Antique Books and Documents of the Great War (1914-1918)

Regimental histories

In the aftermath of the war, most regiments commissioned their own histories: a few dozen pages, sometimes more, recounting the unit’s movements, battles, citations, and sometimes lists of the dead. Printed in small runs, often by local printers, they were intended for veterans and families.

Today, these are documents sought after by genealogists and descendants, who trace the steps of an ancestor whose regiment they know from his enlistment record. Infantry, artillery, territorial: each branch has its enthusiasts, and a complete copy—with its cover, maps, and photographs—is worth significantly more than an incomplete one.

Diaries, memoirs, and testimonies

The war inspired a vast array of testimonies, published during the conflict under censorship, then in the interwar period, and much later when families had diaries kept in a drawer published. Abel Ferry’s Carnets secrets (Secret Diaries), a deputy and officer who died of his wounds in 1918, offer a view of the war both from the front and the corridors of power.

The writers also took up their pens: Maurice Barrès in the chronicles of L'Âme française et la guerre, Anatole France, Pierre de Nolhac in his Vers pour la Patrie, Rudyard Kipling on naval warfare. Biographies written in the heat of the moment, such as Henry Bordeaux’s Vie héroïque de Guynemer, reveal much about the spirit of the age.

Periodicals, Drawings and Posters

Satirical and illustrated journals, albums of patriotic images, posters for war loans: the image played a major role in rallying public opinion, both at the front and behind the lines. Drawings made in the trenches by the soldiers themselves are rarer and more moving, as each sheet is unique.

Postcards, Autographs and Memorabilia

The postcard was at its peak. Soldiers wrote to their loved ones daily, often using free military postage, while publishers photographed garrison towns, railway stations, hospitals and ruins. A card’s value lies in the rarity of the view, the liveliness of the scene, and increasingly, in the correspondence it carries.

Letters and autographed cards from military leaders, announcements and official documents complete the collection. These items should be stored flat, away from light, in neutral sleeves.

Buying and Preservation Advice

• Wartime paper, often of poor quality, yellows and becomes brittle: store these volumes upright, away from light and moisture.
• Check for the presence of maps, plates and photographs as listed: an incomplete historical work or illustrated volume loses much of its value.
• A presentation copy, a known provenance or annotations by a veteran add interest—and often value.
• Prices range from a few euros for a common postcard to several hundred euros for an original drawing or a sought-after illustrated publication: condition, edition and provenance determine the price.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I trace the history of an ancestor’s regiment?

First, find the regiment number on his conscription record, available online via the departmental archives of his place of registration. Then check whether we have the printed history of that regiment in the list above, or contact us: new copies arrive regularly. Many histories are also available on Gallica, the BnF’s digital library.

What is the value of Great War postcards?

Most common cards sell for a few euros. Rare views of small localities, lively scenes, photographic cards and interesting soldier correspondence command higher prices. Each card in our list is photographed and described.

Do you buy books and memorabilia from 1914–1918?

Yes. The bookseller purchases libraries and collections of antiquarian books in Paris and throughout France. Appraisal is free of charge, based on simple photographs, via our Sell and appraise your books page.### Do you deliver before Christmas?Delivery is free within metropolitan France, and orders are dispatched within 24 to 48 hours with tracking. For delivery before Christmas, order no later than 22 December for France, 20 December for the rest of the European Union, and 17 December for overseas territories and the rest of the world.## To go further

• History section
• Napoleon and militaria section
• Antique postcards section
• Preserving an antique book: humidity, light, temperature
• Autograph letter: recognising and valuing a dedication
• Get a free appraisal of your books and documents