Burt's British Battleships 1919-1939

TTTTTTTTTT · Post by **TTTTTTTTTT** » Mon May 02, 2005 3:54 pm

British Battleships 1919-1939
R.A. Burt

There are TWO (2) copies of this rare, out-of-print book on eBay at the moment. One auction is due to end fairly soon, and the other ends in several days. I'm neither the seller, nor am interested in bidding, as I already have this title.
I thought I should mention it as I'm sure there are those of us who are interested! I never thought I'd see 2 of these available simultaneously.

Good luck,
Ted

Bruce Kapito · Post by **Bruce Kapito** » Wed May 04, 2005 9:51 pm

Hi Ted,

SHHHHHH. I have a bid on the second one. Somebody beat my offer on the first copy there. I also finally saw a copy of it at the NYPL today and all I can say is upped my maximum bid. I found the pictures riveting. Also, I finally obtained a copy of Burts WW1 book. Incredible. I was able to find it at the Strand used bookstore in NYC for a very reasonable price.

BLK

TTTTTTTTTT · Post by **TTTTTTTTTT** » Thu May 05, 2005 9:29 am

I hope you win it, Bruce! The 1919-1939 volume seems to me to be the rarest, so I'd bet whatever you can possibly afford on it.

Interestingly, Burt's other 2 books on British battleships are now on eBay as well, the 1894-1905 and WWI volumes. Here's the link for the WWI title, in case anyone is interested:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 09337&rd=1

Unprecedented!

Good luck,
Ted

Bruce Kapito · Post by **Bruce Kapito** » Thu May 05, 2005 6:39 pm

Hi Ted,

Many thanks. I'm bidding on the 1919 - 1939 version. After I saw it at the NYPL even my present unemployment I knew I made the right decision bidding on it. I bought the 1889 - 1904 version at the Barnes & Noble book annex about 7 years ago for $ 14.00. That was a major coup.
The WW1 is simply superb. I paid about $ 40.00 for it. I also have the Burt & Trotter Grand Fleet book. I honestly wish there were some of similiar quality on the US Dreadnoughts. The Schiera US Predrednought book will ok does not have nearly as many photos as I'd like.

How about you and I team up after I pass the CPA and find employment and do one just for modellers. I can research the NYPL and you the Smithsonian. I'd love too see if they have anything in the Brooklyn libraries but that's a tough place to go visit. Would make an interesting combo.

Respectfully,

BLK

TTTTTTTTTT · Post by **TTTTTTTTTT** » Thu May 05, 2005 9:16 pm

Bruce Kapito wrote:I bought the 1889 - 1904 version at the Barnes & Noble book annex about 7 years ago for $ 14.00. That was a major coup.
The WW1 is simply superb. I paid about $ 40.00 for it. I also have the Burt & Trotter Grand Fleet book. I honestly wish there were some of similiar quality on the US Dreadnoughts. The Schiera US Predrednought book will ok does not have nearly as many photos as I'd like.

Wow, you got a couple of good deals there! I paid $85 for the 1889-1904, about the same for the Grand Fleet book, and a downright obscene, unmentionable amount for the WWI book. I agree that the US predreadnought book doesn't have enough photos, though otherwise excellent.

Glad the NYPL is such a good resource for you. I definitely haven't made enough use of the local resources here, but haven't had much time for research with work and looking for a new place to live. Need more room so I can actually build/display some models!

Good luck again, and bid big to complete your set...

Regards,
Ted

Bruce Kapito · Post by **Bruce Kapito** » Thu May 05, 2005 11:37 pm

Hi Ted,

I think libraries are great especially if you live in a big city. Next time you're in NYC take a tour of the main library. THe exhibits they have in their collection is awesome. I actually saw one of Gilbert Stuart's 5 recorded unfinished George Washington portraits (one of my heros) and tons of John Copley Singetons, Frederick Remington's and a few other masters that you see in art history books. Last year they ran a British history exhibit and one of Nelson's Mediterrean Fleet orders and one of Wellington's after action reports on Waterloo. Wow. I take it the DC library, Smithsonian, and National Archives are equally impressive.

BLK

Bruce Kapito · Post by **Bruce Kapito** » Sun May 08, 2005 11:26 pm

Bloody thing went for $ 600.00 on Ebay. Sure glad other people are rich.

TTTTTTTTTT · Post by **TTTTTTTTTT** » Mon May 09, 2005 10:19 am

OMG, $600, that's awful. Sorry to hear the news. I don't understand why some publisher doesn't buy the rights to all the OOP Burt books and reissue them. They'd make a decent profit. There are a lot of British books languishing in out-of-print status besides the Burt books. I wonder if there is something different about UK copyright laws that is hindering the issuance of new editions, or even just reprints of the old editions.

Regards,
Ted

Post by **JIM BAUMANN** » Mon May 09, 2005 1:32 pm

here is the link to the book--the same chap is/has also been bidding on British BB of WW1- last seen at over � 100....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... %3AIT&rd=1

glad I paid a mere (!) � 190.00....

Cheers

JIM B

TTTTTTTTTT · Post by **TTTTTTTTTT** » Mon May 09, 2005 3:48 pm

Hello Jim,
Interesting, in looking at what that chap has won on turns up this item:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 4536460245

Could this be a badly identified, hence a bargain copy of Burt's British Battleships of WWI? If so, he got a marvelous deal!

Best,
Ted

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Mon May 09, 2005 4:24 pm

JIM BAUMANN wrote:here is the link to the book--the same chap is/has also been bidding on British BB of WW1- last seen at over � 100....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... %3AIT&rd=1

glad I paid a mere (!) � 190.00....

Cheers

JIM B

Im glad I got mine for �23 -00 from my book club, ARH

Bruce Kapito · Post by **Bruce Kapito** » Wed May 11, 2005 11:43 pm

Hi Guys,

Even at 200 GBP the Burt 1919 - 1939 book is a gem. I think Ted had a good idea about republishing but here in the US copyright laws are valid 95 years from publication date when owned by the publishing house or life
of the author +75 years.

Does anybody know if Ray Burt is still alive? Maybe we could mount an email campaign to him to seeing if we can him to do another small printing out of India, China, Phillipines (they have no copyright laws, just ask Cisco Systems about that) etc. I understand Arms & Armour went belly up so there'd be no problem there. The only I would worry about is for those guys who paid a large amount for these books that such a reprinting ruin their investment.

Food for thought

BLK

Nansung · Post by **Nansung** » Thu May 12, 2005 8:54 am

I saw two auctions recently, one ended at 165 GBP and the other ended at 312 GBP, tooooooooo much for me -_-

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Thu May 12, 2005 6:35 pm

I've had these British Battleship books since they were first printed. The British Battleships of WW II in the original Arms and Armour press edition from the U.K. done on the fine art paper with good photo reproduction and the other books from the US Naval Institute Press here in the U.S. I love the books, but was disappointed by the poor quality of the photo reproduction. Also they bury so many photos in the spine of the book by printing on two pages instead of filling one page with a photo and the other with text. But really, are these books selling as high as $400-$600? That's maddness! Has anyone ever seen a copy of "World Warships in Review 1860-1906"? 1976 printed in the U.K. distributed here in the U.S. by the US Naval Institute Press? Many fine photos of pre dreadnought BB's, Cruisers, and torpedo boats and destroyers. I recommend it to anyone who finds a copy for sale. Full page photos printed on fine art paper with photo on one whole page and informative ship history on the facing page. Grab a copy if ever you see one for sale. You will not be sorry!

Bob B.

kennylibben · Post by **kennylibben** » Thu May 12, 2005 6:39 pm

EVERYONE BID AGAINST BRUCE!

TTTTTTTTTT · Post by **TTTTTTTTTT** » Thu May 12, 2005 7:11 pm

bengtsson wrote:Has anyone ever seen a copy of "World Warships in Review 1860-1906"? 1976 printed in the U.K. distributed here in the U.S. by the US Naval Institute Press? Many fine photos of pre dreadnought BB's, Cruisers, and torpedo boats and destroyers. I recommend it to anyone who finds a copy for sale. Full page photos printed on fine art paper with photo on one whole page and informative ship history on the facing page. Grab a copy if ever you see one for sale. You will not be sorry!
Bob B.

Thanks for the recommendation, Bob! I just ordered one on Abebooks.com for $20. There are several copies available in varying states of condition (missing DJ, water damage, etc). Prices range from $20 on up.
Best regards,
Ted

Bruce Kapito · Post by **Bruce Kapito** » Fri May 13, 2005 1:01 am

Kennylibben,

They did you knucklehead (Promised Cadman I'd behave). That's why I lost in the bidding. I was gunning for GBP 150 which was my limit. Bidding on Ebay is like betting in Vegas. Bid and or Bet with your head not over it.

Next time we will see if I am victorious. When I saw the book going over my limit I withdrew my bids. But the nice thing is knowing that some people place such a high value on these books.

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Fri May 13, 2005 6:30 pm

Glad you found a copy Ted.

I know you will like the many fine photos of the world's pre-dreadnoughts. I hope it is the original edition printed on glossy art paper as my copy is. Good price only $20. The thing is, many dealers don't know what they have, so it always pays to shop around. I've picked up alot of warship books in the $30-$50 dollar range that go for over a $100 from dealers in Naval History and Warship books. Best to find the general book dealers who don't have a clue how valuable some of these out of print Warship books are.
Bob.

Nansung · Post by **Nansung** » Sat May 14, 2005 12:20 am

I'm looking for these good warship books, and plan to translate some chapters into my mother tongue. I live in China, and the only way I can get these books is through ebay or amazon, I don't know other ways, but the price seems too expensive.
Can you recommend any better ways, or some online shops with lower price?
Thanks

bengtsson · Post by **bengtsson** » Sat May 14, 2005 9:17 am

Try :
http://www.usedbooksearch.co.uk/books.htm
These should lead you to the used books search sight, search for titles or under key words 'Warships' Naval History' You will find thousands of all kinds. Good luck
Bob B.