New (old) cannon book

[Terry C.]

I bought this book on eBay, it came in the mail today.

ARTILLERY THROUGH THE AGES  by Albert Manucy

United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
United States Government Printing Office
Washington: 1949


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This is a 92 page softcover book that deals mostly with the history and types of cannon, although it does have a short section in the back dealing with the gun drill.

So far I have only had time to skim over the contents.  I haven't seen much that isn't already covered in my other books (which are pretty thorough).  When I have more time and can give it a good read, I'm sure I will find some things I overlooked.  

Illustrations by the author are good.  Not great, certainly not on par with the detailed scale drawings like those in Round Shot and Rammers, but more than adequate for a book of this type.

(Coincidentally, credit for 'technical review' is given to H.L. Peterson, the author of Round Shot and Rammers)

I just think it is a really cool old book.  It's in very good condition, better than I expected.  It will take a position of prominence in my collection of cannon related paraphernalia.


For this book I paid the princely sum of six dollars ($4 + $2 S&H).


On the inside of the front cover is printed:

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents
U.S. Government Printing office
Washington 25, D.C. • Price 35 cents


Thirty-five cents?!?  :eek:  :-D  :wink:

[GGaskill]

It is no longer listed on the GPO website but is available through the NPS.

[Terry C.]

Yes, I saw that this book is listed in the "Reference" section.

So I did  little research.  This book is still in print, although the current cover looks nothing like the one I have.

Upon closer examination, I also found another date in mine. In very fine print at the bottom of the last page:

U.S. Government Printing Office: O— 1952

I guess that this is the actual printing date, not 1949. So it's not as old as I first thought, but not by much.

There are no other dates anywhere that I can find.

[CU_Cannon]

It is a good little book.  I have the new version that I bought at the Saratoga Battle Field.  It gives a pretty good overview of artillery.  It is definitely written for someone that knows nothing about artillery.

[Terry C.]

Does yours look like this?

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I bought the one I have more because of its age than as a reference, but I have to admit it's a good little book. It was a little disappointing to find out it was NOT printed in the late '40s, but the early '50s is okay.


1952 still makes it older than me (but not by much). :roll:

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[GGaskill]

Mine is the 1985 printing, $2.75 OTC (although where I bought it is lost in the mists of time.)  It looks like this:

[CU_Cannon]

ThatÂ’s the one I have.  I think you can get it at just about every battle field or military museum.

[Terry C.]

ThatÂ’s the one I have.

Which one, the one I posted or the one GGaskill has?

I got that image from the Amazon website so it must be the latest printing.

I think you can get it at just about every battle field or military museum.

This book has truly stood the test of time!

[CU_Cannon]

I have the same 1985 version GGaskill posted.  The price on the back says $4.95.  The price went up a little since the first printing.