Dust Jacket Collector Posted 6 July , 2023 Share Posted 6 July , 2023 This interesting little volume came my way the other day. It’s a brief survey of O.S. activity during the War years written by its Director at the time, Colonel Sir Charles Arden Close. Full of details on the quantity of maps produced and the staff involved. As you can see it was limited to only 40 copies & this seems to have been the Colonel’s own copy. It seems the Ordnance Survey have dumped their library along with many other institutions. You’d think they might have kept this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
other ranker Posted 6 July , 2023 Share Posted 6 July , 2023 That's an unusual find. What search parameters went into that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dust Jacket Collector Posted 6 July , 2023 Author Share Posted 6 July , 2023 41 minutes ago, other ranker said: That's an unusual find. What search parameters went into that? Just general war related terms. I’m always surprised by what that turns up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SapperBoo Posted 7 July , 2023 Share Posted 7 July , 2023 OS did keep at least one copy. I am the current custodian of copy number 3. I think there is also a copy in the British Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 7 July , 2023 Share Posted 7 July , 2023 Wonderful to know that it has wound up in the hands of a person like you @Dust Jacket Collector. Disappointing to learn that they have disposed of a book like that given Close's contribution to the war effort. The achievements of the British Army in surveying, mapping, integration of aerial photography and techniques like sound ranging owe a large part of their existence to the skills and cooperation of men like Charles Close, Colonel Jack and LTCOL Winterbotham. Setting up an efficient distribution mechanism to get over 20 million printed maps to those who needed them and the employment of women in skilled roles were just some of the highlights. The Last Hundred Days, when artillery barrages were launched at targets identified from accurately surveyed maps rather than firing and adjusting prior to troop movements, was also a testament to the skills obtained under the work of this team. Looking at the Charles Close Society web site, they have a Show and Tell on the 8th July at Highgate. I'm sure they would be interested in your acquisition! Good find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dust Jacket Collector Posted 7 July , 2023 Author Share Posted 7 July , 2023 I have posted the pictures on the Charles Close Facebook page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartH Posted 7 July , 2023 Share Posted 7 July , 2023 It’s a very nice book and thank good it’s gone to a very good home. It does not surprise me, yet another library being sold off. Recently I got a very rare ww2 official history and that was the admiralty library reference copy, it’s just wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dust Jacket Collector Posted 7 July , 2023 Author Share Posted 7 July , 2023 24 minutes ago, MartH said: It’s a very nice book and thank good it’s gone to a very good home. It does not surprise me, yet another library being sold off. Recently I got a very rare ww2 official history and that was the admiralty library reference copy, it’s just wrong Indeed. I suspect they’ll all regret it in the end. Maybe when we’re all gone our collections will find their way back to the libraries they originally came from - but not just yet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stereoview Paul Posted 7 July , 2023 Share Posted 7 July , 2023 Ok, I know its a little off topic but recently a set of these was up for sale - the oldest official British issued stereoviews I have ever seen - I wonder if they were also ejected from the library. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SapperBoo Posted 7 July , 2023 Share Posted 7 July , 2023 2 hours ago, Stereoview Paul said: Ok, I know its a little off topic but recently a set of these was up for sale - the oldest official British issued stereoviews I have ever seen - I wonder if they were also ejected from the library. A bit more off topic. The photograph is the work of Colour Sergeant James McDonald RE, standing by the theodolite, who was one of the pioneers of photography at Ordnance Survey. An album containing 41 of his photographs was on sale for €22,500.00. James had a private audience with Queen Victoria in 1872 after The Queen expressed a wish to meet the artist who produced so many beautiful photographs of Sinai and Jerusalem. At the time of his death, in 1885, James was living at Sinai Villa, Lodge Road, Southampton. It is estimated 200 staff from Ordnance Survey attended his funeral. James is buried in the Old Cemetery in Southampton.https://www.foldvaribooks.com/.../photo-album-of... See less Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stereoview Paul Posted 8 July , 2023 Share Posted 8 July , 2023 8 hours ago, SapperBoo said: A bit more off topic. The photograph is the work of Colour Sergeant James McDonald RE, standing by the theodolite, who was one of the pioneers of photography at Ordnance Survey. An album containing 41 of his photographs was on sale for €22,500.00. James had a private audience with Queen Victoria in 1872 after The Queen expressed a wish to meet the artist who produced so many beautiful photographs of Sinai and Jerusalem. At the time of his death, in 1885, James was living at Sinai Villa, Lodge Road, Southampton. It is estimated 200 staff from Ordnance Survey attended his funeral. James is buried in the Old Cemetery in Southampton.https://www.foldvaribooks.com/.../photo-album-of... See less Great information - thank you. I think the combined value of all the stereoviews sold was £500-600 so someone got a bargain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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