Military Engineering Volume III—Part II Pamphlet No. 12: Bailey Bridge, The War Office

£149.95

Military Engineering Volume III—Part II Pamphlet No. 12: Bailey Bridge, The War Office

Name: Military Engineering Volume III—Part II Pamphlet No. 12: Bailey Bridge, The War Office
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5087
Price: 149.95 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Military Engineering Volume III—Part II Pamphlet No. 12: Bailey Bridge, The War Office — First Edition

Publication: London, The War Office, 1942

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [ii], 50, plus 6 photographic plates and 17 folding plans.

Condition Report: Very Good. The pamphlet remains in structurally sound and highly presentable condition for a fragile wartime publication. The original buff paper wrappers are clean, exhibiting only minor edge-wear and light, natural curling to the extremities. The original staple binding remains firm, showing only faint rust spotting that has barely transferred to the surrounding paper. Internally, the text block is tightly bound and impressively bright, with no significant toning, foxing, or tears. The numerous folding plates and tables are carefully folded and preserved without prominent miscreasing. A highly legible contemporary officer's signature and designation ("2/4 R.E.") are penned to the front cover, adding a touch of authentic character to the piece.

Catalogue Note: This exceedingly scarce pamphlet stands as one of the earliest official military publications concerning the revolutionary Bailey Bridge, issued in August 1942. Released just months after the bridge's initial prototyping in 1941, it bears the strict "Not To Be Published" restriction typical of sensitive wartime instructional material.

Unlike the more common 1944 (Part III) issues or post-war reprints, this 1942 first edition offers a foundational glimpse into the early operational deployment of Donald Bailey's modular engineering marvel, complete with extensive launching data and intricate fold-out assembly plans.

The front wrapper features a contemporary ink signature indicating its original issue to an officer of the Royal Engineers, the very units responsible for deploying these vital bridges across the theatres of war. Original, surviving examples of this inaugural 1942 manual are remarkably rare on the open market, as they were frequently destroyed, superseded by later iterations, or heavily degraded through active field use.

Issued at the height of the Second World War, this restricted 1942 War Office manual provides a comprehensive, ground-level guide to the components, erection, and launching of the legendary Bailey Bridge. Designed for the Royal Engineers deploying to combat zones, the pamphlet is rich with detailed fold-out schematics, logistical tables, and step-by-step instructions for assembling one of the most vital engineering innovations of the 20th century. For historians, engineers, and militaria collectors alike, it offers an unparalleled primary source perspective on the portable bridge that fundamentally transformed Allied mobility and strategy.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: The War Office

Book Publisher: The War Office

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Military

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 52

Book Publication Year: 1942

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Softcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Military Engineering

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.

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