Jim Baker Posted October 15, 2007 Share #1 Posted October 15, 2007 Obviously there are many collectors of Shoulder Sleeve Insignia and Patches. It also appears there are many new collectors everyday. Although this forum is a great reference in itself, "hard copy" reference is invaluable. I hope experienced collectors, and even the new collectors among us will take the time to post books, pamphlets, periodicals, any printed material that has aided them in the pursuit of collecting SSI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share #2 Posted October 15, 2007 For collectors of WWII Armor and TD Patches: "World War II Order of Battle", by Shelby L. Stanton "Tank Battalions of the U.S. Army", by James A. Sawicki "Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the U.S. Armed Forces, 1941-1945", by Richard W. Smith "Distinctive Insignia of the United States Army (1939-1946), Volume I: Armor-Cavalry, and Tank Destroyer Units", compiled by Robert P. Capistrano "Emblems of Honor, Patches and Insignia of the U.S. Army from the Great War to the Early Cold War", by Kurt H. Keller "The Trading Post, October-December 1997", an ASMIC periodical. "The Trading Post, October-December 1998", an ASMIC periodical. Although I have an extensive library dealing with the history of WWII, these are books I use in my patch collecting. There are of course others I would like to buy, and hopefully other contributors to this thread will lead me to more great references. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted October 15, 2007 For collectors of Army Divisional Patches: "United States Army Shoulder Patches and Related Insignia from World War I to Korea (1st Division to 40th Division)", by William Keller "United States Army Shoulder Patches and Related Insignia from World War I to Korea (41st Division to 106th Division)", by William Keller & Kurt Keller For collectors of State Guard patches: "Cloth Insignia of the U.S. State Guards and State Defence Forces", by Richard W. Smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewA74 Posted November 10, 2007 Share #4 Posted November 10, 2007 For the everyday patch collector who likes everything "The United States Military Patch Guide" by J.L. Pete Morgan WWII Patches "European Theatre of Operations Collector's Guide" by Henri-Paul Enjames Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PATCHRAT Posted December 6, 2007 Share #5 Posted December 6, 2007 "Authorized Shoulder Sleeve insignia of the U.S. Army" by Chris Aleck Available from the Author box 283, Worth IL 0482-0283 It is a great quick reference for authorized SSI, black and white line drawings with size and color descriptions along with dates of authorization. The author updates the book continuously as new SSI are authorized. My copy was only $10 plus postage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted December 21, 2007 Share #6 Posted December 21, 2007 For Airborne related Insignia: "Geronimo! U.S. Airborne Uniforms, Insignia & Eqipment in WW II" by Bill Rentz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ithaca37 Posted March 15, 2008 Share #7 Posted March 15, 2008 Another very good one is US Army Patches Flashes and Ovals by Barry Jason Stein. This is an outstanding book for US Army collectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted March 16, 2008 Share #8 Posted March 16, 2008 Regarding background informations about manufacturing, dating and pricing of WW II patches one of the best books I ever found is: "U.S. Military Patches of World War II" by Christopher P. Brown Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0bx Posted March 16, 2008 Share #9 Posted March 16, 2008 For US Navy and US Marine Corps rate and distinguishing marks collectors; U.S. Navy Rating Badges by John Stacey, and U.S. Navy Marks(and others) On Marine Uniforms also by John Stacey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted September 6, 2008 Share #10 Posted September 6, 2008 Did we mention this one? "United States Army Shoulder Patches and Related Insignia from World War I to Korea (Army Groups, Armies and Corps)", by William Keller & Kurt Keller For U.S. Labor Service patches and insignia: "Abzeichen und Geschichte des Labor Service der US-Streitkräfte und der Civilian Support Organisation mit 6941st Guard Batalion BERLIN" by Siegbert Mann It's not about patches but cloth insignia and I think it better fits here than in the "book report" section: "Straps - The Evolution of United States Army Shoulder Straps" by Dr. Howard G Lanham Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jw1969 Posted December 26, 2008 Share #11 Posted December 26, 2008 Hello everybody on the USMF Why not... Dr Howard Lanham's website : www.angelfire.com/md2/patches/ Hans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted February 24, 2009 Share #12 Posted February 24, 2009 Just received another "E-book" that should be postet here: "Fakes and Reproductions of the Vietnam War" by Gil Burket (USMF member gwb123). The "E-book" contains of two CD's with about more than 700 pdf file pages with every information you can imagine about faked Vietnam war cloth insignia. Hundreds of b/w and colored pictures. Huge amount of backround information. If you ever think about collecting Vietnam cloth insignia this book is a MUST for you. The most complete summary about fakes and repros of VN patches I have ever seen. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pac_bob Posted March 18, 2009 Share #13 Posted March 18, 2009 Hi..I am new to this hobby and as of now my interest is mostly WW2 patches...but that could change quick ...LOLWhat would you guys suggest for a first book to help me identify patches? Thanks For WW2 patches, you should get two books already listed: Richard Smith, Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the US Armed Forces 1941-1945 (n.p. 1981) and Chris Brown, US Military Patches of World War II (Turner Pub Co, Paducah, KY 2002). The first book is of particularly interest because it has histories of the units and, most importantly, only a few mistakes (81st Chem Mtr Bn repro, 501st Pct Inf Regt 1950s variant not WW2); Brown's book has detailed information on variations and spotting fakes. These would be good starters, along with Dr Howard Lanham's website listed above. If you get heavier into variations, you should consider William and Kurt Keller's three volume series, United States Army Shoulder Patches, published by Schiffer and covering divisions 1-40 (v. I), 41-106 (v. 2), and armies and corps (v. 3); and a fourth volume, Emblems of Honor: Armor, Cavalry and Constabulary, by Kurt Keller. The ASMIC Trading Post ran several WW2 related series of color plates which may still be available: Army Order of Battle: 1941 (Jan-March 1993) OD Border Patches (Jul-Sep 1993) Non-OD Bordered Patches (Jan-Mar 1994) USMC Patches (Jul-Sep 1994) Cloth Airborne Insignia of WW2 (Jan-Mar 1995) Pocket Artillery: Chemical Mortar Insignia of WW2 (Jan-Mar 1995) Reconnaissance Squadrons of WW2 (Apr-Jun 1995) USAAF Shoulder Patches (Jul-Sep 1995) State Guard Patches (Jan-Mar 1996) Insignia of Armored Regiments and Tank Battalions of WW2 (Oct-Dec 1997) For historical interest, you should look for publications which came out during World War II: Life Magazine, August 6, 1945 (the patch issue) Joel & Aronoff, Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (Reese Press, NY 1945) Insignia and Decorations of the US Armed Forces (National Geographic Society, 1943 and 1944) This is particularly useful if you collect squadron patches Wolf Appleton, Shoulder Patch Insignia of the United States Armed Forces (NY, c. 1943) United States Service Symbols (1943) J.W. Bunkley, Military and Naval Recognition Book (Van Nostrand, NY 1942, 1943) Finally, to see how much patches cost back in 1945, see Catalog of Service Insignia, Hobby Guild of America, NY ... can you imagine the 135th Abn Div for $0.40, 2nd Marine Div heart variant for $0.35, or the 1st Service command football for $0.25! Personally, I would take the Washington & Britton, Pete Morgan and Barry Stein books with a few pinches of salt since a number of the patches shown are reproductions. Enjoy the hobby but educate yourself to avoid getting burned! Bob Capistrano Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted August 30, 2009 Share #14 Posted August 30, 2009 I received two books from befriended USMF member this week, that I would like to present here. First books title says it all: “I could tell you but then you would have to be destroyed by me” by Trevor Paglen. It's about the USAF “black projects” and their patches. Title of the book, in form of a patch, is applyed to the black front cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted August 30, 2009 Share #15 Posted August 30, 2009 The book contains 135 pages with about 60 full color patches depicted and many background information. Collecting USAF patches is not (yet) my business but I like the unique design of most of these patches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted August 30, 2009 Share #16 Posted August 30, 2009 This one really takes the cake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted August 30, 2009 Share #17 Posted August 30, 2009 I'm very proud, to have received my “Winged Sabbers” issue finally. It's written by Lawrence H. Johnson, who served as an aeroscout platoon commander in VN. It's the most comprehensive book about Air Cavalry in VN that I have ever seen. History of all AirCav units that served in VN, their organization, equipment, weapons, aircraft, uniforms, headgear etc. with the main focus on the Cavalrymen and their “spirit”. Incredible detailed insight of the AirCav in the VN war. More than 300 pics including about 180 pics of the AirCav patches made in VN from all AirCav squadrons, troops and platoons serving there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted August 30, 2009 Share #18 Posted August 30, 2009 I really like books about patches but I prefer those, who are telling the whole story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted August 30, 2009 Share #19 Posted August 30, 2009 Patches, patches, patches... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted August 30, 2009 Share #20 Posted August 30, 2009 ...more patches, another example given. Thank you very much for this book CaptCav!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted October 18, 2009 Share #21 Posted October 18, 2009 This one was already discussed in the book reference section but I think it shoud be presented here as well: "Organization and Insignia of the American Expeditionary Force 1917 - 1923" by Robert J. Dalessandro and Michael G. Knapp. More than 320 pages with about 800 pictures; the most comprehensive work about the AEF SSI I have ever seen. Including incredible mass of information about organization, order of battle, history of the AEF units. Additional to the Infantry division all specialist branches (Air Service, Chemical sevice...) are discussed. Stunning full color pictures of WW I patches, the perfect reference for all kind of SSi of this era. Another "Schiffer Military History Book" that is a must have, if you collect SSI. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted October 18, 2009 Share #22 Posted October 18, 2009 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted December 10, 2009 Share #23 Posted December 10, 2009 I'm sure this book is discussed elsewhere in the Forum but it should be mentioned in the patch book section as well. I received my issue this week and it really knocked my socks off... "Pictorial Guide to U.S.Army Anti-Tank and Tank Destroyed Memorabilia" by Paul B. Stevens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted December 10, 2009 Share #24 Posted December 10, 2009 Softcover, 77 pages, hundreds of full color pictures of everything related to AT/TD memorabilia. I counted at least 100 "Tank Eating Tiger" patch variants, that's why I'm posting the book here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted December 10, 2009 Share #25 Posted December 10, 2009 The book also covers DUI, Collar Insignia, Souveniers, Pennants, Scarfs, Postcards, Paper Ephemera etc. etc...also informations about fake insignia. Really a great addition for my militaria library. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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