connaughtranger Posted 28 July , 2009 Share Posted 28 July , 2009 Has anyone ever seen or got hold of any volumes of the French Official Histories? There are a huge number of volumes but I've never seen one in the flesh. Regards Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Sheldon Posted 28 July , 2009 Share Posted 28 July , 2009 Martin Is there something in particular which you need? I have about 80 volumes of them. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connaughtranger Posted 29 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 29 July , 2009 Good Heavens! Where on earth did you get them? I've only seen about 5 or 6 volumes for sale and they were £60 a time. There was nothing in particular but I would like to get hold of some just to assess the quality and depth of content, writing and maps. I've got some French trench maps; and a dozen unit histories which are very sketchy and cheaply produced. You're very lucky to have such a collection and if ever you get bored with them, please let me know Regards Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Sheldon Posted 29 July , 2009 Share Posted 29 July , 2009 Martin For some time I kept checking on www.ZBAV.com and one day this set appeared as a job lot offered by a dealer in Paris. They are in a fragile condition; in those days paperback meant what it said and the covers tend to crumble very easily. This was not helped by some idiot underling packing them unprotected and rather loosely in several boxes before sending them throught the normal post. However, used with care, they are all perfectly OK and I refer to them and the accompanying boxes of maps regularly. Most of them had never been opened, as evidenced by the number of uncut pages, so the content is all in good nick. The writing is so dry as to be dessicated but they include many thousands of copies of original documents in the annexes to each Tome, which saves a lot of tripping up to Vincennes to try to locate the originals. All the time I am studying the war in detail, I shall be hanging onto them, so the best of luck with your search elsewhere Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Jones Posted 29 July , 2009 Share Posted 29 July , 2009 Liverpool University Library Special Collections has a set. You will need to make prior arrangement to see them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmac Posted 29 July , 2009 Share Posted 29 July , 2009 Jack, Which volume(s) and appendices should I be searching for concerning the French attack on the Somme on 1st July? Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Jones Posted 29 July , 2009 Share Posted 29 July , 2009 Listed here: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...mp;#entry271284 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmac Posted 29 July , 2009 Share Posted 29 July , 2009 Simon, thanks for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Sheldon Posted 29 July , 2009 Share Posted 29 July , 2009 Bill That saved me a job, but do not hesitate to ask for look ups if you need anything. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmac Posted 29 July , 2009 Share Posted 29 July , 2009 Jack, As you probably have seen a PM is on its way! Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connaughtranger Posted 29 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 29 July , 2009 And a thank you from me for the link. It'll be interesting to work through the posts Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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