If you love photo-driven military history with that classic mid-century paperback feel, this 4-book Ballantine Illustrated lot is pure shelf-candy and an easy binge-read. These volumes focus on pivotal turning points—from the fall of France and the Sicily landings to brutal trench warfare and an Eastern Front campaign disaster.
Expect dense, readable narrative plus strong black-and-white photo spreads throughout (see photos). All details below are photo-verified, and the set is priced as a well-loved vintage lot.
Quick Specs
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Item Type: Vintage paperback bundle lot (4 volumes)
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Size: 9 × 6 × 0.25 in (each)
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Material: Paperbacks (card covers)
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Color: Mixed covers (cream/black; teal; light blue; blue/purple)
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Origin or Maker: Ballantine Books Inc., 101 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10003 (photo-shown in multiple volumes)
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Year or Era: 1968–1971
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GENRE: Military History (WWII & WWI)
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Language / Pages: English / avg. ~150 pages each
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Identifiers: No ISBN shown. Publisher stock/catalog numbers visible on spines: 345-02384-6, 345-02456-7, 345-01884-2,
Edition & Features
Edition/Printing:
Sicily: whose victory? — First printing May 1969 (photo-shown)
France: Summer 1940 — First printing March 1970 (photo-shown)
Carpathian disaster: death of an army — First printing September 1971 (photo-shown)
trench fighting 1914–18 — Not provided
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Dust Jacket: Not provided (paperbacks; no dust jackets shown)
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Illustrations/Maps/Plates: Photo-heavy illustrated history format (B/W photo spreads shown; a map is shown in France)
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Extras: Some volumes show a prior owner name written on the “Contents” page (looks like “Bob Scott”)
What’s Inside
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France: Summer 1940 (John Williams): A tight, dramatic account of the lightning collapse—strategy, command decisions, and the sudden unraveling that changed the war’s trajectory.
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Sicily: whose victory? (Martin Blumenson): The Allied landing told as more than a “win”—friction, logistics, German delaying tactics, and the political/military stakes behind the headlines.
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Carpathian disaster: death of an army (Geoffrey Jukes): A grim campaign narrative centered on an army pushed to its limits—weather, terrain, and planning failures turning movement into catastrophe.
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trench fighting 1914–18 (Charles Messenger): A close look at how trench war worked—weapons, tactics, and what soldiers faced in the mud-and-wire machine of WWI.
Condition Grade: Good
Notes: General vintage shelf wear across the lot (edgewear, rubbing, spine wear/creases, page toning). Trench Fighting shows water damage and cover wear (visible waviness/warping and heavier wear). A prior owner’s name appears on at least two “Contents” pages (see photos).
- See all photos for detail—sold as pictured.
Condition Grade Key
Near Fine: minimal wear; tight; clean.
Very Good: light wear; clean text; minor flaws.
Good: noticeable wear; sound reading copy; some marks.
Fair: heavy wear; complete but worn; priced accordingly.
About the Authors
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John Williams: Listed in the series bio as an English military historian who served in the Royal Artillery in WWII (photo-shown).
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Geoffrey Jukes: Listed as a specialist in Soviet affairs/military history with government and academic ties (photo-shown).
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Martin Blumenson / Charles Messenger: Not provided (bio pages not shown in photos).
If you’ve been wanting “serious history in a vintage paperback package,” this set is ready for your nightstand.
Disclaimer
The vintage items I share with you have been previously owned and loved and may show some wear. Please use the pictures as a guide.
While I do my best to capture colors accurately, your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.
Care & Handling: Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40–50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
Please note: If you have any questions or need more photos, ask.
