[WWI] Book for Collection

[Robert Karr]

<<Does anyone know if the book EISERNES KRUEUZ UND BALKEN KREUZ  is worth
adding to my collection?>>

It's what might be called a flawed classic. I pre-pub ordered it when I was 
kid using my first paycheck from my first job, but there were delays in its 
release and the pre-publication orders were refunded. It took me another 35+ 
years to find a copy that didn't cost both legs and an arm and half. I'm 
glad I have it, but much of the information is long outdated, yet there's a 
nice, concise history of the German air service, and also the naval flying 
forces. There's pretty good chronology of when units were formed, and where 
there were. The photos are all over the place when it comes to rarity or 
quality. Some pics are heavily retouched and have since appeared in their 
original state. But there's other photos that are not seen very often. 
Nowarra was working with what he had available in the mid-60s in his own 
massive collection. Some of his color ideas are really off the mark, and the 
color info may be what really dates the book since so much work has been 
done since. The illustrations are pretty, but you have to be 
careful.....then again, I've wondered if some of his thoughts may turn out 
to be correct afterall.
It's a slim little159 pages, but really quite meaty. And- it's a pretty 
book, even an inspirational book.  Plus it smells good and feels good.
As I said, I'm glad I have it, but I'm also glad I didn't pay a hundred 
bucks for it.
RK
www.karrart.com