The Actual Situation regarding Robert Rudhall’s published work…

As the late Robert Rudhall’s former publisher I have read this thread with interest and will now explain how these books came about and what the current status is.

Having been (astonishingly) turned down by Key Publishing, which was Robert’s employer at the time, on the grounds that a book on the Battle of Britain film was a non-starter (too little interest, apparently!), Robert came to me in 1999. I immediately agreed to publish without even viewing the material, as it was patently obvious, to me at least, that there was a great demand for a book on the 1969 film – especially given that I knew Robert’s work was of the highest standard. So, in 2000 my original company, Ramrod Publications, produced 2,000 casebound copies of ‘Battle of Britain: The Movie’, rapidly increasing the run, if memory serves me rightly, by another 1,500. That first edition soon sold out, that title being followed a year later by Robert’s ‘Battle of Britain Film: The Photo Album’. This was produced, I think, in a quantity of 1,000, casebound, sold out but was not re-printed. Tragically Robert died suddenly soon afterwards, and in 2002 I decided to wind up Ramrod, which successfully traded for 10 years, to pursue other projects.

In 2005, however, I decided to re-visit publishing on a full-time basis and founded Victory Books. In addition to producing new material, Victory Books, which was a bigger concern with infinitely greater resources than the former Ramrod, also published softback second editions of a number of my own books and, of course, ‘Battle of Britain: The Movie’. I think that the original casebound first edition retailed at £25, the subsequent softback being £14.95. Unfortunately due to an acrimonious divorce, in 2007 I had no option but to regrettably wind up Victory Books – all remaining stock was given to Steve Cooper, my business partner in the venture, to sell off and therefore recoup some of his investment. To whom the books were sold I know not, but as has already been stated in previous threads, copies are obtainable, although often at a price, via second hand book sellers.

Although I am pleased to report that my personal life is now once more stable and happier than ever before, and indeed that I am writing (but not publishing) again, there are no plans to re-publish Robert’s work in the foreseeable future (see http://www.dilipsarkarmbe.co.uk). I say this because a previous poster stated ‘Watch this space’ or similar regarding re-prints. The layout of Robert’s books remains my personal copyright, the text and photographs his, or more correctly given his sad passing, that of his widow, Joyce Rudhall – a close and dear friend of many years standing. So, the original books cannot be re-printed without my permission, and another publisher could not produce another edition to a new design without Joyce’s consent. Whilst I would have no objection to Joyce deciding to work with another publisher (not that she has any plans to), the situation is slightly complicated due to production technicalities. The original editions of both books in question were printed from film – a now obsolete process with the take over of digital printing, and those films have long since been destroyed. The second edition of ‘Movie’ was printed from a digital file, but the printer who produced this has since gone out of business, and with him disappeared the digital file of the book. So the only way to produce the book again would be either to scan in the original (not recommended), meaning that my consent would be required, or locate and use Robert’s original material and re-package. Unfortunately, as I understand it, Robert’s collection has been dispersed by Joyce since his death, so it would be impossible to collate all of those pictures again. So, as things stand and for all of those reasons, re-prints are not an option, certainly not in the foreseeable future but not, perhaps, impossible one day.

The thing with specialist publishing, of course, is that because print runs are limited, production costs are very high – as was the case with ‘Movie’ because of the amount of colour used therein, although I was unprepared to compromise on that, so good was the material – and such a contrast to the black and white photography of the actual Battle of Britain. This is why the books fetch such a high price today: because they were produced in a comparatively small run, demand is high and henceforth why book dealers can name their price. However, to be fair, without my foresight and support of Robert back in 1999, ‘Battle of Britain: The Movie’ would never have happened. I am proud of that, and miss Robert’s friendship enormously – he was an absolute joy to work with and one of life’s great and true gentleman. On that basis it seems to me that his books are best not reproduced – and left as a memorial to his love of and research into the film that so inspired our generation.

Thanks – wlll do – and as I think that is a most honourable thing to do I will send you a complimentary copy of my new book, ‘The Few’, signed by Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot Ken Wilkinson.

The last time I published that photograph was in 1994, the only explanation I have is that this could be a copy once belonging to another but on the reverse of which I have detailed who’s who. As you can appreciate, when my address was widely available I literally received thousands of requests for information over the years, and enthusiasts often bring such things to book signings and talks for the same purpose. So may be that is it, I will know once I see the actual photographs because of the paper and size concerned. Anyway, an aviation mystery!

Hi Dilip,
As you are currently online I would just like to say how much I am enjoying reading your book The Few, an excellent book if I may say so.

You most certainly may! Glad you are enjoying the read, I certainly enjoyed writing it, although with accounts therein from some 100 Battle of Britain survivors it made me very sad indeed when I realised how many are no longer with us…

Many thanks, Steve. MIA:RIP is a little outdated now, having been produced in 1998, but the chronology of recoveries to that point in time and legal interpretation still holds true. What a pity, though, that the ultimately officially undertaken operation to recover Eric Williams recently was unsuccessful…

No food dislikes – always a problem although having been on a diet I have lost 55 pounds and am a shadow of my former self! Joking aside, I wasn’t inviting myself for lunch, I meant that I was inviting you out for lunch! Karen and I can come over, pick you up and head off for your local, if you like? Will be in touch after the festive, Weds not good for me but weekends no problem. Likewise all the best for Xmas and the New Year – see you soon!

Kev35

I did not imply in any way, in fact, that you had obtained the photograph ‘nefariously’, but that whosoever offered it you for sale COULD have done – given that I could only offer two even remotely possible scenarios as to how said photograph had been offered for sale in the first place. You may be interested to know that having purchased the item in good faith you are in law what is known as a ‘bone fide purchasor for value’ – and I have no problem with that or, indeed, your personal honesty or integrity. So I do not, in fact, owe you an apology.

As your most recent post says, neither Chris Gale or my ex-wife could be responsible for this photograph being offered for sale, given the date you obtained it. This really is an absolute mystery to me, therefore, as to how this item of my property has been offered for sale.

I think that should settle things.

Dilip Sarkar

Hi Gerry

No, not specifically, although still giving due credit to the great man whenever possible. I think that Vincent Orange’s work is the best available on Dowding, and Robert Wright’s classic remains an essential reference.

Cheers

D