Books Incoming from eBay.

Over the years, I have found that late summer is an excellent time to pick off a few bargains from eBay.  Why does late summer yield such inexpensive treasures?  My own theory is that viewership is lowest during the dog days of August.  With less competition, bargains on some items can still be had.

What did I pick up?

First up is a copy of G.W. Jeffrey's, The Napoleonic Wargame.  This is the 1974 edition making it a contemporary to Crane's Tricolor reviewed earlier (Tricolor review).  I have read about this set of rules often but have never seen it.  Why not pick it up for a fiver and see for myself?

Second, is an Osprey on The Samurai by Bryant and McBride.  Fantastic color plates by McBride along with a handy color plate of common armor lacing styles.  Just what I need!

Third, is another Osprey on the Campaign of Naseby 1645 by Asquith and Gilder.  This is an oversize booklet by Osprey standards and contains campaign and battle details on the Naseby campaign.  Included in the centerfolds is a series of wargame photos from Peter Gilder's collection.  Very nice!  Since the booklet is headered, Osprey Wargames 1, this suggests that there may have been other booklets in this series.  If so, I have yet to see them.

Finally, is a book I have been on the lookout for for some time.  That is, Epstein's, Prince Eugene at War 1809.  The book details the activities between Prince Eugene and Archduke John during the 1809 campaign.  Having fought the Battle of Raab on gaming table twice, I have been interested in getting a good account of the battle.  My hope is that Epstein's book will offer that.  I see the book for sale infrequently and often for hefty price tags.  I picked this copy up for under $20 shipped and thought it a bargain.  A quick check of AbeBooks shows that a copy is for sale for about the same price.  Oh well.

I picked up a copy of the boardgame from S&T108, Remember the Maine!  This might be useful either as campaign aid or simply to provide historical background.  Given the scope of the game, it looks like either the land or naval campaigns can be recreated.