I think we all expected something special with this book and it has certainly lived up to expectations. In fact it’s ‘set the bar’ at a new height for badge books. Quality specialist books on British Insignia are few and far between, I’m thinking of Linaker and Dyne, with Cavalry Arm Badges, Edwards and Langley with British Army Proficiency Badges, and Churchill with The History of the British Infantry Collar Badge. It is with these publications we can now add Anodised Aluminium; the ‘No Bull’ Cap Badge of the British Army by Chris Marsh. In fact I would go a little further with this new publication and say it’s the best specialist title yet produced because of its considerable scope.
The book itself is of the highest quality; binding, paper, text and illustration. Anyone that has tried to take a photograph of an anodised aluminium cap badge will know just how difficult it is the get a ‘life-like’ image. I've personally been taking photographs of badges and medals for the past decade, and most of the time anodised badges have defeated me. We therefore have to tip our hats to the author for the quality and consistency of the photographs in this publication.
The erudition and meticulous research that has gone into the book is astounding. It obviously represents a vast amount of time spent in the archives with the original contemporary documentation. This is presented in the book in a clear and understandable fashion, obviously written by a passionate collector for collectors. The book answers the questions many have had on anodised aluminium cap badges, and even some questions we never thought to ask! All in all it is the definitive work on the subject, and will be for decades to come.
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