Even though it contains mistakes and is riddled with inconsistencies regarding what counts as a separate model, I have a soft spot for Maurice A. Hammond's book. I grew up in Devon, knowing no one else who collected Matchbox. I well remember seeing the advert for the book in Scale Models (which, as usual, I was perusing in W.H. Smith's well-stocked reading rooms). I badgered my mother to buy it for me (for the princely sum of £1.50) and, bless her heart, she did. I even remember posting the letter with the cheque.
The contents of the book were a revaluation to me since this was the first comprehensive listing I had seen, with the photographs clearly showing the models I was missing. (I'm still looking for a 7a with a white horse!
) It is a particularly useful resource when it comes to finding out the scales of the models.
I was delighted to acquire a signed copy a couple of years back, which now sits on one of my diecast reference shelves alongside my well-thumbed original.
