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"OSS Weapons" - 1994 | Written by Dr. John Brunner, this comprehensive book on OSS weapons has the following entry - "This new book is the result of exhaustive research in the recently declassified files of the "Office of Strategic Services". For the first time, a wealth of information on the weapons actually developed and used by that agency is now available to the public - from silenced weapons to explosive devices. Even some information withheld by the CIA is included here due to the diligent efforts of the author, himself a member of the OSS in the CBI and later an agent in the Far East. This hardbound volume is filled with high quality photos of all devices. This edition puts to rest once and for all the myths and misconceptions of what weapons and devices this secret agency actually used. It is both a personal and scholarly book, and will stand as the definitive work on the subject. | |
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"Picks, Clicks, Flaps and Seals" - 1944 |
Written by George Gardner, this comprehensive well-illustrated book containing 118 pagse covers the following topics:
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"The Microdot: History and Application" - 1992 |
Written by Dr. William White, this comprehensive 152-page book on microdots has the following on the back of the
dust jacket: "The Microdot: History and Application" is the first authoritative review of the entire development of the technique of reducing text and images by photographic and electrographic techniques until they are invisible to the unaided eye. Both famous and notorious for its use in espionage adn clandestine operations for decades, microdots have become part of the genre of spy fiction and fact. The intelligence agencies of the world have vied with each other to confuse and disinform the public about the origins and techniques of microdots. However, the truth is, that long and careful development by researchers in a number of countries over more than a century, made the microdot practical for both military and industrial purposes. The microdot technique has played a key role in many conflicts, from the Franco-Prussian War to the Cold War. Among the cast of characters who were involved with the microdot were such famous names as: Admiral Wilhem Canaris, the Director of Hitler's Abwehr, William Stephenson, "the man called Intrepid", J. Edgar Hoover, President Vargas of Brazil, Winston Churchill, Niels Bohr, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist, the enigmatic Russian-German-Israeli, Emmanuel Goldberg, and a long line of spies, thieves, starlets, harlots and miscellaneous scoundrels from many nations. But in the 1990's the microdot has been combined with the computer to open up a whole new potential for covert information and communication." |
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"Secret Agent's Handbook" - The WWII Spy Manual of Devices, Disguises, Gadgets, and Concealed Weapons - 2001 | With introduction by Mark Seaman and published in 2001, this comprehensive book covering clandestine equipment especially that used by the S.O.E. (Strategic Operations Executive) during the Second World War. Here is part of the flap write-up - "Have you ever fantasized about what it would be like to be a secret agent? A super-spy? To have at your disposal the wild gadgets seen movies like Mission Impossible and in the James Bond series? ... This intriguing collection includeds the equipment that secret agents used - such wild devices as exploding rats and Chianti bottles, shoes that leave barefoot prints, incendiary briefcases and cigarettes - as well as the deadliest of weapons. Each item is featured with a photograph or illustration and is described in detail. Also included are full instructions for use and information as to how they were utilized on real-life spy missions. | |
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"Armement Clandestin - S.O.E. 1941-1944 France - 1972. |
Publié en 1972 et écrit par Pierre Lorain, ce livre inclut le passage suivant:
"... Vous venez de feuilletez ce livre et sans doute avez-vous été surpris du fait qu'il ne ressemble à aucun autre : il a été réalisé dans le seul but d'apporter une contribution à la recherche historique pure. Il est une exploration archéologique dans un univers inconnu. C'est pourquoi vous ne trouverez dans aucun autre ouvrage français ou étranger l'ensemble des informations qu'il renferme. C'est pourquoi, à la place de la photographie imprécise et superficielle, nous avons choisi le dessin qui apporte avec toute sa rigueur la connaissance intime de l'objet. ..." |
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"Clandestine Operations - The Arms and Techniques of the Resistance, 1941-1944" - France. |
Published by Macmillan and adapted in 1983 by David Kahn from the book "Armement Clandestin" (featured above)
originally written by Pierre Lorain in 1972, this book has the following written on its
dust jacket flaps:
"In the dark days before the Allied invasion of northern Europe in 1944, one group of people kept the spirit of independence and the hope of the freedom alive in occupied France - the Resistance. Lonely, tired, unable to trust friends or relatives, the members of the French underground relied on their wits and their precious links with beleaguered England to sabotage German operations and transmite German intelligence to the Allies. Here, at last, is a book that tells not only how the Resistance worked - who was in charge of what and how the Free French worked with the British military intelligence - but also shows, in accurate and elegant detail, the weapons of the Resistance and how they were used. Pierre Lorain explains how the Resistance made contact with England and what procedures were taken to elude detection while sending or receiving messages. Lorain assesses the advantages and drawbacks of the various radio sets, delineating, with tension-producing clarity, the process by which German operatives could locate a radio source - and what could happen to the operator if they did. A separate chapter is devoted to the various codes and ciphers such as Delastelle and Playfair, usd by the Resistance. David Kahn, who is responsible for this English adaptation and is the author of the critically acclaimed The Codebreakers, calls this section of the book 'remarkably precise'. From the arcana of ciphers, Lorain proceeds to the nuts and bolts of clandestine operations: the various planes used to deliver weapons and messages; the ingenious containers for explosives and radio equipment; the pistols and revolvers, Stens, Brens, Tommy Guns, and pistol pens and lapel knives that were the standard gear of the Resistance fighters. All are pictured in precise detail. While descriptions of hardware and technique form the core of the book, Lorain nevers loses sight of the brave, sometimes foolhardy, peopled involved, giving a human touch to the spying methods of the Resistance. The result will prove irresistible to armchair operatives and history buffs alike." |
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"Wireless for the Warrior - Volume 4 - Clandestine Radio" - 1991. | Authored by Louis Meulstee in 2004, this comprehensive book covering clandestine radios was published by Wimborne Publishing and is well documented with technical specifications and history. The main categories covered include i) Radio Transmitters and Receivers (the main category), ii) RDF Equipment and Intercept Sets, iii) Power Generators, iv) High Speed Keyers, and v) Special Equipment. It contains a foreword by Geoff Arnold. It covers sets from several countries with most notables being the U.K., U.S., Poland, Germany and the U.S.S.R. amongst others. Unfortunately, the pages in this book are not numbered. | Related website: |
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"Ultra-miniature Photography" - 1958. |
Authored by Dr. Joseph D. Cooper (same author as the Microdot book above), this 160-page book covers the following:
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"Subminiature Photography" - 1990. |
Authored by Dr. William White (same author as the Microdot book above), this comprehensive book covers the following based on the back cover:
Subminiature Photography is the story of a special branch of photography often shrouded in mystery and secrecy. It contains previously unreleased information from military and international security organizations on surveillance techniques employing the subminiature camera. International in scope, Subminiature Photography offers an important addition to the library of the collector and the practicing professional photographer alike. Covering the many dimensions of subminiature photography since its introduction some 150 years ago, the book provides an authoritative and comprehensive overview, traces the history, discusses past and present uses, and explains in detail various modifications of the subminiature camera for a variety of purposes. Extensive illustrations provide a fascinating visual history of this specialized but very significant branch of photography. Detailed descriptions of the basic features of subminiature cameras outline their case and use. William White, Ph.D., is a recognized historical scholar specializing in the history of technology. He has written regular colums on subminiature photography and technology and trends in image processing and electronic printing for a number of years. He is the author of over 35 books, including Photomacrography. |
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"The Ultimate Spy Book" (Expanded Version) - 2002. | Expanded edition by Keith Melton in 2002, this book was published by DK Publishing and is heavily illustrated throughout its 208 pages. It contains a foreword by Richard Helms and Markus Wolf. Much like its predecessor 1996 publication, it covers more extensively various portions of spycraft related to clandestine communications, counterintelligence, cameras, concealments, famous spy events and operations, etc. | Site web d'intérêt: |
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"The Ultimate Spy Book" - 1996. | Authored by Keith Melton in 1996, this book was published by DK Publishing and is heavily illustrated throughout its 176 pages. It contains a foreword by William E. Colby and Oleg Kalugin. It covers various portions of spycraft related to clandestine communications, counterintelligence, cameras, concealments, famous spy events and operations, etc. | Related website: |
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"Le Parfait Espion" - 1997. | Avec Keith Melton comme auteur, "Le Parfait Espion" fut publié en 1997 par Libre Expression et inclut nombreuses photos parmi ses 174 pages. On y retrouve des préfaces par William E. Colby et Oleg Kalugin. Ce livre couvre les armes, le contre-espionnage, transmissions secrètes, matériel et technique, guerre froide et missions célèbres. | Related website: |
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"CIA Special Weapons & Equipment" - 1993. | Authored by Keith Melton in 1993, this 128-page book was published by Sterling Publishing and is heavily illustrated. It contains a foreword by Richard Helms. It covers various portions of the Cold War in particular clandestine communications, counterintelligence, cameras, and concealments. | Related website: |
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"Clandestine Warfare - Weapons and Equipment of the SOE and OSS" - 1988. | Authored by James Ladd and Keith Melton in 1988, this 159-page book was published by Guild Publishing and is heavily illustrated. It contains a foreword by William Colby. It covers various spy devices from WW-II as used by the SOE (Strategic Operations Executive) and OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in particular clandestine communications, weapons, counterintelligence, and concealments. | Related website: |
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"OSS Special Weapons and Equipment - Spy Devices of WWII" - 1991. | Authored by James Ladd and Keith Melton in 1991, this 128-page book was published by Sterling Publishing and is well illustrated. It contains a foreword by William Colby. It covers various spy devices from WW-II as used by the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in particular clandestine communications, weapons, counterintelligence, and concealments. | Related website: |
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"The Incredible World of Spy-Fi" - 2004. | Written by Danny Biederman, this 159-page book was published by Chronicle Books and is well illustrated. It has the following entry - "Here, for the very first time, Biederman profiles over 200 of his coolest, most captivating gadgets and images, offering juicy trivia and insider stories on each piece. Featuring sections on James Bond, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Get Smart, The Wild Wild West, Mission: Impossible, Alias, and more. The Incredible World of Spy-Fi is positively overflowing with insight and intrigue. With a foreword by Robert W. Wallace, former director of the CIA division that creates real spy gadgets for intelligence operatives to use in the field today, this is the definitive book on the golden age of spies." | |
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"Spy Cameras - A Century of Detective and Subminiature Cameras - 1993. | Written by Michael Pritchard and Douglas St. Denny, this book contains 198 pages and is well illustrated. It has the following entry - "The fall of the Berlin Wall led to an increased fascination with spies and espionage in general. The 1989 150th anniversary of photography generated a tremendous interest in cameras. Each event comes together in this book, which celebrates a unique auction of spy cameras held at Christie's in London on 9th December 1991." | |
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"Les Appareils Photographiques d'Espionnage - 1978. | Publié en 1978 et écrit par Michel Auer et Eaton S. Lothrop, ce livre inclut le passage suivant - "... Comme il est surprenant de voir le nombre et la diversité des appareils de ce type réalisés depuis leur origine, il y a 120 ans! Spécialiament conçus pour ressembler extérieurement à n'importe quel objet d'usage courant, toujours prêts à l'emploi, fixant sur le vif, en un "instantané" le mouvement ou le repos, ces appareils représentent une véritable révolution dans l'histoire de la photographie. Ils témoignent en effet non seulement de l'ingéniosité débordante de leurs inventeurs mais aussi de progrès techniques incessants ..." | |
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"L'Oeil Espion" - Appareils photographiques d'espionnage et miniatures - Octobre 2002. | Publié en 2001 et écrit par Patrick Ghnassia, ce livre inclut le passage suivant - "Prendre des photos sans que le sujet s'en doute est une variante qui est pratiquement aussi agée que la photographie elle-même ... Il suffit de regarder ces gravures datant de la fin du 19ième siècle : un homme semble absorbé par la contemplation d'un voilier au loin, mais ses jumelles dissimulent un appareil photo qui "tire dans le coin" et photographie les jolies baigneuses sur le côté. C'est le début de la dissimulation des mécanismes et surfaces sensibles, à l'intérieur de presque n'importe quel objet usuel: chapeau, cravate, veston, montre, canne, briquet, boîte d'allumettes, cigarettes, jumelles, longue-vue, livre, stylo, radio, revolver, sac, valise, etc... Ce livre vous propose une promenade à travers les créations délirantes de la photographie en douce, depuis le temps du gélatino-bromure d'argent jusqu'aux mini capteurs numériques." | |
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"Die Geheimkameras" - German book on Spy Cameras - 1978. | Written by Michel Auer and Eaton S. Lothrop jr, this German book on spy cameras has the following entry - "... Die Geschichte der Geheimkameras gibt gleichzeitig einen tiefen Eingblick in die Gesellsschaftsformen ihrer Zeit. Es ist die Zeit des heimlichen Beobachtens und unaufdringlich scheinenden Beobachters. Es war nicht schnicklich, offen seine Absichten zu zeigen. Da baute man Kameras in Hüte, Spazierstöcke oder auch Krawattennadeln ein, um "heimlich" ein Bild der Angebeteten aufnehmen zu können. Da schaute man mit vermeintlichen Ferngläsern in "falsche" Richtungen, um im Winkel von 90 Grad "um die Ecke" zue fotografieren, weil anders kein Foto "ohne Belästigung" hätte aufgenommen werden können ..." |