Reference Books for a beginner?

[Eddie]

I started lurking on this site about a year ago through the WW1 forum, and have started gradually started collecting TR material as well. With WW1 items there are a lot less fakes and I didn't have to be quite as careful as a person collecting TR items does. But now I'm hooked on the TR, and I'd like to properly educate myself so that I don't have to raise my hand urgently to get a pass or fail on the items I'm interested in from our more senior and knowledgeable members. Could anyone recommend decent and comprehensive reference books that are also *somewhat* reasonably priced? Is there one book that you've personally found to be really heads above the rest for your particular collecting niche?
Thanks,
Eddie

[Woolgar]

Hi Eddie

There are various books around however many have become dated as we learn and discover new evidence etc

This is a good publisher with many up to date specialist books and magazines:
BOOK CATALOG - Items - B&D Publihing LLC

Of course the best seats of learning are forums like these!

Nick

[Martin Bull]

OK. OK - I'll be the one daft enough to try to reply !

Knowledgeable people here will jump all over me for recommending this, saying it's a load of rubbish, full of fakes, etc etc. But I like collecting German field gear and I have enjoyed : -

'Deutsche Soldaten : Uniforms, Equipment & Personal Items Of The German Soldier 1939-45' by Agustin Saiz (Casemate, 2008 ).

Yes, yes, yes - I know there are some suspect items in there......but for the beginner (and I class myself as only 1 notch above that level ) it's full of high-quality photos which at least show what there is to collect ( it's enabled me to at least identify what some items at militaria fairs actually are ).

It is at the least a good 'starter' and, being only quite recently OOP, you should be able to find a copy which isn't too expensive.

When you start getting more seriously into it and need to know how to spot fakes, etc - then places such as this forum are indispensible, and there are also specialist books on awards, edged weapons, firearms, uniforms, etc.

I also have much fun browsing back copies of the French 'Armes & Militaria' magazine ; again, very good photos of Wehrmacht field gear and equipment....

I shall now duck my head below the paprapet..................

[Woolgar]

OK. OK - I'll be the one daft enough to try to reply !

Knowledgeable people here will jump all over me for recommending this, saying it's a load of rubbish, full of fakes, etc etc. But I like collecting German field gear and I have enjoyed : -

'Deutsche Soldaten : Uniforms, Equipment & Personal Items Of The German Soldier 1939-45' by Agustin Saiz (Casemate, 2008 ).

Yes, yes, yes - I know there are some suspect items in there......but for the beginner (and I class myself as only 1 notch above that level ) it's full of high-quality photos which at least show what there is to collect ( it's enabled me to at least identify what some items at militaria fairs actually are ).

It is at the least a good 'starter' and, being only quite recently OOP, you should be able to find a copy which isn't too expensive.

When you start getting more seriously into it and need to know how to spot fakes, etc - then places such as this forum are indispensible, and there are also specialist books on awards, edged weapons, firearms, uniforms, etc.

I also have much fun browsing back copies of the French 'Armes & Militaria' magazine ; again, very good photos of Wehrmacht field gear and equipment....

I shall now duck my head below the paprapet..................

Its a great book Martin, I always have my head in it. Nice clear colourful photos, covering just about every single item used by the German soldier. I highly reccommend it as a source of knowledge but not a source of confriming originality

Nick

[Eddie]

Fantastic, thank you both!

[Adrian]

Eddie, is there any particular direction your TR collecting is taking you?

[Eddie]

Not just yet, I still find it all so interesting! I think I might find a niche soon enough though.

[Adrian]

From experience I would suggest finding a niche and buying books about your chosen area and adding other books about other subjects as you go along. You might find you could spend a fortune on books that you don't actually want or need and not have enough books about area you wish to collect. For example, if you want to collect helmets, is there any point spending out on a load of hard earned cash on books about tunics or decorations?

[ObKrieger]

Not just yet, I still find it all so interesting! I think I might find a niche soon enough though.

How do you feel about helmets?

[Eddie]

Adrian, you speak the truth, I think uniforms/tunics/cap are the direction that I'm leaning towards.
Mo, I like them, and I need to learn more about them, but I don't think I'll ever be as into them as you are! What did you think of that ebay link?