Osprey Men-at-Arms Series SC (1973-2011 OSPREY) comic books 2005-2007

Add to cart Very Fine $4.00

Add to cart Very Fine $4.00

Volume 402 - 1st printing. "The British Army in World War I (2)!" Written by Mike Chappell. Art by Mike Chappell. In 1916, Britain was finally forced to introduce universal conscription to replace the terrible casualties suffered by the pre-war Regulars, the Territorials and the eager but unprepared volunteers of the 'New Armies'. In 1917 and 1918, the vastly expanded British Expeditionary Force became the most effective of all the combatant armies in France, its improved weapons and tactics forged in the furnaces of the Somme and the Ypres Salient. Shaken but resilient under Germany's last desperate offensive in spring 1918, it swept forward to final victory. This second of three titles charts its changing appearance in colourful detail. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 405 - 1st printing. "Napoleon's Carabiniers!" Written by Ronald Pawly. Art by Patrice Courcelle. The two privileged regiments of Carabiniers survived the French Revolution with their elite status intact. They covered themselves with glory at Austerlitz, Friedland, Ratisbonne and Wagram - where their bloody losses shocked Napoleon into ordering them new helmets and cuirasses. Re-formed after near annihilation in Russia in 1812, they fought at Leipzig and in many actions of the 1814 French campaign, and made one of the final charges at Waterloo. lllustrated with rare early prints and meticulous colour reconstructions, this book details their story, and their unique uniforms, from surviving period documents. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 406 - 1st printing. "The British Army in World War I (3) !" Written by Mike Chappell. Art by Mike Chappell. Although Britain's greatest commitment of land forces was on the Western Front, British, Empire and Dominion troops also fought in other theatres of operations – and in some cases continued to fight there after the Armistice had ended hostilities in the West. This last of our series of three titles describes these far-flung campaigns, in Italy, the Balkans, the Middle East, several parts of Africa, Russia, China, and even the North-West Frontier of India. The text is illustrated with contemporary photographs, and with meticulous colour plates of British, African, Indian and Australian troops, in the uniforms and equipment used on battle fronts from the desert sands to the snows of north Russia. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 411 - 1st printing. "Warrior Peoples of East Africa 1840–1900!" Written by CJ Peers. Art by Raffaele Ruggeri. Less well known than the Zulu of South Africa, the warriors of East Africa had just as fearsome a reputation. This fascinating study, illustrated with rare early drawings and meticulous colour plates, covers six of most prominent tribes. The prowess of the lion-hunting Masai deterred all foreign penetration for most of the 19th century; the Ngoni, driven north by the Zulu, revolutionized warfare in the region; the HeHe put up fierce resistance to German colonisers; the Ruga-Ruga produced two formidable warlords and adorned themselves with bloody trophies; the Nandi showed reckless bravery even against machine guns; and the Turkana dominated one of the most pitiless wildernesses in all of Africa. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 413 - 1st printing. "Austrian Frontier Troops 1740–98!" Written by David Hollins. Art by Darko Pavlovic. Austria's Balkan frontier – the disputed borderland between Europe and the Ottoman Turks – was defended in the 18th century by a unique organization of hardy communities who were granted farmland in return for armed service. These Grenzers, masters of guerrilla warfare, were later incorporated into Austria's regular forces, and earned a wider reputation fighting against the army of Frederik the Great's Prussia. By the start of the wars against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France they provided a significant part of the Austrian Line. This book unravels their complex history, and illustrates the development of their colourful folk costumes into striking uniforms. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 418 - 1st printing. "American Indians of the Pacific Northwest!" Written by Elizabeth Von Aderkas. Art by Christa Hook. The Indian tribes of the Pacific Northwest, both on the Coast and the inland Plateau, were the last to encounter white traders and settlers. When contact occured in the late 18th century the explorers and traders found two distinct cultures. The fairly recent adoption of the horse had opened the Plateau tribes to influences from the peoples of the Plains; but the tribes of the Coast presented a sharply different picture, involving rigid class hierarchies, an economy based on fishing and hunting marine animals, and frequent intertribal warfare which involved slave raiding and head hunting. This fascinating text describes the ways of life, in peace and war, of the coastal and inland peoples of this region. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 421 - 1st printing. "The Sikh Army 1799-1849!" Written by Ian Heath. Art by Michael Perry. The beginning of the 19th century saw the rise of a remarkable Sikh leader in the Punjab province of north-west India. Unifying the feudal rulers under his authority, the conquering Maharaja Ranjit Singh pursued campaigns of expansion for nearly 40 years, creating for the purpose a new regular army on the Western model. His death in 1839 found the frontiers of Sikh and British power in confrontation; in the 1840s the inevitable trial of strength brought British crown and East India Company troops into battle against the most formidable Indian army they ever faced. Its story is told here in fascinating detail, illustrated with rare early paintings and with colourful reconstructions of Punjabi regular soldiers and feudal warriors. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 422 - 1st printing. "German Armies 1870-71 (2)!" Written by Michael Solka. Art by Darko Pavlovic. Although the war of 1870-71 has gone down in history as the 'Franco-Prussian War', nearly half of the German troops sent to the frontier were from other German states - both the willing members of the North German Confederation and the southern states who were in some cases more hesitant about accepting Prussian domination. Some contingents had only one or two regiments - though these might be of high quality, like the 'Black Brunswickers'; others provided whole army corps, like Bavaria and Saxony. This book lists and illustrates the organization and varied uniforms of all these allied contingents, most of which fought well when it came to the test of battle. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 423 - 1st printing. "The Confederate Army 1861–65 (1)!" Written by Ron Field. Art by Richard Hook. The common image of the Confederate Army during the Civil War is dominated by a limited number of early photographs of soldiers wearing the gray and butternut associated with the CS regulations and quartermaster issues. This sequence of books examines a much wider field: the original uniforms of the state militia and volunteer companies which were brought together to form the Confederate armies, and the continuing efforts by individual states to clothe their troops as wear-and-tear reduced the originally wide range of uniforms. A mass of information from state papers and other contemporary documents is illustrated with rare photographs and meticulous color reconstructions. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 424 - 1st printing. "The Chinese Army 1937-49!" Written by Philip Jowett. Art by Stephen Walsh. Although the Chinese contribution to Allied victory in World War II is often ignored, China fought the Japanese Empire for far longer than any other belligerent nation. By the time that the Sino-Japanese War became absorbed into the wider conflict at the end of 1941, Chinese armies had already suffered huge casualties and half the country had been lost. By fighting on with Allied support, China tied down a million Japanese troops. After Japan's defeat in 1945, China was immediately plunged back into civil war between Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists and Mao Tse-tung's Communists; and the latter's victory in 1949 changed the world for the rest of the 20th century and beyond. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 425 - 1st printing. "Roman Military Clothing (3)!" Written by Raffaele D'Amato. Art by Graham Sumner. This book is the concluding part of a rigorous study of theliterary, sculptural, pictorial and archaeological evidence for Roman military clothing, covering the last days of the Western Empire, and the much longer record of the Eastern, in the 5th to 7th centuries. The evidence from this enormously colourful period - when Germanic and Persian styles, first introduced by mercenaries, were widely adopted by Roman armies - is particularly rich. The text is illustrated with many photographs of rare textile finds, and mosaic artwork; with careful drawings of other figurative sources; and with Graham Sumner's meticulous and dazzling colour reconstructions. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 426 - 1st printing. "The Confederate Army 1861-65 (2)!" Written by Ron Field. Art by Richard Hook. The common image of the Confederate Army during the Civil War is dominated by a limited number of early photographs of officers and men wearing the gray and butternut associated with the CS regulations and quartermaster issues. This sequence of books examines a much wider field: the original uniforms of the state and volunteer companies which were brought together to form the Confederate field armies, and the continuing efforts to clothe troops as wear-and-tear gradually reduced the originally wide range of uniforms. A mass of information from contemporary documents is illustrated with rare photographs and meticulous color reconstructions. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 427 - 1st printing. "Armies of Ivan the Terrible!" Written by Viacheslav Shpakovsky and David Nicolle. Art by Angus McBride. It is generally assumed that the military reforms which propelled Russia into the modern world were due solely to the genius of Peter the Great. In fact, his reforms were built upon changes that had taken place during the previous 200 years, since the creation in 1550 of Russia's first full-time military force – the streltsi – by Ivan IV the Terrible. This account traces Russia's armies from that beginning, through the creation of paid regular regiments from1630, up to the reign of Peter the Great. It is illustrated with rare early drawings, photos of surviving artifacts, and dazzling colour reconstructions of exotic military costumes. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 428 - 1st printing. "Indian Tribes of the New England Frontier!" Written by Michael G Johnson. Art by Jonathan Smith. This book offers a detailed introduction to the tribes of the New England region – the first native American peoples affected by contact with the French and English colonists. By 1700 several tribes had already been virtually destroyed, and many others were soon reduced and driven from their lands by disease, war or treachery. The tribes were also drawn into the savage frontier wars between the French and the British. The final defeat of French Canada and the subsequent unchecked expansion of the British colonies resulted in the virtual extinction of the region's Indian culture, which is only now being revived by small descendant communities. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 429- 1st printing. "Napoleon's Mamelukes!" Written by Ronald Pawly. Art by Patrice Courcelle. The most exotic of all the troops of Napoleon's Imperial Guard were undoubtedly the Mamelukes – the bodyguard of Oriental cavalry which followed him home after the Egyptian expedition of 1798-1801, and remained with his Mounted Chasseurs regiment throughout the First Empire. For the first time in English, this book tells the Mamelukes' story, from Austerlitz to Waterloo. Quoting from the original nominal rolls and battle casualty returns, the author brings individual members of this extraordinary unit to life. His text is illustrated with rare early engravings and paintings, and the full-colour plates show the development of the unit's romantic Turkish uniforms. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 430- 1st printing. "The Confederate Army 1861–65 (3)!" Written by Ron Field. Art by Richard Hook. The common image of the Confederate Army during the Civil War is dominated by a limited number of early photogaphs of troops wearing the gray and butternut of the CS regulations and quartermaster issues. By contrast, this book examines the uniforms of the Louisiana and Texas militia and volunteer companies originally brought together in the Confederate field armies; and the continuing efforts to clothe them as wear-and-tear gradually reduced this wide range ofuniforms. A mass of information from contemporary documents is illustraed with rare photographs and meticulous color reconstructions. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 431- 1st printing. "Britain's Secret War!" Written by Will Fowler. Art by Kevin Lyles. The 'Confrontation' between Malaysia and Indonesia in Borneo - the war against Indonesian raids across a 900-mile border - eventually involved nearly 20,000 British and Commonwealth troops, with air and naval support; and yet, by mutual consent, astonishingly little was reported at the time. This 'secret war' saw the perfection of SAS jungle tactics and audacious secret missions deep inside enemy territory, including the award to a Gurkha soldier of the British Army's only 'living VC' for 40 years. This book will reveal the experiences of the soldiers who survived and succeeded amidst some of the world's worst jungle terrain. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 432- 1st printing. "Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces!" Written by Gary Nila and Robert. A Rolfe. Art by Christa Hook. The Imperial Japanese Navy's Special Landing Force units enjoyed a reputation out of proportion to their small size. Often wrongly termed "Imperial Marines", they were in fact sailors led by Naval officers, and traced their origins directly to landing parties from warships. Their true combat debut was at Shanghai in 1932; thereafter the SNLF expanded and fought in the assaults that followed Pearl Habor in 1941, and were dispersed as island garrisons during the Pacific campaigns. This book describes their uniforms and equipment in unprecedented detail, including color photos of original items from private collections. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 433- 1st printing. "Napoleon's Scouts of the Imperial Guard!" Written by Ronald Pawly. Art by Patrice Courcelle. Driven out of Germany after his defeat at Leipzig in 1813, Napoleon seemed to face disaster. Some 345,000 Allied troops were converging on France from the east; and Napoleon had only about 80,000 men. Most of his veterans had been killed in Russia and Germany, and he was short of cavalry to counter the swarms of Cossacks. For his last and possibly most brilliant campaign, Napoleon raised three regiments of mounted Scouts for his Imperial Guard. Through the story of these units the reader can follow Napoleon's dazzling manoeuvres in the campaign of 1814; and their widely varied uniforms are reconstructed in meticulously researched colour plates. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 434- 1st printing. "World War II German Police Units!" Written by Gordon Williamson. Art by Gerry Embleton. The German Police were an essential arm of the Nazi regime; as soon as Hitler achieved power the previous decentralized provincial system was unified into a single state apparatus, integrated at the command levels with the SS. While it may have been centrally controlled, it was still separated into a bewildering range of different departments and functions, many with their own uniform distinctions. This book offers a concise introduction to the organization, responsibilities, uniforms and insignia of the various branches of this machinery of repression, from Police generals to rural constables, transport policemen and factory watchmen. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Add to cart Near Mint $6.00

Volume 435- 1st printing. "The Confederate Army 1861-65 (4)!" Written by Ron Field. Art by Richard Hook. The common image of the Confederate Army during the Civil War is dominated by a limited number of early photographs of troops wearing the gray and butternut of the CS regulations and quartermaster issues. By contrast, this book examines the variety of uniforms worn by the Virginia and Arkansas militia and volunteers brought together in the Confederate field armies, and the continuing efforts to clothe them as wear-and-tear gradually reduced this wide range of uniforms. A mass of information from contemporary documents is illustrated with rare early photographs and meticulous color reconstructions. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 436- 1st printing. "The Scandinavian Baltic Crusades 1100-1500!" Written by David Lindholm and David Nicolle. Art by Angus McBride. This book describes and illustrates the armour, weapons, fortifications and ships of one of the least-known phases of the Medieval Crusades - the expeditions by Scandinavian Catholics against the pagan peoples to the east of the Baltic Sea, and their subsequent clashes with the Eastern Orthodox Russian princes of Novgorod and Muscovy. From isolated castles built in this bleak wilderness of forests, lakes and bogs, the small garrisons struggled equally against the enemy and the harsh terrain and climate. The text is illustrated with photographs of rare museum relics and of castles, and spirited colour plates by Angus McBride. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 437- 1st printing. "The Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection!" Written by Alejandro de Quesada. Art by Stephen Walsh. This book details the uniforms and weapons of the American, Spanish, Cuban and Filipino forces involved in the United States Army's first overseas war. In 1898 the USA took the decision to intervene in the Cuban war of independence against Spain, and to expel the last vestige of European colonial rule from the Americas. This also led to the US acquiring rule over the Philippine Islands; and there, US troops were sent into the jungle to fight a "colonial" war of their own, against Filipino insurgents unwilling to exchange one master for another. The text is illustrated with rare early photographs and color plates. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Add to cart Near Mint $6.00

Volume 438- 1st printing. "US Infantry in the Indian Wars 1865-91!" Written by Ron Field. Art by Ron Field. Contrary to the image portrayed by Hollywood, the infantry played as great a part in the Indian Wars of the 1860s-80s, and were more consistently successful than their more famous counterparts in the Cavalry. The great Paiute War of 1866, where the infantry of the most renowned Indian-fighting general, George Cook, excelled in battle, together with the role of other infantry units in the final subjugation of Geronimo's Apaches in 1886, are but two instances of their achievements. Featuring their involvement in the legendary battles of Wounded Knee and Wolf Mountains, this narrative presents an illustrated history of these critical but overlooked soldiers of the Indian Wars, culminating in the eventual closing of the American Frontier in 1890 and the final conquest of the indigenous inhabitants of North America. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Add to cart Near Mint $6.00

Volume 439 - 1st printing. "The Canadian Corps in World War I!" Written by René Chartrand. Art by Gerry Embleton. This book describes the organization, lists the units and illustrates the uniforms and equipment of the four Canadian divisions which earned an elite reputation on the Western Front in 1915-18. Canada's 600,000 troops - of whom more than 66,000 died and nearly 150,000 were wounded - representedan extraordinary contribution to the British Empire's struggle. On grim battlefields from the Ypres-Salient to the Somme, and from their stunning victory at Vimy Ridge to the final triumphant 'Hundred Days' advance of autumn 1918, Canada's soldiers proved themselves to be a remarkable army in their own right, founding a national tradition. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 440 - 1st printing. "Napoleon's Polish Lancers of the Imperial Guard!" Written by Ronald Pawly. Art by Patrice Courcelle. This book draws on original regimental records to give by far the most detailed account ever published in English of the organization and personalities of the most renowned of the foreign units that served in the Emperor's armies. Unlike most of his foreign troops, these Polish horsemen were true volunteers, who owed their honoured place in his Imperial Guard to their proven courage and dash on battlefields from Spain to Russia. The text is illustrated with rare portraits and photographs, and with detailed colour plates of the Lancers' magnificent uniforms. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 441 - 1st printing. "The Confederate Army 1861-65 (5) !" Written by Ron Field. Art by Richard Hook. The common image of the Confederate Army during the Civil War is dominated by a limited number of early photographs of troops wearing the gray and butternut of the CS regulations and quartermaster issues. By contrast, this book examines the variety of uniforms worn by the Tennessee and North Carolina militia and volunteers brought together in the Confederate field armies, and the continuing efforts to clothe them as wear-and-tear gradually reduced this wide range of uniforms. A mass of information from contemporary documents is illustrated with rare early photographs and meticulous color reconstructions. Softcover, PC/PB&W.

Volume 442 - 1st printing. "Queen Victoria's Highlanders!" Written by Stuart Reid. Art by Gerry Embleton. In 2006 the title 'Highlanders' finally disappeared from the British Army's list of infantry regiments after nearly 270 years. Throughout this period Scottish Highland units distinguished themselves in battle, but it was in the 19th-century heyday of the British Empire that they acquired an elite reputation and their colourful uniforms evolved to their full complexity. This book traces and explains the identity and appearance of the individual regiments throughout Queen Victoria's reign, illustrating a wide variety of their home service uniforms with engravings, paintings, photographs, and full colour plates specially researched and prepared for this tribute to a unique military tradition. Softcover, PC/PB&W.