Collecting ARRL Amateur Radio Handbooks
 
Many amateur radio operators collect something, usually number one is QSL cards and collections of some sort normally follow.  QST, CQ, 73, Callbooks, Antenna and Equipment manuals are usually a favorite.  Boat Anchors or Old Equipment, Amplifiers, Microphones and other metal objects are favored by others.  Some of us collect ARRL Handbooks, one of each edition, one from every year or even simply one of each year that one was licensed.  A few of us go so far as to try and collect one of each addition, each printing and hard copies of the same that were ever printed.

From the research I've done, it appears that since 1926 through the 86th Edition, 218 originals should be available.  This counts Editions, Printings and Hard covers, also the 4 printings of the Civil Defense handbook of 1942 and the 2006 reprinting of the first edition.  This is on the assumption that my research proves correct for hardbound copies on the first six editions.  Also if from 1949 on, were any 2nd or 3rd printings made as I found for 1955 and 1956, also if hardbound copies were actually produced for those printings.  I am only missing one soft cover, 1946 23rd Edition second printing.  Still missing 32 different hard covers between the 3rd and 33rd Editions. I also have 7 privately bound hard covers, 2nd Ed 1st print, 2nd Ed 2nd print, 14th Ed 2nd print, 16th Ed 1st print, 18th Ed 2nd print, 20th Ed 3rd print and also the 1st printing of the 1942 Civil Defense handbook.

If you have any ARRL Handbooks you might want to part with, let me know via E-mail, state the year, edition, hard or soft cover, condition and what you want for them.  I will continue to upgrade a year if it's in better condition than one I have.

1926 Original                                       1926 Reprint 2006




Collected Information About ARRL Handbooks
&
My Collection

 

 Ed=Edition  PR=Printing  PD=Printing Date  OM=Operating Manual  SP=Special  RP=Reprint  LE=Leather  SN=Serial #
Soft Cover Needed HB Needed  Books I Have  Soft Cover Red Buckram HB  Multi-Color HB Blue HB
  Year Ed PR PD Copies   Year Ed PR PD Copies   Year Ed PR PD Copies   Year Ed PR PD Copies  
  1926 1st    11/26 5,000   1942 19th 2nd 03/42 15,000   1956 33rd 2nd       1986 63rd         
  1927 2nd 1st 01/27 5,000   1942 19th 2nd 03/42     1957 34th         1986 63rd         
  1927 2nd 2nd 04/27 10,000   1942 19th 3rd 04/42 25,000   1957 34th         1987 64th         
  1927 3rd 1st 10/27 10,000   1942 19th 3rd 04/42     1958 35th         1987 64th         
  1928 3rd 2nd 04/28 10,000   1942 19th 4th 07/42 20,000   1958 35th         1988 65th         
  1928 3rd 2nd 04/28     1942 19th 4th 07/42     1958 35th     Spanish   1989 66th         
  1928 4th   12/28 10,000   1942 C.D. 1st 02/42 40,000   1959 36th          1990 67th         
  1928 4th   12/28     1942 C.D. 2nd 04/42 40,000   1959 36th          1991 68th         
  1929 5th   05/29 10,000   1942 C.D. 3rd 09/42 40,000   1959 36th       Spanish    1992 69th         
  1929 5th   05/29     1942 C.D. 4th 12/42 50,000   1960 37th          1993 70th         
  1929 6th 1st 11/30 10,000   1943 20th 1st 09/42 75,000   1960 37th            1994 71st         
  1930 6th 2nd 03/30 10,000   1943 20th 1st 09/42     1961 38th         1995 72nd         
  1930 6th 3rd 06/30 7,000   1943 20th 2nd 11/42 75,000   1961 38th         1996 73rd            
  1930 7th   10/30 25,000   1943 20th 2nd 11/42     1962 39th          1997 74th         
  1930 7th   10/30     1943 20th 3rd 04/43 60,000   1962 39th                    1998 75th         
  1931 8th    04/31 25,000   1943 20th 3rd 04/43     1963 40th             1999 76th         
  1931 8th   04/31

 

   1944 21st 1st 11/43 90,000   1963 40th                 2000 77th         
  1932 9th 1st 01/32 30,000   1944 21st 1st 11/43     1964 41st         2000 77th SN LE 2000   
  1932 9th 1st 01/32     1944 21st 2nd 03/44 50,000   1964 41st                 2000 77th SN LE 2000   
  1932 9th 2nd 09/31 10,000   1944 21st 2nd 03/44     1965 42nd         2000 OM SN LE 2000   
  1932 9th 2nd 09/31     1944 21st 3rd  07/44 25,000   1965 42nd         2001 78th         
  1933 10th 1st 01/33 30,000   1944 21st 3rd  07/44     1966 43rd         2001 78th         
  1933 10th 1st 01/33     1945 22nd 1st 12/44 100,000   1966 43rd         2002 79th         
  1933 10th 2nd 07/33 8,750   1945 22nd 1st  12/44     1967 44th         2002 79th         
  1933 10th 2nd 07/33     1945 22nd 2nd 03/45 50,000   1967 44th         2003 80th         
  1934 11th 1st 01/34 30,000   1945 22nd 2nd  03/45     1968 45th         2003 80th