Recently reprinted by Ken Trotman Ltd. http://www.kentrotman.com

Rapiers: an illustrated reference guide to the rapiers of the 16th and 17th centuries and their companions "Facsimile of 1968 HB edn. 74pp, nearly 60 photos. PB 2004. In response to the demand for copies of this study, we are pleased to offer a llimited edition reprint in paperback. £15.00."

The catalogue number at that time was M059.

Usual disclaimer applies: I'm not associated with this company except as a customer, but having seen how original editions are priced (I was lucky to get mine for only £22.00, not in the best condition) I thought this information should be passed on. Quality is likely to be good; their limited edition reprint of Laking's Record of European Armour and Arms is excellent .

I've always found that Web site a chore to browse. Where are the reprints?

Searching the site for "rapier" produces nothing.

Nathan -

Ouch! You're not kidding about navigating the website!

I see also that it only refers to the most current catalogue - I suppose the printed version is taken directly from the site. When writing my initial post, I was actually referring to a couple of paper catalogues. The best thing to do, for anyone interested, would be to email Trotmans: orders@kentrotman.com, and ask for information.

The necessary details for an enquiry about the Valentine book are as follows:

Title: Rapiers: an illustrated reference guide to the rapiers of the 16th and 17th centuries and their companions
Price: £15.00 (NB that this doesn't include shipping.)
Cat. No. M059.
Catalogue: Grant

(The current catalogue is "Hawkwood"; "Grant" is the one immediately before that.)

Buying anything puts you on a catalogue mailing list for about a year (renewed with each subsequent purchase - basically if they haven't heard from you in 12-14 months, no more free catalogues; makes sense to me) and there seem to be about 4-6 catalogues in any given calendar year, alternating between New/Forthcoming and Fine/Rare (used, in other words). I've seldom been unable to find something to buy, in order to keep them coming (hence my ignorance of the Byzantine nature of the website!)

The only drawback I've found is that a Fine/Rare book can be nabbed by someone who gets their catalogue before me - this may be a result of alphabetical order, catalogue delivery time, or whatever (people in England would certainly get their catalogues sooner than those in Ireland, who would get them sooner than those in the US/Canada etc.). It's a small frustration, and hasn't been too annoying; I missed a copy of Norman's Rapier and Smallsword, but got a better copy (with dust-jacket) a couple of catalogues later; this may have been luck, or because my name was on a list of potential customers for that title.

Anyway, I hope this provides a bit of useful information to those who, like yourself, have looked over the website and run away!

Peter, thanks for the head's up. I really want this info brought to the attention of the member's of this site. Being a book fanatic, I'm always hunting for something new. Strange, I haven't purchased from Ken Trotman Ltd. yet: not because I haven't found things I want, but because I've managed to find an easier source (for me in the US) or a better price elsewhere. Now that I'm looking again at their on-line catalog, I certainly see a few things calling out to me.

I suspected you were referring to the Valentine book, but wasn't absolutely sure without an author credit in your first post. I'm lucky to have a couple copies already, and will be placing one for sale soon on this site I think. I'm glad to see a re-print of it, as the original's price is probably much higher than all but the most fanatic of book collectors would find appropriate.

I agree with Peter. Although it's small this book is a grest resource. Many of the rapiers pictured aren't found in any other book.