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Hi Bunty, there are four 'books' from the unclued words. 1A is the first word of the 1st. There are three intervening 'books' that slot between these, so you go 1A to the word in the 3rd column (the 1st book) then there''s a missing book , then the unclued word in the 4th column to the unclued word in the 6th and so on, all sorted in alphabetical order.

The 4th book is a missing book, beginning with a word in the dictionary next to the unclued word in 6th column to a word in the dictionary next to unclued word in 7th (your RAN?).

Phew....err, hope that's clear ?

Thanks - you were typing as i was typing that i was sorted.

I am out of circulation with no chance of getting a copy of the puzzle. I would be very grateful if a fellow solver could send me a copy. (fleetj@btinternet.com )
With many thanks.

galfridus ... it should be with you now

They are "books" in the sense of volumes of an encyclopedia, are they not?

Moorish ... yes

I understand what you say muraria, but the extra letters to the down clues do not look very likely as "hints". For example, the TO item for the 4th book is RAN?, but have no idea what this should be. Does a hint explain this?

if you have the 3rd book you must have the beg of the 4th book...
if you look at the 3 volumes .... to .... ; .... to ....; .... to .... they make "little phrases" ...... so what could come after what you have for the beg of the 4th book (hint it's 6 letters)

Many thanks, xwordfan.
Yes, I now see what that 6-letter word is, and also what follows it!
Ergo, I know what RAN? is, and hence the three missing "books".