Notes on the Interpretation of Aeroplane Photographs (3rd edition) WITH Illustrations to Accompany Notes on the Interpretation of Aeroplane Photographs, Series A ( S. S. 631. A. 1a/42982.A. ) WITH Lecture on Aerial Photography for Pilots (together 3 items)
France: Army Printing and Stationary Services (Printed in France) 1918. This archive contains three items:
1) Notes on the Interpretation of Aeroplane Photographs (3rd edition): 11 pages plus double fold-out in rear. Original blue printed wrappers, stapled. 8 1/4 x 13 inches. Dusty, rusting to staples.
2) Illustrations to Accompany Notes on the Interpretation of Aeroplane Photographs: 1 leaf (List of Plates) + 63 plates (61 are glossy photographs, Plates 2 & 3 are non-photographic). 12 1/4 x 13 3/4 inches. Drab paper boards with plain blue spine and blue/grey printed affixed title label. Photographs are marked "Photographs reproduced by No 6 Advanced Section, AP. & S. S."
3) 36, [1] typewritten sheets. "Lecture on Aerial Photography for Pilots". Tied with red ribbon. Soiled, some corrections. Very Good. Boards. [28095]
In World War I, aeroplanes, a new tool of warfare, were first used extensively to take aerial images of battlegrounds, upcoming campaign areas, and other useful intelligence sites. The natural result was a new "science" which evolved necessary to interpret these images. The armed forces created a set of standardized symbols to use on aerial photographs, noting things like Machine Guns, Trench Mortars, Concrete Structures, Wire entanglements, and other useful operation data.
This set, marked "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" could be used for training and also interpretation of photographs taken in the field. A review of OCLC/Worldcat notes only a handful of these in institutional collections, with several produced by different branches of the armed services involved in WW1. We find American, French, British, and Canadian printing of similarly titled works. Whether there are differences or not is an exercise left to the new owner.
Each plate, a silver print, highlights examples of useful features seen from the air. Concrete structures, Haystacks used as O.P.s, Types of Trench Construction, etc. Ever wonder what the intelligence servicse spent their days and nights doing? Reviewing these examples and becoming experts on helping the operational forces place and use their resources strategically.
The third item in this grouping, "Lecture on Aerial Photography for Pilots" came with this grouping and we have kept them together as a result. It references a series of slides (now long gone) and is written in the vernacular. "In concluding this lecture with these slides let us hope that the time is not far distant when the fields and woods of France may outgrow the scars of war, and once more reappear as they were. While we are hoping this may we also hope that such pictures may never be taken over American territory, a hope that is only possible of realizations, if every man does his 'damndest.'" (page 36) OCLC does not show this title in their database.
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