Out of Print Military Books (2 Viewers)

[Terp152]

Started reading Martial Bliss, about The Military Bookman (MB). Interesting info regarding the business startup and odd customers in the 70s. M Colt mentions The Strand book store able to maintain its business as MB failed in 2002. Strand is now struggling to remain open during the pandemic. Wish I had been able to visit MB sometime before they closed.

BTW, ordered Battle of Britain the Making of a Film. It's stuck in the USPS Louisville regional distribution facility according to the tracking info. Filed a request thru the USPS help link. Rec'd a form email in reply basically saying "sorry about your luck." Chris

 

[lancer]

Started reading Martial Bliss, about The Military Bookman (MB). Interesting info regarding the business startup and odd customers in the 70s. M Colt mentions The Strand book store able to maintain its business as MB failed in 2002. Strand is now struggling to remain open during the pandemic. Wish I had been able to visit MB sometime before they closed.

BTW, ordered Battle of Britain the Making of a Film. It's stuck in the USPS Louisville regional distribution facility according to the tracking info. Filed a request thru the USPS help link. Rec'd a form email in reply basically saying "sorry about your luck." Chris

Chris, the USPS is a real trip. Have a book several days overdue. Tracking showed it in Gaithersburg 4 days ago, a total of about 4 miles from me, then the next day it somehow made it's way to NYC! Stayed there for 2 days and now it's working it's way back, having now appeared at the distribution center in Hyattsville, Md. Either the tracking system is a big joke, or the book just had to see the Big Apple before consigning itself to my bookshelf. -- Al

 

[Terp152]

See earlier post: "BTW, ordered Battle of Britain the Making of a Film. It's stuck in the USPS Louisville regional distribution facility according to the tracking info. Filed a request thru the USPS help link. Rec'd a form email in reply basically saying "sorry about your luck."

At least I rec'd a customer satisfaction survey today! :tongue: Chris

 

[Terp152]

"Started reading Martial Bliss, about The Military Bookman (MB). Interesting info regarding the business startup and odd customers in the 70s. M Colt mentions The Strand book store able to maintain its business as MB failed in 2002. Strand is now struggling to remain open during the pandemic. Wish I had been able to visit MB sometime before they closed."

Interesting reading about their process for finding books, combing small east coast stores as well as annual trips to England and France. I always visit local bookstores when traveling. Bought some rare ACW copies once in New England. Later saw same titles in a Van Sickle catalog marked up 50%. Most, if not all, of the bookstores she mentions are probably closed due to owner mortalities or economics (put out of business due to the internet).

Interesting to read about the Colt's visit to London and Normandy with Stephen Ambrose in 1981. They met and had dinner with Gen'l Strong, SHAEF G-2. I was able to visit the Normandy battlefields, including Omaha, in 1982. Want to go back one day. Chris

 

[lancer]

"Started reading Martial Bliss, about The Military Bookman (MB). Interesting info regarding the business startup and odd customers in the 70s. M Colt mentions The Strand book store able to maintain its business as MB failed in 2002. Strand is now struggling to remain open during the pandemic. Wish I had been able to visit MB sometime before they closed."

Interesting reading about their process for finding books, combing small east coast stores as well as annual trips to England and France. I always visit local bookstores when traveling. Bought some rare ACW copies once in New England. Later saw same titles in a Van Sickle catalog marked up 50%. Most, if not all, of the bookstores she mentions are probably closed due to owner mortalities or economics (put out of business due to the internet).

Interesting to read about the Colt's visit to London and Normandy with Stephen Ambrose in 1981. They met and had dinner with Gen'l Strong, SHAEF G-2. I was able to visit the Normandy battlefields, including Omaha, in 1982. Want to go back one day. Chris

Chris, interesting that you mention Van Sickle as I worked for him for several years in the late 80's/early 90's. He is extremely knowledgeable about military books, especially ACW and Victorian, and was absolutely a riot to work for, knowing all sorts of people and we went on many book buying expeditions together. When he went OOB we lost touch, which is probably just as well for reasons I won't go into. But it was great fun buying and selling for those years. -- Al

 

[Terp152]

Chris, interesting that you mention Van Sickle as I worked for him for several years in the late 80's/early 90's. He is extremely knowledgeable about military books, especially ACW and Victorian, and was absolutely a riot to work for, knowing all sorts of people and we went on many book buying expeditions together. When he went OOB we lost touch, which is probably just as well for reasons I won't go into. But it was great fun buying and selling for those years. -- Al

Well played my pop up to you Al. :wink2: Read Harris Colt (Military Bookman) passed away in 2004, aged 69. Maragetta, at age 81, still lives in NYC. Fun to read about their book buying trips to England having spent some time in East Anglia and a few visits to London myself.

BTW, the lost book was delivered by USPS today. :salute:: Chris

 

[Terp152]

Chris, interesting that you mention Van Sickle as I worked for him for several years in the late 80's/early 90's. He is extremely knowledgeable about military books, especially ACW and Victorian, and was absolutely a riot to work for, knowing all sorts of people and we went on many book buying expeditions together. When he went OOB we lost touch, which is probably just as well for reasons I won't go into. But it was great fun buying and selling for those years. -- Al

Al, THe Military Bookman mentions R Van Sickle and bought a collection of British military histories from him in early 90's. Also noted were his frequent changes of business partners. Chris

 

[lancer]

Al, THe Military Bookman mentions R Van Sickle and bought a collection of British military histories from him in early 90's. Also noted were his frequent changes of business partners. Chris

Chris, finally got the book by Colt and have read it. Quite interesting. The part about Van Sickle was especially fun to read as I was involved in the transaction for the books Van Sickle sold to the Colts. Right before Christmas one year in the early 90's (the exact year eludes my memory), Ron and I crammed a van full of Ron's British book collection and a rather extensive TS collection consisting of Trophy and All The Queen's Men figures. I drove and we made the trip to the Military Bookman in a few hours, parked out front of the shop and unloaded it all into the store. That is where I first met Jason Duberman, who is mentioned frequently in the book. After hours of back and forth, the sale was made, Ron and I piled back into the now empty van and I drove us home. It was a one day, hit and run trip and quite exhausting. Ron's collection was spectacular. The set of the British Army history by Fortesque that is mentioned in the book was the most beautiful set of leather bound books I have ever seen and would be worth several thousands of dollars, at a minimum, today. It broke Ron's heart to sell those books but it had to be done to try and save his book business. Duberman later, as the book says, went south to Leesburg, Va. to start his own business. Leesburg is about an hour from me and I visited Duberman often in his new business. He was a very interesting man who unfortunately couldn't make a go of the bookshop and ended up going into teaching in Va. before he passed away a dozen or so years ago. The book is quite a trip down memory lane although I only met the Colt's that one time. -- Al

 

[Terp152]

Chris, finally got the book by Colt and have read it. Quite interesting. The part about Van Sickle was especially fun to read as I was involved in the transaction for the books Van Sickle sold to the Colts. Right before Christmas one year in the early 90's (the exact year eludes my memory), Ron and I crammed a van full of Ron's British book collection and a rather extensive TS collection consisting of Trophy and All The Queen's Men figures. I drove and we made the trip to the Military Bookman in a few hours, parked out front of the shop and unloaded it all into the store. That is where I first met Jason Duberman, who is mentioned frequently in the book. After hours of back and forth, the sale was made, Ron and I piled back into the now empty van and I drove us home. It was a one day, hit and run trip and quite exhausting. Ron's collection was spectacular. The set of the British Army history by Fortesque that is mentioned in the book was the most beautiful set of leather bound books I have ever seen and would be worth several thousands of dollars, at a minimum, today. It broke Ron's heart to sell those books but it had to be done to try and save his book business. Duberman later, as the book says, went south to Leesburg, Va. to start his own business. Leesburg is about an hour from me and I visited Duberman often in his new business. He was a very interesting man who unfortunately couldn't make a go of the bookshop and ended up going into teaching in Va. before he passed away a dozen or so years ago. The book is quite a trip down memory lane although I only met the Colt's that one time. -- Al

HI Al, thought you would find the book interesting and it's cool you were able to visit the store. Wondered if you were one of the "many" business partners Colt mentioned. I thought the book a great insight into the book selling and catalog world prior to the internet. Sad that Harris Colt died less than a yr after the store closed.
I'm now reading the third Helene Hanff, of 84 Charing Cross Road fame, book.
Chris

 

[lancer]

HI Al, thought you would find the book interesting and it's cool you were able to visit the store. Wondered if you were one of the "many" business partners Colt mentioned. I thought the book a great insight into the book selling and catalog world prior to the internet. Sad that Harris Colt died less than a yr after the store closed.
I'm now reading the third Helene Hanff, of 84 Charing Cross Road fame, book.
Chris

Chris, the book is indeed quite evocative of the book world, pre-internet. As one would suspect, the internet changed everything. It totally changed the book business, much as it changed the TS business. Anyway, the book world that Colt writes of is long gone, with the vast majority of the people and stores she writes about gone as well, in both the US and Britain. It is a great pity, IMO, as I greatly miss the thrill of visiting the book stores and meeting the people who ran them. -- Al

 

[ExRanger]

See earlier post: "BTW, ordered Battle of Britain the Making of a Film. It's stuck in the USPS Louisville regional distribution facility according to the tracking info. Filed a request thru the USPS help link. Rec'd a form email in reply basically saying "sorry about your luck."

At least I rec'd a customer satisfaction survey today! :tongue: Chris

Curious, is that a book or magazine on the film?

 

[Terp152]

Curious, is that a book or magazine on the film?

I got the paperback book about making the film. Not had the chance to read it yet. Was hoping it would have pics of the production but only has stock photos of scenes from the movie. Chris

 

[bradleyl30]

Any have a line on “The Medieval Armour of Rhodes?”