The Last Thing...

Editorial

by Dave Watkins

Thank God for that! They're finally over. Yes, the UK school summer holidays have come to a much hoped for end. Sanity returns together with relative domestic bliss as the off-spring (various) return to the care of government employees. I'm pleased to report that aside from the compulsory additional grey hairs I have maintained most of my reason! (Yes, Josephine I have, now can you get Ney to undo this jacket, I need the use of my arms.....). But I digress, (as I write my brother has just smacked himself round the head with an accounts book in a vain attempt to kill a fly... you don't have to be mad to work here.. but.... thankfully the summers over otherwise I'd have to buy him a helmet!), as I said I digress, some interesting developments have occurred here at HQ. Firstly, we welcome aboard Tuttostoria, who will now be spreading the gospel along the length and breadth of Italy. Yet, more language problems `pour moi'!! Secondly, that First Empire is to be affiliated with The Napoleonic Association of Great Britain, making us officially the leading Napoleonic Magazine in the world (probably). This link up commences in the New Year and I believe that it will benefit the magazine greatly in terms of information published and exchanged. Thirdly, we are also deep in negotiations with various parties in the CIS (ex USSR) to bring forth much previously unavailable material, (at least in the west), the New Year should see the results of these labours. Finally, you may have noticed that the address has changed again. Well, we have been working out of this office for two years and we thought it might be an idea if we had the post come here also. If you are passing by and fancy a chat, please hesitate feel free to drop in. A First Empire World Exclusive....(?) Statement by Anthony Barton on the future of AB figures: In recent months Anthony Barton, WARGAMES SOUTH and HALLMARK FIGURES have been reviewing the current situation concerning the manufacture and sale of the `AB Figures' range of 15mm Napoleonics in Great Britain and Europe. They have concluded that the present arrangements with two manufacturers, WARGAMES SOUTH and HALLMARK FIGURES, based in England are not working satisfactorily. Consequently, as from 16th September 1993, it has been decided that HALLMARK FIGURES will no longer be involved in the manufacture, promotion or sale of `AB Figures' in any capacity. HALLMARK FIGURES would like to thank its customers for their support and loyalty over the last 18 months, and very much regrets any inconvenience that this decision may cause. This will not affect availability of HALLMARK FIGURES' Hallmark, Main Force or Figurehead ranges. As from 16th September 1993, WARGAMES SOUTH will be the sole manufacturer and supplier of `AB Figures' in Great Britain and Europe. A new event on the `Napoleonic Calendar' Lionel Leventhal of Greenhill Books has announced the impending birth of a Napoleonic Fair in 94. The new baby will burst forth on Sunday 6th February 1994 at the Royal National Hotel, Bedford Way, London WC1 between 10am and 4pm. There will be opportunities to purchase, browse and generally drool over books, prints, models, wargames, militaria, medals, and badges all along the Napoleonic theme. This could be our only yearly chance to get away from `Battleteckies', Ancients, Tankies and Dungeoneers that plague our very existence. First Empire is proud to be associated with the event and I trust that I will see many of you there, hopefully we can make this into a successful yearly refuge for all of `us'. A plug for Buckland & Brown Start saving your pennies for a classic reprint from Richard Brown of Ken Trotmans and Chris Buckland of the London Stamp Exchange. These gentlemen are venturing into the market of high quality editions of classic works. First up, and should be available in November 1993, is Ludlow Beamish's History of The King's German Legion. This reprint is to be a facsimile of the original 1832-1827 edition, it will be published in two volumes and includes the colour plates. Price will £ 85.00. Two Hundred Sets only will be printed. All enquiries to Buckland and Brown, 1 Old Bond Street, London W1X 3TD. And a plug for SAGUNTUM On the outside back cover you will find again, the stunning advert for the 'most excellent' SAGUNTUM boardgame. We have arranged to have a consignment of these games shipped into the UK. Readers can now order direct from the magazine address for the sum of £ 42.00 inclusive of carriage. We are only bringing in a limited number so first come first served. Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #13 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1993 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com