jc5. Ken Rutterford's first book was a hardback entitled 'Collecting Shotgun Cartridges' and is now quite hard to come by but probably his best from a readable/researchable point of view. 'Cartridges of the British Isles' is really just a large paperback book to help with identification and aimed at the collector. Just a large catalogue listing. He next wrote 'Cartridge Drawings Now & Then' which is a follow on from the last described and rectifies any previous omissions. His last book was 'Stampings on Shotshells' and lists headstamps for identification. They are really all aimed at the collector. The first book is probably the most useful if you can get hold of a copy.
No slur on Ken's books but if it is a readable history book you are looking for on British Cartridges rather than a catalogue of identification then I would look for the three books by C.W. (Bill) Harding. The first 'Eley Cartridges' is now something of a rarity and commands big prices as I suppose that printing was only of a limited number to test the market. His next book was 'The Birmingham Cartridge Manufacturers' and the last was 'British Cartridge Manufacturers, Loaders & Retailers'. Bill Harding was the Archivist at the Birmingham Proof House and his books; all hardback, are superbly researched and illustrated. His last book was 'A Bi-Centenary History of the Birmingham Proof House' and was limited to just 50 copies all signed by the Author. It is set to be highly collectable in the future and was never advertised on the open market with sales going by 'word-of-mouth'. I have one and it is a very useful cartridge research book too.
If you can be more specific on what you require then I may be able to guide you to the best option. Lagopus.....
