1940s/1950s World War II History or Encyclopedia set?

[FedoraFan112390]

My mother recalls growing up that her father (a WWII vet) had a large, multi-volume set of WWII history or encyclopedia books. They had red and blue or red and black covers or bindings--they were all of the same series of histories. Produced sometime between the 1940s and early 1960s. My grandma threw them out at a later point.

I think they're the set of books on the second shelf of the bookshelf in the following pics. Anyone want to help me find out what series they exactly were? Would be interesting to know what Grandpa wanted to know about the war he'd fought in.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

I see those books from time to time, I believe they were published by the VFW.

 

[Marlin Fan]

Can you tell us more about the books? Were they primarily made up of photos? My parents threw away a set of books like I described. I found the same exact set about fifteen years ago. I wish you luck my friend.

 

[FedoraFan112390]

Yes made primarily up of photos with anecdotes. They all had red covers according to my mother.

 

[Captain Nemo]

Yes made primarily up of photos with anecdotes. They all had red covers according to my mother.

I would concur with VC Brunswick in that they could be the VFW sets. They published, in blue or red cover, pictorial histories of WWII in a 4-volume and a 2 volume set, and the Korean War. If I recall rightly, the VFW also published a general American history series.

Perhaps one of the links below describes your set:

http://www.amazon.com/Veterans-Foreign-Edition-Pictorial-History/dp/B000N47VBO

http://openlibrary.org/books/OL6088239M/Pictorial_history_of_World_War_II

http://archive.org/details/pictorialhistory01vete

I hope this helps narrow your search!

 

[FedoraFan112390]

Bump....
They had red bindings and possibly red and gray on the covers. This photo taken before 1960 suggests there were 10 or more volumes in the set. They're on the second shelf on the first photo: