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Books > Arts & Architecture > Antiques & collectables > Militaria, arms & armour
This monumental, two volume set, several years in preparation,
includes over 400 color photographs, illustrations and period
images from the finest collections in the United States and Europe.
For the first time, collectors will see a comprehensive full color
photographic lexicon picturing helmets from every unit of the
Imperial German Army of 1914. Many of the photographs exhibit
helmets of such rarity that they have never been seen outside a
select group of advanced collectors. Carefully selected, each
photograph and illustration affords the reader information not to
be found elsewhere. Presented in a clear and easy to understand
format, the detailed text covers evolution of the Pickelhaube from
1842 until 1918, helmet nomenclature, front plates of the Active,
Reserve and Landwehr regiments, and identification tables for
officer and other ranks helmets. Without a doubt, these are the
most extensive and comprehensive books on this subject ever
published in English. The information presented here will make this
book essential for the novice and advanced collector, military
historian and restorer.
A history of arms and armour in Europe from pre-history to the 15th
century. In The Archaeology of Weapons, Ewart Oakeshott traces the
development of European arms in logical sequence, showing how
changes were wrought by the use of new materials and the
ever-shifting demands of war and fashion. This history begins
nearly two hundred years before the Christian era, covering among
other subjects the charioteers of the Near East, the Roman attitude
to arms and the Bronze Age weapons of Europe. The core of the book,
however, is the middle ages: a general survey of the institution of
chivalry, an understanding of which is vital to the appreciation of
all the arms of the high middle ages, is followed by a
classification covering all sword types from about 1050to 1500.
Oakeshott draws on a variety of sources, from the archaeological
evidence provided by existing weapons to the clues to be found in
literature as diverse as the Old Testament, the works of Homer,
Norse sagas and medieval romances. The symbolic importance of the
sword is treated as an essential part of this lucid study and adds
much to its archaeological interest. The late EWART OAKESHOTT was
one of the world's leading authorities on the arms and armour of
medieval Europe. His other works on the subject include Records of
the Medieval Sword and The Sword in the Age of Chivalry.
This book is a thorough treatment of the evolution of the United
States Marine Corps's principal distinguishing insignia, and covers
from 1804 through World War I. The large inventory offers an
objective basis for the identification, classification, and dating
of over 300 emblems. The reader will find answers to questions
about individual emblems such as: What is it, and what was its
function? What is most significant, including its historical
context? When was it used and discontinued, and if possible to
answer, who manufactured it? Also included are answers to the most
important question:What are the sources supporting these
interpretations? A comprehensive guide is needed for the
identification of US Marine Corps emblems, especially considering
the serious proliferation of fakes and reproductions. This is a
valuable tool for one of the fastest growing military collectibles
in the world.
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