German Army and Navy Uniforms & Insignia 1871–1918 Reference Book

This item is identified as the reference volume “German Army and Navy Uniforms & Insignia 1871–1918” by E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, published by W.E. Inc., Old Greenwich, Connecticut. It is a postwar collector and historian reference book focused on Imperial German military uniforms, insignia, and equipment spanning the period from the founding of the German Empire through the end of the First World War.

The book is hardbound with a red cloth-covered board, featuring a bold illustrated cover depicting Imperial German helmets, enlisted figures, and heraldic imagery. The binding is intact, with moderate edge and corner wear visible, consistent with age and handling. Internally, the book contains extensive black-and-white illustrations, line drawings, and photographic plates. The images shown include detailed helmet typology plates by German state, branch, and rank, as well as uniform studies of motorized troops and aviation personnel. The pages appear clean overall, with no visible tearing, loss, or heavy staining. The rear dust jacket or cover insert advertises contemporary military reference titles published by W.E. Inc., firmly placing this book in the 1960s–1970s collector-reference era.

Historically, this volume occupies an important position in the early English-language study of Imperial German militaria. At the time of its publication, detailed German sources were difficult to access for English-speaking collectors, and works like this became foundational references. While later scholarship has expanded and refined the field, this book remains widely cited and recognizable, particularly among helmet and uniform collectors.

For collectors, this title is valued not as a modern academic work but as a classic period reference that helped shape postwar militaria collecting in the United States. It is especially desirable to helmet collectors, Pickelhaube specialists, and those assembling reference libraries associated with established collections. The visual plates remain useful for comparative study, and the book carries a strong nostalgic and historical connection to early militaria scholarship.

Condition is good. The binding is solid, with visible shelf and edge wear. The covers show light scuffing and rubbing. Interior pages appear complete and firmly bound, with no obvious missing sections or repairs noted in the images provided.