Description

78 weekly parts in 4 vols., roy. 8vo., Second Edition, profusely illustrated in colour and monochrome throughout; all original parts housed in publisher's branded black card binders blocked and lettered in gilt and red, all binders, parts and packs in near fine state. A major partwork from Marshall Cavendish edited by John Pimlott, then Deputy Head of War Studies at RMA Sandhurst. Produced in 'magazine' format, the work as a whole makes full use of its size and space to create a lucid, vivid and valuable account of the conflict.The arrangement of the partwork is complex. The content of each number is arranged in four strands: Background, Campaign, Eyewitness and Home Front. In addition each of numbers 1-52 is accompanied by a separate numbered 'pack' containing a large coloured folding campaign map, a reproduction newspaper of the day and one or more items of ephemera such as reproduction documents. Each of numbers 53-78 (26 in all) is accompanied by a separate unnumbered 'pack' containing reproduction newspaper, poster and postcards. Due to the complexity and ephemeral nature of the companion 'packs' they are rarely found entirely complete. IN THE PRESENT SET HOWEVER ALL BUT NO. 6 ARE PRESENT. The work was first published in 1988-89 in 52 parts; this was extended to 78 parts of the second and final edition as here. The work as a whole is a worthy complement to Purnell's 'History'; taken together the two partworks provide an impressive pictorial archive. COMPLETE SETS IN THIS FORMAT AND CONDITION ARE VERY SCARCE