An authentic, 1938 dated, Pre-WW2 ARP Handbook No. 1 – Personal Protection Against Gas (2nd Edition, HMSO), issued during Britain’s growing fear of air raids and gas warfare, offering a detailed look at early civil defence planning.

Printed before the outbreak of WW2, it sets out the government’s first formal instructions on recognising different gases, using civilian respirators, basic first aid, and decontamination procedures.

A classic piece of British Home Front history, it reflects the widespread fear of chemical warfare that shaped civil defence policy throughout the late 1930s. These early editions are increasingly sought after by collectors, as they capture the development of ARP strategy before the mass-issue wartime versions were standardised in 1939.

An ideal addition for collectors of ARP, civil defence, wartime ephemera, or pre-war British history, and a tangible reminder of the preparations made on the eve of conflict.

Condition wise, it’s good. Not a single page has been dog-eared, the cover is not only intact but has no significant damage. There’s no staining and all pages are present. The only wear on it at all is on the inside of the spine. The glue holding the spine of the cover in place has failed (see photos). While no militaria collectible is in perfect condition, this one is in better condition than others we have seen.