The principal author published the first edition of a book entitled in German "Technologie des Holzes" (Springer-Verlag) in the year 1936. This book was available only in photostat copy form in the United States
during World War n. A translation into the English language was later made in Australia. Due to many hampering factors caused by World War n it was not unti11951 that the second edition of the first volume of thir:; book with
the enlarged title (translated) "Technology of 'Vood and W ood Based Materials" was published. The se co nd volume followed in 1955. The enormOllS expansion of wood seience and technology within less than two deeade,: is
evident from a comparison of the number of pages of these two editions. The first edition eomprises 764 pages, the two volumes of the second edition 2231 pages. More recently, it becamc evident that an English version in a
condensed up­ to-date form was needed. Therefore, the principal author decided to publish a book on "Principles of W ood Science and Technology" in English. The first volume dealt with solid wood, this second volume deals with
wood based materials. U sing the ward "Principles" in the title of the condensed book this led directly to abandoning ft11 detailed historie al reviews, explanations, ftnd discussions of mftchines and processes.