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Third batch (Italy at War) went out today. Post woman indicates they should be there Friday as you rest up from Turkey Day. Perhaps a day or more longer if snow is heavy in your region. I have not sent the overseas editions yet. I am quite anxious for some reviews.
The first 50 or so pages are Italy's pre-fascist history up through WWII. Gunnar Abramson did an outstanding job here. Thereafter, it is the uniforms, equipment, hand-held weaponry/tanks-artillery (thanks Steve), 100 plus pages of rare photographs only published in the earlier edition, ephemera, personal items, combat stories (thanks Ralph) and the rear of the book are multiple pages of mannequins with original uniforms and gear of the fascist period. Marsman, Walter, Airdale, Steve, Ralph, Jeff, Luca, Giorgio, Hunter, Steve, Mike, Paolo, Raphael, Dennis, Greg and many others were instrumental in making this book much better than it's earlier incarnation of 5 years back. I'm quite proud of it and the friendships and knowledge that I have gained as a result. All copies should be numbered and inscribed. A warrior's embrace to all! Reviews please! Oh, I am not entirely pleased with the color brightness of the last uniform pages. Too much saturation in their printing process maybe? Let me know what you think. I am a bit anal retentive concerning this stuff perhaps. Best to all, Russ Hey Gents,
I received a proof copy last night. The "thing" is a monster! 700 plus pages. Here are some pics of the "thing". If you did not like the book you could use it as a door-stop or even a weapon! I'll probably go through these folks with the other books as well, if the remainder of the books we receive look this good. Best Regards, Russ The printer kicked a file to me today. They left a few pages at black and white, when they were supposed to be color. They fixed it within the hour and sent again. I perused it this evening. All good. I sent it back...uploaded it to them that is. I am supposed to await a proof book now. Maybe this week? Maybe all the book available next week? They are moving fast on this. Here is a pic they sent me earlier today. Niiiiccceee, I believe. I'll keep all posted. I also saw Fury today. makes my mouth wet for militaria and military hitstory. haha
Best, Russ Discussion over phone with printer and book files uploaded to their site this evening. Closer to the books arriving. In anticipation of the book being released, here is a page from the book.
I love this pic! Greek helmets of old ( I can't spell antiquati. Ha). The pure volume of them, makes me think they would not miss one...just a measly single example. My collector's hair is standing on the nape of my neck. Enjoy.
Thought this was interesting....as of this past week. October 2014
LUMBY - Seven decades after thousands of "balloon bombs" were let loose by the Imperial Japanese Army to wreak havoc on their enemies across the Pacific, two forestry workers found one half-buried in the mountains of eastern British Columbia. A navy bomb disposal team was called and arrived at the site Friday in the Monashee Mountains near Lumby, B.C. "They confirmed without a doubt that it is a Japanese balloon bomb," said RCMP Cpl. Henry Proce. "This thing has been in the dirt for 70 years .... There was still some metal debris in the area (but) nothing left of the balloon itself." The forestry workers found the device Wednesday and reported it to RCMP on Thursday. Proce, a bit of a history buff himself, accompanied the men to the remote area and agreed that the piece appeared to be a military relic. The area was cordoned off and police contacted the bomb disposal unit at Maritime Forces Pacific. It was a big bomb, Proce said. A half-metre of metal casing was under the dirt in addition to approximately 15 to 20 centimetres sticking out of the ground. "It would have been far too dangerous to move it," Proce said. "They put some C4 on either side of this thing and they blew it to smithereens." Between November 1944 and April 1945, the Imperial Japanese Army released more than 9,000 bomb-bearing balloons. Assembled from bark and rice paper, in some cases by school children, the balloons were loaded with hydrogen and attached to a chandelier-type structure loaded with sandbags and incendiary bombs, said Andrew Burtch, director of research at the Canadian War Museum. This one would have been equipped with two large bombs and four smaller ones that may have exploded on landing decades ago. "It would go up into the jet stream and get pushed across the Pacific over the course of two or three days," he said. "They were launched from beaches in Japan with the objective of creating havoc in North America, which had until then been relatively untouched by the war." As hydrogen depleted, the balloons would lose altitude so the devices were rigged with barometers and timers to drop sandbags as necessary to keep the balloon aloft. It is estimated that at least 1,000 made it over the ocean and as far inland as Michigan and Manitoba. "It's quite an ingenious device," Burtch said. But "in the end, not too effective." There were no deaths reported in Canada, but an Oregon Sunday school teacher and five teens were killed by one in 1945. Canadian Navy Lt. Paul Pendergast said the bomb disposal unit is called about once a month for suspect objects. "Sometimes they're a souvenir someone kept from World War II, and they may be inert or they may be live," he said. When they pose a hazard, the items are blown up on site. Metals rings and other part of the device were found in the area and Proce said he hopes they will be put on display at the museum in Lumby, 460 kilometres east of Vancouver. Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Military+unit+blows+WWII+Japanese+balloon+bomb+smithereens/10281138/story.html#ixzz3FuGgpYqI Russ, sounds like you intend to keep busy for the foreseeable future.. Don't be too upset over the fact that these books do not sell in large numbers. We are selling to a "discriminating clientele" (i.e., a small demographic base...). you at least know just how many books you have sold; in my case I have found that most editors are very reticent to tell the author just how many copies they have sold (unless it's a royalty deal, when they have to account for all copies). To make you feel good, my smallest run was 41 copies (40 of which I bought myself for family and friends, and one, count it, one copy sold to "the public"! That was a sort of autobiography I did as a "vanity" thing). At the other end of the scale the book I did for Squadron sold about 2000 copies, but Squadron does inexpensive books and they have a great marketing and distribution system. All the other books were somewhere in between. Anyway, I agree that we are doing this more to spread the word and share whatever knowledge we have, organize data, and try to present it well. My compliments to you again for your work on Italian military subjects. Ralph
Thanks for the interesting post Ralph. Yes, it appears that it is a small demographic base. I suppose since I'm mixed in it (so to speak), on most occasions, it can seem bigger than it is. Certainly, the fire-arms collectors are a much much bigger collecting fraternity than just militaria collectors. Some carry over, back and forth, but still stratified in some ways. Interesting, and I can understand it certainly. For myself, I love my firearms (antiques), but also enjoy studying the uniforms, personal items, etc. and read the history, but that is me. Some folks are strictly firearm collectors or just badge collectors, etc, etc. Ralph, I recently read a book by Austin Kleon, called Steal Like an Artist, concerning creativity, the process, making money or not, etc. and why we need to do what we do (create). What I came away with it was what you said, basically, we have a need (to create), do it for yourself if you have no-one appreciating your process and it's ok. ...oh, make sure you have something to pay the bills and then create. Interesting read and my synopsis is a bit short and crude. Anyhoo, thanks for sharing and my enthusiasm has not diminished. I'll continue as it fulfills an inner need I have. haha Sorry gents, for getting heavy! haha Best to All, Russ I'm trying to figure out this blog development stuff as I want to start my own to promote the books, talk militaria, firearms, wargaming, family, etc. This is a trial run and I am sure there will be many more of these trials! ha Picture added below.
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