Was thinking I might get all the Guido Rosignoli books I've not got. Doubtless they're familiar to most, but I've now paused & wondered if there's any other better or more complete things out there that present mounds of insignia in such an accessible way? These ones. Blandford: Whoops... ordered book 2 before finishing posting this. Still, at leas those two are a set. Several more to look at.
Oh, and I've got some of the Brian L Davis books, but they're a bit 'booky' & detailed for what I'm after. Really do fancy easy to flick through books to match a badge to the page.
Yeah, not got but it's part of why I asked. Is it more or less complete than having all the other ones? Naval, Air forces, ribbons? Can't work it out.
Tried to play the skint card and said I've only got £3 but he didn't fall for it, told me to come back when I had six quid. Got it a few weeks ago, from a café of all places called Henry's, run by a Frenchman. Graham.
Slightly odd, isn't it. The chap's name is all over a very specific little range of books from the mid/late 70s, along with a few mixed-up or reprinted editions. And despite having a few things with quite good single-force insignia chapters I've seen nothing yet that's as generally useful.
I find Howard N Coles books - Badges on Battledress & Heraldry in War useful, maybe not as at a glance as others but they cover some of teh more obscure units (Line of Communications etc) and have a fair bit of detail - plus they cover Indian etc. Alistair
Had this for years, and looking back now don’t think I ever really realised how good it was.... but pretty sure it went in one of my culls. Badges and Insignia of World War II: Air Force, Naval, Marine by Rosignoli, Guido: Peerage Books 9780907408345 Hardcover, First edition. - Bookbarn International
Thanks, Alastair. His look interesting. And one of the Rosignoli ones there, Wtid. They are good. Both 30-40 years old. It's looking like a bit of a neglected area. Maybe it's assumed you can now find it all in the web.
Heraldry in War was also [re]published by Arms and Armour Press as something else. I think I know where it is on the shelf but buggered if I can remember the title.
Formation badges of WW2 may be the Coles reprint, had a google of his name and saw it and it looks a bit newer. Alistair
I found an on line copy of the Cole book for WW2, which is my go to reference for insignia. Hope this link works: Formation Badges Cole
Rosignoli's Medal Ribbons & that combined air force/navy one Wtid mentioned ordered this AM. I think... It gets very confusing when you order from Abe, Amazon, & an actual bookshop at the same time... (At least I wasn't pissed! So there won't be that strange box from N&MP or similar with no solid recollection of order. ) I actually like trying to ID insignia. These little flickable books are perfect. How did I know that'd be quite expensive. Does look shiny, though, and you never regret an extravagance...
So, Rosignoli Book 1, inherited from my Grandfather 20+ years ago finally has book 2 to sit next to, and the Naval/Air Force one & Ribbons. They're really very good, especially considering they're mostly on Amazon at that technically postage-higher-than-price point. Though... I really don't understand why I've not seen a more modern general reference like these. Are we all expected to just use the Internet (it's been beaten by these 70s books many times) or is it that the trend for proper nerdism is more niche these days, with genuinely shiny books like JB posted? I think it's odd. Maybe time/effort required to compile, cross-check & illustrate such a thing just isn't worth it any more. Well there's a thread now. Shout out if you see anything.
I can only think that his very clear style and information density lost out to the prettier but patchier Osprey approach. The later coffee table book posted by ozzy16 doesn't do the job as well as the Blandfords but probably sold better. A few years ago the nephew wanted a book on WW2 planes and I ended up getting the 1970s Munson one for its coverage; couldn't really find anything similar from more recent years.
Adam glad you now have it nestled next to some old friends, and at the risk of going of piste ...I know you like tanks,I bought this with the above Insignia book I do believe it was two for a fiver at Chepstow market many years ago. TANKS AND OTHER ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES OF WORLD WAR II (first published as two volumes 'Tanks and other AFVs of the Blitzkreig Era 1939-41' and 'Tanks and Other Armoured Fighting Vehicles 1942-45') by White, B. T.: Peerage Books London ND - A Book for all Reasons, PBFA & ibooknet