Edition: 1st Edition
Published By: Temple Press Ltd.
A substantial and historically important archive of one of the principal journals of the British aircraft manufacturing industry, comprising the scarce first issue of March 1929, extensive pre-war holdings, complete wartime volumes, and a long post-war sequence extending to 1970. The collection includes the first issue, March 1929, together with further issues from May, July, August, November and December 1929, several retaining their original wrappers, and strong early holdings for 1931–1933. Of particular importance is the remarkable sequence covering Britain's rearmament and wartime aircraft production programmes. Complete annual volumes are present for 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938, documenting the rapid expansion of the British aircraft industry during the years immediately preceding the Second World War. These are followed by an extensive run for 1939 and 1940 and a complete sequence of wartime volumes from 1941 to 1945, providing a near-continuous record of British aircraft production throughout the conflict. The complete wartime run from 1941 to 1945 is especially noteworthy, documenting the period when British aircraft production reached unprecedented levels. Throughout these volumes are reports on the manufacture and development of many of Britain's most famous aircraft, including the Spitfire, Hurricane, Mosquito, Wellington, Halifax and Lancaster, together with detailed coverage of engine production, factory organisation, shadow factory schemes, labour mobilisation, aircraft output and the vast industrial expansion that enabled Britain and her Allies to achieve air superiority during the Second World War. As a contemporary record of British aircraft manufacturing during the war years, the 1941–1945 sequence is of exceptional historical importance. Notable subjects covered throughout the archive include the RAF rearmament programme of the mid-1930s, the growth of Britain's leading aircraft manufacturers, wartime aircraft production and factory expansion, advances in aero-engine technology, post-war reconstruction of the industry, the emergence of jet propulsion, and the development of Britain's pioneering post-war military and civil aircraft. The archive chronicles the activities of manufacturers including de Havilland, Hawker, Supermarine, Avro, Handley Page, Bristol, Vickers, Short Brothers and many others during one of the most significant periods in aviation history.The post-war section remains notably strong, with complete volumes for 1946–1950 and extensive holdings throughout the 1950s and 1960s, many surviving in their original issued form with wrappers retained. Particularly noteworthy are the complete wrappered years for 1951, 1952 and 1954, together with substantial holdings for the remainder of the decade and numerous later issues extending through 1968, concluding with a surviving issue from 1970.A major feature of the archive is the survival of a large number of duplicate issues retaining their original wrappers, especially for the critical pre-war and wartime years. Such duplicates frequently preserve the original appearance of the publication, many institutional runs having been bound with covers discarded. The collection therefore combines the advantages of bound research volumes with a substantial body of original wrappered material.Aircraft Production occupies a central place in the history of British aviation publishing. Established at the dawn of Britain's modern aircraft industry, it recorded the transformation of aviation from the inter-war biplane era through rearmament, the Second World War, the emergence of jet propulsion and the development of the modern aerospace industry. Runs of comparable scope, particularly those including the first issue, complete wartime coverage and substantial numbers of original wrappered copies, are seldom encountered outside major institutional collections.An archive of considerable research value, providing an exceptional record of British aircraft manufacture from the late 1920s through the jet age. A rare opportunity to acquire one of the most substantial surviving archives of this important aviation periodical, comprising approximately 350 issues, including the first issue of March 1929, complete wartime volumes from 1941 to 1945, extensive post-war holdings, and numerous duplicate wrappered issues spanning more than four decades of British aviation history. One of the most substantial surviving archives of Aircraft Production likely to be encountered in private hands. Full list Aircraft Production, 1929–1949 1929 March (first issue, with cover) May (with cover)July (with cover) August, November December 1930 No issues, 1931 Complete bound year Plus 5 duplicate issues with covers. 1932 Complete bound year, Plus 11 duplicate issues with covers, 1933, January–August bound, September–December loose with covers, 1934, Complete bound year, Plus 10 duplicate issues, 1935, Complete bound year, Plus 10 duplicate issues , 1936 Complete bound year, Plus 9 duplicate issues with covers , 1937 Complete bound year, Plus 9 duplicate issues with covers, 1938 Complete bound year Plus 9, duplicate issues with covers, 1939 January–November, all with covers, 1940 January–June August October–December, All with covers, 1941 Complete bound year, Plus 11 duplicate issues with covers, 1942, Complete bound year Plus 5 duplicate issues with covers, 1943 Complete bound year Plus duplicate loose issues with covers , 1944, Complete bound year, Plus 3 duplicate issues with covers, 1945 , Complete bound year 1946 Complete bound year, Plus 3 duplicate issues with covers, 1947 Complete bound year, 1948 Complete bound year, Plus 2 duplicate issues with covers, 1949, Complete bound year, 1950 – Complete bound year, plus June, July, November and December duplicate issues with covers.1951 – Complete year (12 issues), all with covers.1952 – Complete year (12 issues), all with covers.1953 – January, March–December; missing February; all with covers. 1954 – Complete year (12 issues), all with covers. 1955 – January–November, all with covers. 1956 – January, March, July, August, September, October and November, all with covers. 1957 – February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November and December, all with covers.1958 – January–April and July–December, all with covers. 1959 – May, November and December, all with covers. 1960 – February, March, May, June, July, September, October, November and December, all with covers. 1961 – May, September, November and December, all with covers. 1962 – January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November and December, all with covers. 1963 – January, March, May, June, September, October, November and December, all with covers. 1964 – March, May, June, July, September, October, November and December, all with covers. 1965 – February, March, April, August, September and December, all with covers.1966 – March–December, all with covers. 1967 – January, March, April, June, July, August, October, November and December, all with covers. 1968 – February, April, May, June, July, August, September and October, all with covers. 1969 – No issues. 1970 – April issue.
Book Condition: Good
Binding: Hardback
Ref: 123701
Price £8500.00
