWII era. Coffman effectively fills the bill, He discusses the U.S. Army from 1898 to 1941. Both officers and enlisted men, as well as their families are discussed. All branches and ranks, too. Much of the book is in their own words. Duty in far-off Pacific posts, the west and comfortable eastern posts is well described. If you have a Krag, 1903, 1917 or other weapon from this era and are interested in what kinds of soldiers carried these weapons and what their lives were like, you MUST have this book! Near new condition, $15.00
3. “Strong Men Armed” by Robert Leckie. SPF
4. “World War II: Order of Battle” by Shelby Stanton. A “coffee table”-sized book, telling the history of EVERY battalion to division-sized unit in the combat arms (infantry, armor, artillery, engineers, coast artillery, etc) that served in World War II. The division sized units have over a page on each and tell subsidiary units, casualties, commanding officers, casualties and much other data. Regiments have crest, what units they were assigned, history, where activated, disbanded, etc. In addition, this 700+ page 10x13” sized book has data on how units changed over the course of the war, unit patches, separate battalions and much other information. If you study the U.S. Army in WWII and want a book you will refer to over and over again, this is the one. It is not often seen and sells in the $100 range (and up) when it is available. $45.00. (One copy left)
5. “The Irish Civil War” by Tim Pat Coogan. This is a large (10x13”) book on the “Troubles” in Ireland, especially the fighting between the British and Irish after WWI, and especially the fighting that resulted after a treaty had been signed, starting the Irish Free State. On one side was the Irish government, many former IRA, and the radical elements of the IRA. This is pictorial book with scores of never-seen pictures. Plenty of photos of SMLEs, Lewis guns, 18-pounders, armored cars, etc. If you find history interesting, or like British arms of the WWI period, this is excellent. A LARGE trade ppk. Near new and hard to find, $20.00
6. “The American Steel Navy” by John Alden SPF
7. “U.S. Armored Cruisers” by Ivan Musicant. SPF
8. “The U.S. Marine Corps” by Charles CuretonSPF
9. “Garde D’Haiti” by James McCrocklin SPF
II. Philippines (As you know, my “specialty” has been the Bataan-Corregidor campaign. I gathered some good ones!)
1. “The Fall of the Philippines” (U.S. Army WWII series) by Louis Morton SPF
2. “Bataan: The Judgment Seat”, by Allison Ind SPF
3. “Lieutenant Ramsey’s War, by Edwin Ramsey SPF
4. “Ghost Soldier” by Hampton Sides. SPF
5. “Soldier Slaves” by James Parkinson. Another book on prisoners of war of Japan. However, this book is from a different angle: the attempts by the few remaining survivors to gain payback from the Japanese and the Japanese industrial concerns. Near new, $8.50
III. World War II and General History
1. “Hitler Moves East” by Paul Carell. SPF
2. “Guadalcanal” by Richard B. Frank. Both SPF
3) “Victory at Mortain” by Mark Reardon. Before Patton and the rest of the Allies could be launched across France in the fall of 1944, Hitler’s attempt at a counterattack had to be stopped. This was done, mainly by elements of the 30th Infantry Division at Mortain. Reardon details the heavy fighting, which in some places was hand-to-hand and to the last ditch. He highlights the fighting qualities of the individual G.I. Near new, $10.00
4) The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt”, by Edmund Morris SPF
IV. Humor
1) “Homes and Other Black Holes”, by Dave Barry SPF
2) Patrick McManus book set. Outdoor humorist McManus is one of my favorite authors, with hilarious (but clean) short stories on camping, fishing, hunting, etc. Several excellent stories on guns and gun collection – “Gunrunning” in “The Grasshopper Trap” is a scream and all too true (and worth the price of the whole book!!)
a) “The Grasshopper Trap” – contains “Gunrunning” trade ppk. (worth the price, alone!) Ex. $5.50
c) “”They Shoot Canoes, Don’t They” trade ppk. – Ex. $4.50
d) “How I got This Way” – SPF