In the late 1970's Time-Life Books began publishing a series of books about the Second World War which eventually totaled thirty-nine volumes. With large format, many photos, and a few famous authors mixed with relative unknowns, these were offered by mail through subscription programs, and enormous numbers of most volumes were published and sold.

Interestingly, not only were these produced without dustjackets, but the front and back covers had only a photographic image with no text whatsoever-- no title, no author, no nothing. This unusual state of affairs in a sense mirrored the contents. While the text of the books tended to be relatively brief, superficial, and uninspired, the pages were packed with a multitude of impressive photos.

After more than twenty years some of these same books are still being offered by Time-Life by mail in a "Collectors Edition" series (the latest offer arrived here last week), but for the most part the originals are found on the shelves of secondhand bookstores and through Web-based booksellers. Occasionally sold as a complete set, most often these are offered individually. Prices vary considerably.

Here's a checklist of all thirty-nine volumes.

Adams, Henry. Italy at War

Bailey, Ronald H. The Air War in Europe

Bailey, Ronald H. The Home Front: USA

Bailey, Ronald H. Partisans and Guerrillas

Bailey, Ronald H. Prisoners of War

Bethell, Nicholas. Russia Besieged

Blumenson, Martin. Liberation

Botting, Douglas. The Aftermath: Europe

Botting, Douglas. The Second Front

Collier, Richard. The War in the Desert

Davis, Franklin. Across the Rhine

Editors of Time-Life Books. The Aftermath: Asia

Editors of Time-Life Books. Japan at War

Elson, Robert T. Prelude to War

Elting, John Robert. Battles for Scandinava

Fodor, Denis J. The Neutrals

Goolrick, William K. and Ogden Tanner. The Battle of the Bulge

Herzstein, Robert Edwin. The Nazis

Miller, Russell. The Commandos

Miller, Russell. The Resistance

Moser, Don. China-Burma-India

Mosley, Leonard. Battle of Britain

Pitt, Barrie. The Battle of the Atlantic

Rigge, Simon. War in the Outposts

Russell, Francis. The Secret War

Shaw, John. Red Army Resurgent

Simons, Gerald. Victory in Europe

Steinberg, Rafael. Island Fighting

Steinberg, Rafael. Return to the Philippines

Wallace, Robert. The Italian Campaign

Wernick, Robert. Blitzkrieg

Wheeler, Keith. Bombers over Japan

Wheeler, Keith. The Fall of Japan

Wheeler, Keith. The Road to Tokyo

Wheeler, Keith. War under the Pacific

Whipple, A.B.C. The Mediterranean

Whiting, Charles. The Home Front: Germany

Zich, Arthur. The Rising Sun

Ziemke, Earl F. The Soviet Juggernaut