CHARACTERISTIC AIR PHOTOGRAPHS
Not To Be Published
Not To Be taken Into The Front Line
Prepared by THE GENERAL STAFF,
THE WAR OFFICE, 1940
GENERAL STAFF, May 1940
A very rare, original, WW2 War Office Air Photography handbook, marked ‘Not to Be taken into the Front Line', produced by the General Staff in 1940. A large-format volume (32cm x 37.5cm), the preface states that:
‘This book is intended to make available to interpreters of air photographs some of the experience gained by the study of air photographs during this war, and to give some idea of the diversity of information obtained from this study.'The handbook consist of two parts, the first dating from 1940, and the second section being a supplement added in 1941. Fully illustrated throughout with detailed aerial reconnaissance photographs and diagrams, showing enemy fortifications, ports, equipment, field works, barges, aerodromes, installations, storage depots, examples of camouflage, weapons, and anti-aircraft batteries. This book would have had a restricted circulation, presumably being distributed to the relevant sections of the Army, Air Ministry, General Staff, and RAF. Few copies are likely to have survived outside museum collections. It was clearly an important and sensitive document at the time, and the cover is marked with additional warnings that it must not fall into enemy hands.
Condition:In good condition. The boards are in very good condition, with general signs of wear and light use, some wear at the edges and corners, and some minor marks. The binding is very good and secure. The photographs, diagrams, and text are in very good condition.
Published: 1940 (includes 'Supplement No. 1', dated 1941)
Blue Boards with black titling
Dimensions: 320mm x 375mm
Pages: 66
