Landships II

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Landships II -> Landships WW1 Forum -> References -> Stern First Edition.
Post Info TOPIC: Stern First Edition.
James H


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 3881
Date:
Stern First Edition.
Permalink   

My auction-attending pal (the one who pointed out the Swinton plaque) has returned from a sale with a gift for me. Well, he wants the money for it, but he bought it on the assumption that I'd be interested.

It's a first edition of Tanks 1914-18 by A.G. Stern, signed by him. He obviously presented it to a colleague, and inside is the following inscription in Stern's handwriting:

To my friend and colleague of the Mechanical Warfare Department A.P. Griffiths, in memory of happy days of hard work for the (illegible).

Albert Stern, May 1920.

Anyone know who Mr. Griffiths was?



__________________

"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Tim R


Hero

Status: Offline
Posts: 926
Date:
Permalink   

Hello James

 I don't know who Mr.Griffiths is, I would like to. But S#@t you are lucky!!wink

All the Best
Tim R.

__________________
"The life given us by nature is short; but the memory of a well-spent life is eternal"
-Cicero 106-43BC
James H


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 3881
Date:
Permalink   

I know. I'm immensely grateful to my mate.

The book is nearly 2" thick, 296 pages (though not much to a page), and in marbled board covers with a black spine and gold lettering. On the shelf it looks like a Bible, which I suppose . . . .

I'm not much given to this sort of thing, but I've been sitting holding it, picturing it in Stern's hands, and thinking about where it's been in the last 88 years.

The last page is a plan of the golf course where the trials were held, with cross-sections of the dummy trenches. Oddly enough, there's a technical spec that describes the armament as 2 6pdrs and Three automatic rifles (1 Hotchkiss and 2 Madsen).

I'm reluctant to scan it because it would mean flattening it out and I don't want to risk it. If anyone needs any info, pls let me know.

__________________

"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Mark Hansen


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 1076
Date:
Permalink   

You could use a digital camera instead of scanning.

__________________
Tim R


Hero

Status: Offline
Posts: 926
Date:
Permalink   

All I can say is AWESOME!!crying.gif

All the Best
Tim R

__________________
"The life given us by nature is short; but the memory of a well-spent life is eternal"
-Cicero 106-43BC
Gwyn Evans


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 1415
Date:
Permalink   

Mark

I have a recent paperback facsimile edition, but I'd much rather have yours!

The book is dedicated "To My Staff", so I would imagine that Stern gave a copy to everyone who was on his staff, and Griffiths was one of these.

Gwyn

__________________
James H


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 3881
Date:
Permalink   

Mark Hansen wrote:

You could use a digital camera instead of scanning.


Doh! Of course. Ta.

Haven't been this pleased since Manchester City won something.



__________________

"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
ken musgrave


Corporal

Status: Offline
Posts: 24
Date:
Permalink   

Man City won something?

-- Edited by ken musgrave at 12:16, 2008-06-16

__________________
K.Musgrave
Peter Kempf


Field Marshal

Status: Offline
Posts: 456
Date:
Permalink   

You lucky dog!

__________________
/Peter Kempf
James H


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 3881
Date:
Permalink   

My indolent friend has finally returned my camera. It doesn't seem to be quite the camera it used to be. Nonetheless, I have been able to photograph the inscription from Albert Stern to Mr. Griffiths. The word I couldn't read before seems to be "author".

Attachments
__________________

"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Centurion


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 2332
Date:
Permalink   

Is this your book? http://www.maggs.com/title/MI20481.asp. Have you re sold it? Or is more than one with this inscription?



__________________
aka Robert Robinson Always mistrust captions
James H


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 3881
Date:
Permalink   

That must be it. My mate bought it at a book auction somewhere in the Midlands in June, along with stuff signed by W.G. Grace and suchlike.

__________________

"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Centurion


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 2332
Date:
Permalink   

James H wrote:

 My mate bought it at a book auction somewhere in the Midlands in June, along with stuff signed by W.G. Grace and suchlike.


Odd, Maggs are a London bookshop. They buy at auction but I've never heard of them selling that way.


-- Edited by Centurion at 18:30, 2008-09-05

__________________
aka Robert Robinson Always mistrust captions
James H


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 3881
Date:
Permalink   

I'm not aware of its provenance, but it clearly seems to have been in Maggs's possession at some point. I can't imagine AGS would sign two identical inscriptions to the same bloke. My mate bought it at an auction in Worcester, apparently. Maybe someone died and their effects were auctioned.

__________________

"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Landships II -> Landships WW1 Forum -> References -> Stern First Edition.
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard