Small collection of three original WWII-era paperback books produced for American servicemen:

Of Men and Music by Deems Taylor

Armed Services Edition R-23 (red/yellow cover). A complete (not digest) overseas edition distributed by the Special Services Division for the Army and Navy. Classic music essays from the well-known critic and radio personality.

The New York Yankees: An Informal History by Frank Graham

Armed Services Edition (green cover). A popular baseball history covering the Yankees up through the early 1940s. These sports titles were especially beloved by troops.

A History of the War in Maps, in Pictographs, in Words by Rudolf Modley

Fighting Forces – Penguin Special S216 (bright orange cover, Infantry Journal edition). A visual history of WWII using innovative charts, maps, and pictographs — very popular at the time for its accessible format.

All three books feature the characteristic small “pocket” size designed to fit in a soldier’s uniform. They show typical age-related wear for 80+ year old wartime paperbacks: some cover scuffs, edge wear, spine creases, and tanning of the pages, but the bindings appear intact and the text is readable. No major tears or missing pages are visible from the exterior.

These are genuine historical artifacts from the famous Armed Services Editions program (1943–1947), which distributed over 122 million books to boost morale.

Many soldiers carried them in foxholes, on ships, and in hospitals.Condition: Good used/vintage condition with expected aging and shelf wear. Great for display, WWII collecting, music/baseball/history enthusiasts, or as a starter lot for Armed Services Edition collectors.

No dust jackets (as issued). Sold as a lot.