Osprey Publishing

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Illustrated Osprey Publishing military history books explore armies, aircraft, warships and campaigns from ancient times to the modern era. Packed with color artwork, maps and photographs, they're a reference shelf essential for modelers and history readers. Browse the titles and find your next subject.

About Osprey Publishing

Osprey was formed in 1968 as a small subsidiary, growing out of a connection to Brooke Bond Tea, whose military aircraft cards inspired artist Dick Ward to propose illustrated aircraft books. Its first book, North American P-51D Mustang in USAAF-USAF Service, was published in 1969, and the first Men-at-Arms title followed in 1971.

Osprey is a London-based publisher specializing in military history and is an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing.

What Makes Osprey Publishing Collectible

Osprey books are known for full-color artwork plates, maps and photographs organized into focused series, which makes them useful both as history and as reference for modelers painting uniforms or aircraft. Their short, illustrated format suits readers who want a single subject covered clearly.

Popular Osprey Publishing Product Lines

Osprey organizes its books into ongoing series, each focused on one aspect of warfare.

Men-at-Arms: Each book covers a specific historical army or military unit.
Duel: Head-to-head comparisons of opposing aircraft, ships or vehicles.
Elite: Focused studies of units and soldiers.
New Vanguard: Technical coverage of vehicles, ships and weapons.
Air Campaign: Studies of major air operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Osprey Publishing based?
Osprey is a London-based publisher and an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing.

What are Osprey books known for?
Illustrated military history with color artwork plates, maps and photographs.

Are Osprey books good for modelers?
Yes — the artwork and photographs are a popular reference for uniforms, markings and vehicle details.

When was Osprey founded?
Osprey was formed in 1968, and its first book appeared in 1969.

Shop Historic Aviation's Osprey Publishing collection for illustrated military history books. Find a title on the army, aircraft or campaign you're researching.