Australian-built Aircraft and the Industry Volume One: 1884 to 1939Book 1 and Book 2
Seymour, Victoria, Australia: Finger-Four Publishing, 2009. Two-book box set of Volume 1. Blue box with gilt lettering, blue hardcovers, spines and front covers embossed with gilt lettering. Book 1: xli, 312 pp., 28 additional leaves at end with uncommon pagination. Book 2: xiii, 314-734. Both books illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs, diagrams, documents and drawings. Book 2 has four appendices included. The top edge of Book 1's dust-jacket is very slightly worn, the box is rubbed at the top and tail ends as well as some localised areas of the front and back; overall a fine copy in a very good box. First edition. This two-book set is the first volume of a four-book, two-volume encyclopaedic compendium on every aircraft type proposed, designed or manufactured in Australia from 1884 to the 1980s. This impressive body of work has been extensively researched over the span of 50 years by aviation personality Keith Meggs, who has traversed the country numerous times to seek out hard-to-find information and images.
Volume One of Meggs' masterwork consists of two books that together cover the early pioneering years to the commencement of World War Two. Book 1 begins with Lawrence Hargrave's experiments and research into flight, follows with the early pioneers and examines aviation activity pre-, during and post-World War One. Meggs details the founding of the Royal Australian Air Force, and the development of civil aviation through the advent of LASCo, Qantas and WAA.
Book 2 focuses on individual aircraft builders from 1918 to 1939, as well as AMSCo, the MSB and Matthews Aviation. It covers the interwar years and the development of warplanes.
The comprehensive text is accompanied by a rich treasure trove of imagery, including photographs, diagrams and illustrations, that vividly evoke the periods described, providing a fitting visual contribution that serves to make this set an exceptional reference work for aviation enthusiasts. Item #4726
Book 1 has a printed dedication to Ellis D. Daw and is signed by the author.
Price (AUD): $590.00