Penguin First Editions :: Early First Edition Penguin Books

Penguin collectors might be forgiven for being confused by a series of Penguin books which bears the pre-fix 'S', but are not the series of Specials developed for topical interest on contemporary political and social issues which began with 'S1' Germany Puts the Clock Back by Edgar Mowrer, issued in November 1937. So what are they?

In short - these are American Specials. Soon after the United States entered the Second World War, Penguin Books (which had established a base in New York in August 1940) began production of their own 'Penguin Specials'. At first the titles were taken from books already published in Britain, but the majority came from a joint project with an existing magazine Infantry Journal. Penguin was able to persuade the journal to supply them with the necessary paper (something difficult after the outbreak of war and the onset of rationing) on the basis that Penguin would publish books in support of the War effort. These books were jointly branded with the 'Penguin' logo and the Infantry Journal emblem of an American GI with his rifle slung over his shoulder. Thus was born the FIGHTING FORCES - PENGUIN SPECIALS.

The focus of the series, with their cover illustrations, was very much a practical approach. These were considered handbooks for those who wanted to improve their fighting and winning approaches.

Note: We acknowledge the inclusion of images of Infantry Journal - Penguin Books from the web-site www.coverbrowser.com - however these images have a lower resolution - and are included for completeness. Where images are photographed by us from the original - additional entry details are given and the image quality provided is standard.

Information and cover photographs of Fighting Forces: Penguin Specials Series:

Number: S75	Series No.: S75 Title: NEW WAYS OF WAR Author: Tom Wintringham Date Published: This book was first published by Penguin in Britain as 'S75' in August 1940
Number: S81	Series No.: S81 Title: RUSSIA Author: Bernard Pares Date Published: January 1941; the Fighting Forces in April 1944 Pages: 282pp. Price: 25¢ This book was first published by Penguin in Britain as 'S81' in January 1941 The second image shows the Fighting Forces Penguin Special Format
Number: S82	Series No.: S82 Title: AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION Author: R. A. Saville-Sneath Date Published: October 1941 Printer: Robert Teller Sons and Dormer, New York Price: 25¢ This book was first published by Penguin in Britain as 'S82' in February 1941. The second image is of a May 1943 reprint, with 256 pages. Second image courtesy of Andrew Malin
Number: S201	Series No.: S201 Title: WHAT'S THAT PLANE Author: Walter B. Pitkin, Jr Date Published: 1942
Number: S202	Series No.: S202 Title: NEW SOLDIER'S HANDBOOK Author: an official publication Date Published: 1942 Pages: 280pp. Printer: Garrett and Massie, Richmond V.A. Price: 25¢ The first two images show the Penguin publication, the third the joint Penguin-Infantry Journal printing. The second image is of the back page and advertises 'Flight to Victory'. First two images courtesy of Andrew Malin
Number: S203	Series No.: S203 Title: GUERRILLA WARFARE Author: Bert 'Yank' Levy Introduction: by Tom Wintringham Date Published: 1942 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain as 'S102' in January 1942
Number: S204	Series No.: S204 Title: HOW THE JAP ARMY FIGHTS Author: Four US Army Officers (Lt. Col. Paul W Thompson, Lt. Col. Harold Doud; Lieut. John Scofield, and Col. Milton A. Hill Cover illustration: by Illustrations: 18 pages of black and white photographs Date Published: June 1942 Pages: 170pp. + 18pp. Printer: H. Wolff Price: 25¢
Number: S206	Series No.: S206 Title: HOW RUSSIA PREPARED Author: Maurice Edelman Date Published: 1942 This book was first published by Penguin in Britain as 'S110' in March 1942
Number: S207	Series No.: S207 Title: CHRISTIANITY AND SOCIAL ORDER Author: William Temple Date Published: August 1942 by Penguin Books Inc., New York Pages: 96pp. Printer: Robert Teller Sons and Dorner Price: 25¢ This book was first published by Penguin in Britain as 'S104' in February 1942
Number: S209	Series No.: S209 Title: AMERICANS vs GERMANS Author: individual battle experiences Date Published: September 1942 by the Infantry Journal Pages: 192pp. Printer: H. Wolff Price: 25¢ This book was first published by Penguin in Britain as 'S110' in March 1942 The second image shows the Fighting Forces Penguin Special Format
Number: S210	Series No.: S210 Title: MODERN BATTLE Author: Paul W. Thompson Date Published: October 1942 Pages: 254pp. Printer: H. Wolff Inc Price: 25¢ Second cover image from later in 1942. This book was also published by Penguin in Britain as 'S113' in July 1942 Second image courtesy of Adrian King
Number: S211	Series No.: S211 Title: THE GOOD SOLDIER SCHWEIK Author: Jaroslav Hasek Translated: by Paul Selver Illustrated: by Joseph Lada Date Published: December 1942 Pages: 254pp. Printer: H. Wolff Price: 25¢ This book was first published by Penguin in Britain as 'S37' in October 1939
Number: S212	Series No.: S212 Title: PSYCHOLOGY FOR THE FIGHTING MAN Author:prepared for the Fighting Man Himself by a Committee of the National Research Council Date Published: July 1943 Pages: 456pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S213	Series No.: S213 Title: EMPIRE IN THE CHANGING WORLD Author: W. K. Hancock Date Published: August 1943; Fighting Forces in November 1943 Printer: Stratford Press Inc Price: 25¢
Number: S214	Series No.: S214 Title: HITLER'S SECOND ARMY Author: Alfred Vagts Date Published: 1943 Price: 25¢
Number: S215	Series No.: S215 Title: HANDBOOK FOR ARMY WIVES AND MOTHERS Author: Catherine Redmond Date Published: 1943 Price: 25¢
Number: S216	Series No.: S216 Title: A HISTORY OF THE WAR Author: Rudolf Modley Date Published: November 1943 Pages: 184pp. Price: 25¢ Two cover designs for this book. The third image shows detail of the back cover. Second and third images courtesy of Andrew Malin
Number: S217	Series No.: S217 Title: THE NEXT GERMANY Author: Date Published: November 1943 Printer: Stratford Press Inc., New York Price: 25¢
Number: S218	Series No.: S218 Title: SHIPYARD DIARY OF A WOMAN WELDER Author: Augusta H. Clawson Date Published: 1943 Price: 25¢
Number: S219	Series No.: S219 Title: THE MOON IS DOWN Author: John Steinbeck Date Published: November 1943 Pages: 122pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S220	Series No.: S220 Title: GUADALCANAL DIARY Author: Richard Tregaskis Date Published: September 1943 Pages: 218pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S221	Series No.: S221 Title: THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO Author: Captain Ted W. Lawson Date Published: March 1944 Pages: 184pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S222	Series No.: S222 Title: THE BRITISH NAVY'S AIR ARM Author: Owen Rutter Date Published: 1944 Pages: 248pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S223	Series No.: S223 Title: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE Author: William L. White Date Published: May 1944 Pages: 122pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S224	Series No.: S224 Title: A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ARMY AND NAVY Author: Fletcher Pratt Illustration: with 24 maps Date Published: March 1944 Pages: 262pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S225	Series No.: S225 Title: GI SKETCH BOOK Author: Aimee Crane Design: by Ernst Reichl Date Published: July 1944 Pages: 136pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S226	Series No.: S226 Title: THE BATTLE IS THE PAY-OFF Author: Major Ralph Ingersoll Cover illustration: by John Rogers Date Published: July 1944 Pages: 182pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S227	Series No.: S227 Title: THIS IS THE NAVY Edited: by Gilbert Cant Date Published: August 1944 Pages: 220pp. Price: 25¢ Printed again as 'S239'
Number: S229	Series No.: S229 Title: PSYCHOLOGY FOR THE RETURNING SERVICEMAN Author: Marjorie van de Water Date Published: February 1945 Pages: 244pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S230	Series No.: S230 Title: I KNEW YOUR SOLDIER Author: Eleanor "Bumpy" Stevenson and Pete Martin Date Published: February 1945 Pages: 250pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S231	Series No.: S231 Title: CARTOONS FOR FIGHTERS Author: Frank Brandt Date Published: 1945 Price: 25¢ Image of Infantry Journal print without 'Penguin' logo
Number: S233	Series No.: S233 Title: SOLDIER ART Illustration: includes 8 pages of colour prints Date Published: 1945 Pages: 200pp. Price: Image of Infantry Journal print without 'Penguin' logo
Number: S237	Series No.: S237 Title: PIPELINE TO BATTLE Author: Peter W. Rainier Date Published: August 1944 Pages: 310pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S238	Series No.: S238 Title: STORM (A Novel) Author: George R. Stewart Cover design: by H. Lawrence Hoffman Date Published: June 1945 Pages: 310pp. Price: 25¢
Number: S239	Series No.: S239 Title: THIS IS THE NAVY (An Anthology) Edited: by Gilbert Cant Date Published: August 1944 Pages: 220pp. Price: 25¢ Previously issued as S227
Number: S240	Series No.: S240 Title: ISLAND VICTORY Author: S. L. A. Marshall Date Published: 1945 Price: 25¢
Number: 516	Series No.: 516 Title: GENGHIS KHAN Author: Harold Lamb Date Published: first issued in December 1942 in the main Penguin Books (New York) series Price: 25¢ This is a reprint from the main Penguin Books (New York) series, published as No. USA-516
Number: S602	Series No.: 602 Title: THE NEW VETERAN - Citizens First, Veterans Second Author: Charles G Bolte Date Published: July 1946 Price: Published as a Penguin Special

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