Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Wonder Book Why & What + Our Air Force 1940 RAF Vintage Educational Lot WWII
⸻
This is a rare vintage bundle of two mid20th century educational and historical books, both published by Ward, Lock & Co., Limited. These beautifully illustrated hardcover volumes offer a snapshot of wartime and prewar knowledge aimed at children and young readers, making them highly collectible and informative for enthusiasts of RAF history and early educational publishing.
Included in this lot:
1. The Wonder Book of Why & What? (Fourteenth Edition)
2. Our Air Force (First published 1940)
⸻
Product Details:
• Publisher: Ward, Lock & Co., Limited
• Binding: Hardcover (cloth spine)
• Size: Approx. 9.5 inches tall (as measured in photos)
• Illustrated: Yes – both books contain colour and black & white illustrations
The Wonder Book of Why & What?
• Format: Educational Q&A style
• Features: 8 colour plates, over 250 illustrations
• Audience: Boys and girls – covering science, industry, mechanics, and more
Our Air Force (First Published 1940)
• Subtitled: “Over 100 Photographs of Activities and Life in the Royal Air Force”
• Features: 16 colour plates, multiple black & white photographs
• Chapters include: The R.A.F., Aerobatics, Aircraft of Today, Air Defence, In the Shops, and more
• A visual and narrative overview of RAF operations at the outbreak of WWII
⸻
Condition:
• Overall condition: Worn – Both books show significant signs of age but are intact and complete
• Covers:
• “Why & What?” – Surface wear and scratching; edge and corner wear with visible rub marks, cloth spine worn but intact.
• “Our Air Force” – Heavy wear to cover, fading, and edge damage; the spine is frayed, but the structure remains solid.
• Spines: Worn with fraying at the edges (see photos)
• Pages: Both books are complete, with agetoning and foxing consistent with age.
• “Our Air Force” has a large page tear (see photo) in the opening pages, does not affect main content.
• “Why & What?” pages remain fairly tight and clean, with bright fullcolour plates.
These books are readable, displayworthy, and valuable for historical or educational reference, despite their condition.
⸻
About the Books:
• Our Air Force (1940) was released at the height of WWII, aiming to inform the British public—especially the youth—about the heroic roles of RAF pilots and staff. It includes stunning visuals and photographs showing aircraft, military exercises, and training. It serves as both a propaganda piece and a record of Britain’s wartime air effort.
• The Wonder Book of Why & What? was part of a classic British tradition of encyclopedicstyle educational books for children, using illustrations and simple explanations to teach about science, technology, nature, and the modern world of the early 20th century. Aimed at curious young minds, it tackled big questions in an engaging and accessible format.
⸻
Why Buy This Set?
• Fascinating insight into WWII aviation and British educational publishing
• A great reference collection for teachers, RAF historians, or collectors
• Displayworthy vintage art and typography
• Authentic period material from pre and early WWII Britain
⸻
Please review all photos carefully for condition. These books are sold asis and will be securely packaged for safe delivery.
