Diamonds of your Aviation Library (boasting thread 2007)

So pleased that I got the Air Britain files on the Lancaster,Halifax and Whitley. Also the Confound and Destroy books by Martin Streetly on No 100 Group . Is the author still around ?

I’m surprised about the Stirling File going for £50 on eBay. There are a whole bunch on abebooks for £20-£30.

My Golden Nugget is

‘Canadian Military Aircraft: Serials And Photographs 1920-1968’ by John A. Griffin Published by Canadian War Museum, 1969

– Only 3000 Produced and like hens teeth…..

Paul

P.M Sent

Air Britain – ‘The Stirling File’ goes for around £50 on ebay.

DS

Quite surprised to see ‘Chipmunk-The first fifty years’ fetch similar amounts. And another is ‘V-missiles of the third reich’ by Dieter Holsken now fetching 3 figures; but still my gem is ‘TSR-2 Phoenix or Folly’ signed by the author and all four flight crew (Bee, Jimmy Dell etc…).

So i also advised my missus that when i fall off my perch, not to let a book dealer offer £200 for everything 😀

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Books…

“The encyclopedia of Aircraft” is my most loved ,and used set of tomes.For monetary value non aviation is “Tigers on the Western Front” by Jean Restayn.Also a treasured and touching book is “Spitfire,flying legend” by John Dibbs and Tony Holmes.Bought by an overseas mate of my ex boss,signed and given to me as a gift.Aviation passion know no bounds.

“Shades of Kimbolton” 379BG USAAF B-17’s around £200.
“The Flying Flea” by Henri Mignet original hardback around £100.
“Hawker Hunter” signed by Bill Bedford. price ?

I am more interested in the books than monetary value.

Strange. My copy – Argus Books 1990 says £32.50 on the back cover.

I paid about a fiver remaindered IRRC.

So did mine!

Prices do vary, but generally over £150 for a copy seems the norm retail.

He is apparently working on a new edition.

I hadn’t realised the Aston books commanded such high prices either.

One I have is Kenneth West’s The Captive Luftwaffe from Putnam – I’ve seen them go for over £100 in good condition – even ex libris copies go for over £20 usually

I have many unusual and exotic aviation books, but I consider my best reference source, and bargain, to be a complete collection of World Aircraft (title off the top of my head). It was one of those weekly glossy publications, with each mag covering history, greatest aircraft and A-Z of aircraft companies and types and was around in the mid eighties. It is in 18 Blue bound volumes and the information supplied is incredible, some of which I cannot even find in recommended books. Found the whole colection at a car boot for a tenner, many years after I had originally managed to buy some individual copies.

The complete set of time life books on the history of flight.

Our most precious book is my grandfather’s WWII logbook from flying Spitfire’s during the war and more specifically, flying BL628 “Marion” during the war. Although, there may be no value in the book, to us, it’s absolutely priceless (hence why it’s kept in a fireproof/waterproof safe! 😉 )

Robert Flindall
Director
National Heritage Warbird Foundation
http://www.warbirdfoundation.org

Air Britain – ‘The Stirling File’ goes for around £50 on ebay.

DS

Men of the Battle of Britain,signed by 40 Battle of Britain pilots,

Flying Start by Hugh ‘Cocky’ Dundas.It was Johnnie Johnsons personal copy from Cocky and is inscribed to Johnnie from him.

Worth next to nothing, but the book that started me into all this madness, Famous fighters of the Second World War, by William Green.It was my Uncles, and given to me when I was about 8 years old.

The one book that I treasure over all the book I have is actually a RAF Manual.

It is the “Manual of Administration in the Royal Air Force”

It was owned by one Wing Commander G D Blackwood who was the first commander of a Cezch squadron if my memory serves me correct and I dont have to dig out all the info. He was also related to the Blackwoods in Edinburgh that published the Blackwoods magazine that was well known.

It is in original condition and in good nick considering it is only bound with string and hard paper covers.

Outside it has his name written in red ink and inside it has glued in many ammendments to procedures in the RAF also many hand written amendments.

Dont know how much it would be valued at and dont really care but it would be nice to know what people valued it at as a collectable or indeed resource.

Incidentally I bought it for £20 in a local book shop although it is priceless to me.

Loads. Typhoon and Tempest Story was mentioned earlier – mine is signed by the author, and Kit North-Lewis, David Ince, Ronnie Sheward, Stapme Stapleton, Jimmy Kyle, Jimmy Stewart, Joe Atkinson (twice) and Ken Adam. Worth a few quid is it?

Wise without Eyes signed by me mate and a friend. The two books I’ve had a hand in signed by some good friends who launched them. 1st editions of Flight to Freedom and Rendezvous with Fate signed by the authors. A bunch of others signed up as well. All by people I’ve had the pleasure to chat/drink with and all only when it’s been specifically relevant that they sign. I treasure them all as memories of the days. Sadly some of those friends are no longer around.

Oh, anyone like the Big show? Closterman did 3 books, i have 1sts of each:

Anyone seen him sign with ‘Clo-Clo’ before? Nah, thought not…

Seeing mention on here a couple of weeks ago that a copy of Barrie Hygate’s “British Experimental Jet Aircraft” was for sale on Amazon for £258 set me thinking. I occasionally say to the missuss that if I fall off my perch unexpectedly I’ve got one or two books in my library that are worth a few bob.

So I’m taking this opportunity to do a bit of boasting and giving you the chance to do the same :diablo: :diablo:

Which are your most valuable aviation books? which is the most precious? and which is top of your ‘wish list’? (Christmas-is-a-comin’)

Here’s my list (values taken from Amazon)

“British Experimental Jet Aircraft” Barrie Hygate RRP £32.50 now £258
“Miles Aircraft” Don L Brown RRP £5.25 now £228
“British Aeroplanes 1914 – 1918” J. M. Bruce RRP £8.40 now £109 – £197 (I had wanted this book for many years since first seeing/reading it in our main reference library as a youngster)

“Jet: The Story of a Pioneer” Sir Frank Whittle This is an old, ex-library copy but I got it signed by the great man himself when he was at Bitteswell about 20 years ago. I doubt I’d ever part with it.

“British Light Aeroplanes” and “British Airliners” by Arthur Ord-Hume. Not sure if I’ve got the titles right and I’ve cheated by including two books but they are a set. Although published some years ago I’ve never seen them available much below original price.

Over to you….

Roger Smith.

Can somebody tell me why Don Brown’s book now appears to command so majestic a price? Even so, I wouldn’t part with mine as it remains a constant source of reference. My only regret is that I did not ask the author to sign it when I was in correspondence with him thirty odd years ago!

My Golden Nugget is

‘Canadian Military Aircraft: Serials And Photographs 1920-1968’ by John A. Griffin Published by Canadian War Museum, 1969

– Only 3000 Produced and like hens teeth…..

where oh where are Aston Publications now?

I have the Typhoon and Tempest Story, The Shackleton and the Short Sunderland. The first two go for silly money.

I also have early (jacket says £4.99) Spitfire at war, and Hurricane at war that my dad bought me for a holiday treat when I was 10 or 11, the first grown up aeroplane books I owned, these are very dear to me.

I also kick myself often, for not picking up the other Aston Titles when I saw them a few years back in Kegans second hand Bookshop in Reading, used to pick up loads in there before he moved to a very small shop….

Strange. My copy – Argus Books 1990 says £32.50 on the back cover.

whoops 😮 you’re right will have to edit my post

Roger Smith.

“British Experimental Jet Aircraft” Barrie Hygate RRP £8.40 now £258
Roger Smith.

Strange. My copy – Argus Books 1990 says £32.50 on the back cover.

I paid about a fiver remaindered IRRC.

The Blackburn Skua and Roc by Matthew Willis 😀 😀 😀

Seriously, I am not too bothered about the financial worth of my books but the ones that are worth most to me are an ancient and battered copy of ‘Sound Barrier’ signed by Neville Duke, and Nigel Wallpole’s ‘Voodoo Warriors’ signed by the author and about 15 F-101 crew.

In terms of non-aviation related books, the 1st edition ‘The Grand Fleet’ by Admiral Jellicoe with all the original maps still in their pockets is nice.

Mmmm, books.