This collection was no small feat and took me decades to put together. I recognize that there is greater value to certain serious collectors in selling as a collection given its general completeness, so I won’t sell individually, so please don’t ask. I will consider a trade for a current radio such as an IC-7300 or FT-991A.

I will sell and ship internationally to most countries.

(I also have another ARRL Handbook collection: The Second World War Years including the special military edition Handbook. Great for an amateur veteran or amateur military buff. I also have most years from 1946 to 1970 if you need just one of those.)

Serious inquiries only, please. Please direct any questions or requests to: ve3op@myrac.ca

This is an amazing, rare early edition collection of the ARRL Handbook with some of the editions in like new, never used condition (!). It is becoming much harder to find any early editions given the lower production numbers and the fact that they are starting to reach 100 years old. Let alone nearly complete sets such as this one.

I have tried to describe the condition of each edition below completely and accurately, although I don’t guarantee it. It is possible that I may have missed something.

1926 – The very first edition when the ARRL Handbook started. This is the rarest and hardest to collect because only 5,000 original copies were made. Most will have disappeared by now. The book, jacket, and binding are in Good physical condition. The pages are in Good condition, and none appear to be missing. Although there is writing on the front (the first owner’s callsign), and inside a few pages, there is some very interesting provenance writing inside including the first owner’s QSL card (Old style callsign), the first owner’s notes about the equipment he was using back then (including spark transmitters) and subsequent owners signing it in turn, over a span of 70 years. (I have not signed it but will for completeness if the successful buyer wishes).

1926 (ARRL Reprint) – in excellent As New condition. This allows you to see what the original edition looked like when it was first printed. Even those in existence of this one are not in this excellent condition.

1927 – The book, jacket, and binding are in Good physical condition. There are a couple of old tape marks on the binding and front edges. The pages are in good condition, and none appear to be missing. There appears to be no writing in or on the book, except for “1927” handwritten on the front.

1929 – The book, jacket, and binding are in Good physical condition. The book has separated from the jacket but could be easily re-glued by a bookbinder. The pages are in good condition, and none appear to be missing. There appears to be no writing in or on the book.

1930 (Soft Copy) – A very rare, As New, unused, unread, clean, and flawless copy of the book. I bought this from the ARRL itself many years ago (and have the provenance to prove it). I don’t believe anyone used this before the ARRL finally sold it to me as the first customer. It must have been stashed away in a print shop closet for many decades. Therefore, this is likely one of the best-condition 1930 editions in existence. The book, jacket, and binding are in like new excellent physical condition. There is a slight yellowing of the edge of the pages (like most of them). There appears to be no writing in or on the book.

1930 (Hard Copy) – A very rare, Fine, copy of the book. It is very hard to find early hard copies, let alone one in this amazing condition. Therefore, this is likely one of the best-condition 1930 hard-copy editions in existence. The book, jacket, and binding are in like new excellent physical condition. There appears to be no writing in or on the book.

1931 – A very rare, As New, unused, unread, clean, and flawless copy of the book. I also bought this from the ARRL itself many years ago (and have the provenance to prove it). I don’t believe anyone used this before the ARRL finally sold it to me as the first customer. It must have been stashed away in a print shop closet for many decades. Therefore, this is likely the best-condition 1931 edition in existence. The book, jacket, and binding are in like new excellent physical condition. There is a slight yellowing of the edge of the pages (like most of them). There appears to be no writing in or on the book.

1932 – The book, jacket, and binding are in Fair condition. The book is starting to separate from the jacket but could be easily re-glued by a bookbinder. The book has had more use and wear than the others in the collection. The pages are in ok condition, and none appear to be missing. There is some writing in and on the book.

1934 – A very rare, Fine copy of the book. I also bought this from the ARRL itself many years ago (and have the provenance to prove it). This is likely the best-condition 1934 edition in existence. The book, jacket, and binding are in excellent physical condition. There are a couple of slight barely visible wear marks on the edges There appears to be no writing in or on the book.

The asking price for this ARRL Handbook collection is $1,500 US plus shipping.

‘73

Craig, VE3OP