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ARMS AND ARMOUR

1660 – 1918

THE SOLDIER AND HIS WEAPONS

(G.A. SHEPPERD)

Illustrations by Isabella Whitworth

Ex-Library

This is a book about men and inventions; about the ordinary soldier and the weapons he has had to use.  It covers 300 years of the history of Western civilisation and starts with the first truly modern army created by Gustavus Adolphus, the soldier king of Sweden – whose methods were imitated by Prince Rupert and Oliver Cromwell.  It is an account of the fighting man of many nations: of France, Prussia, Russia and America, and of Great Britain.  Alongside the descriptions of weapons are short accounts of great battles and other quite small actions, each chosen as an example of a particular development of warfare.

The book is also a carefully developed account of many inventions that have had a lasting effect on the more recent history of the Western world.  The last chapter deals with the return of armour in the form of the tank and a table is included giving details of the main tanks that took part in the fighting on the Western Front towards the end of the Great War.

Authoritative text is supported by over 170 accurate line drawings which give a very clear picture of standard equipment and developments throughout history.

This 1971 ex-library hardback book is in good overall condition and displays little wear inside the book.  The pages are tightly bound and are free from tears, creases, and any significant marks other than the obligatory library stamps.  An issue / return label is present on the first blank flyleaf and library reference numbers present on the publisher page and the spine.  The dustjacket displays evidence of handling wear, including rubbing, chipping, and knocks to the edges (see photograph).  Shelf wear in the form of rubbing is evident on the edges of the hardboard covers.  Virtually all significant wear on this book is restricted to the dustjacket, hardboard covers and ‘paste-downs’/flyleaves.  The book runs to 224 pages (21.5cm x 13cm), includes a general index and is illustrated with drawings and diagrams throughout.

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