Since starting work at Shire I have been fascinated by a number of books on a range of subjects. One of my favourites has always been Vanished Armies - A.E. Haswell Miller's record of the military uniforms worn in various European countries.

In the years immediately preceding World War 1 Haswell Miller sketched and painted hundreds of figures across a number of countries wearing the elaborate and multi-coloured uniforms of the day. When war broke out these paintings lay forgotten for almost a hundred years. Now published together at last, they represent a unique record of the uniforms of the last great age of military dress. You can read what Allan Mallinson had to say about the book here