My wife does a bit of voluntary work for a local charity sorting donations etc and she rang me and said that a (quote) 'toy soldier book' had come in and did I want it !? . She sent me a photo and I immediately replied 'YES' ! . I have the reprint paperbacked copy but have always wanted a original hardbacked edition . I remember borrowing a copy from the library in my early wargaming days but was put off by the large 60+ units and so favoured Featherstone's 20 figure units and rules.
The charity have a chap that evaluates books and other potential valuable items and he looked up current prices which was in the £50-£60 price on eBay , however for cash and seeing she was a volunteer he said £30 ! - a bargain ! - he thought it would be unlikely to sell in their shop (being a bit obscure) . It is a first edition (I don't think there was a second?) and cost 55/- shillings back in 1969 , rather expensive the following year my first take home pay was £5 ! , so I'm rather chuffed at the moment !
An excellent book, inspirational to a whole generation of wargamers even if not very easy to copy in gaming terms. I also have a first edition hardback and its one of my most treasured books.
ReplyDeleteYes the sheer number of figures was offputting , but a classic book.
DeleteExcellent pickup, and well done to your wife for spotting it.
ReplyDeleteI have train her well 😁
DeleteThat's great news Tony! It's a lovely book. Kudos to your wife.
ReplyDeleteIm pleased with my purchase , been on the look out for a copy for a while .
DeleteAn excellent find and score for this gem!
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
Stokes
(Michigan, USA)
Sometimes you just get lucky !
DeleteSuperb find, you lucky so and so!!
ReplyDeleteThe right person in the right place !
DeleteGreat find - this is what being married is all about!
ReplyDeleteThat is very true , two sets of eyes are better than one !
DeleteTONY- It is an excellent book and one that is iconic- you'll be very happy with the original book - well done to your Partner for spotting 'CHARGE' .
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from you again Kev, yes I got lucky , he does keep her eyes open for suitable books.
DeleteThat was a very lucky find! It's a classic of it's genre. I found mine many years ago in a secondhand bookshop in Salisbury. It was acquiring this that finally kicked off my SSM collection.
ReplyDeleteI also have some reprints so I can keep the original in good nick.
I have the paperback reprint (Terry Wise ?) , but have been on the lookout for a hardback copy for years , in my early wargaming years the unit sizes was intimidating so I came late to it .
DeleteI had the book for some time before I took the plunge with my SSM project. It was still in its infancy in 2007 so it's not that old, and at that point I only had enough to re-stage Blasthof as described in my blog:
Deletehttps://cabinettewars.blogspot.com/2024/10/he-battle-of-blasthof-heath-refought-40.html
A great spot or find, a new appreciative home for a classic book and all for charity too!
ReplyDeleteSerendipty !
DeleteYou're a lucky man Tony, to have such a caring wife! Good karma for a deed well done! She should be praised for her volunteer work, and still thinking about you too!
ReplyDeleteShe has instructions to keep an eye out for "his toy men" books .
DeleteWell done Tony and Mrs T! I found my hardback copy very soon after arriving in NZ in 2008. There were a lot of excellent 2nd hand bookshops in Wellington back then which seemed to be full of old wargaming treasures. It turns out there was quite a big wargaming scene In NZ in the 70s,
ReplyDeleteThere seem to be quite a few of the paperback edition about but an affordable hardback is rarer .
Delete