Search Results: Ships and the Sea from Alcuin Books, ABAA-ILAB

Berkeley; (2011): University of California Press. First Edition. Large Octavo. . 334(2) pp. The legendary overland silk road was not the only way for ancient travelers from the Mediterranean to reach Asia. The ancient city of Berenike, located approximately 500 miles south of today's Suez Canal, was a significant port for these Conduits. The author was an archeologist who excavated Berenike, uncovers the role the city played in the local, regional and global economics during the eight centuries of its existence. A fine copy bound in black cloth, spine lettering gilt, in a fine dust jacket.

(Oak Brook, Illinois; 1990): Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. Square Quarto. xi, 59 pages, illustrations, portraits. The Society of Military Engineers notes that it is the most important dredging company in the U.S., it operates the largest fleet of dredges flying the U.S. flag: 27 dredges, eight tugs, 48 dump barges, three drill boats and over 200 support vessels. In 1987 the firm completed construction of the Chicago, the largest clamshell/clipper dredge in the world. Langdon C. Hardwicke, who became President of the firm, had a remarkable career in engineering but was known for surviving after being on the Remagen Bridge when the Germans blew it up. The firm expanded to is massive size during his Presidency (p. 29, 31). Laid in is the Proof copy of his portrait made in 1939. Bound in red cloth lettered and decorated in silver, spine lettering silver. Near fine in near fine dust jacket.

Honolulu, Oah, H.I.: S.C. Damon, 1847. Quarto. 8p. A fine copy. Addresses the horrible conditions of the seaman. Besides severe beatings often leading to death, there are those who are demean them. Since the publication also wanted to promote temperance, the evangelical emphasis dealt with that also. It notes the levels of debaucery without details but besides the open sexuality throughout the ports of Polynesia, there is the hinted at but unmentioned problems of young men as victims of buggery. Of course, the paper shows those who are noticeable exceptions such as "Christian" captains but it implies conditions on the whalers were worst of all. In the back there is a list of sailings in and out of Honolulu as well as various items for sale chiefly for use on ocean voyages (rope, hooks, canvas for rigging, etc). A fascinating item in a protective folding case.

New Haven; (2004): Yale University Press. First Edition. Small Quarto. First printing. 266pp., preface by Werner Spies, illustrated with photographs, maps and art. The author describes the secret journey made by an extraordinary mén·age à trois: the painter Max Ernst, Paul Elurad (cofounder of Surrealism with Andre Breton) and Eluard's wife Gala. The author unravels the story of Ernst's love affair with Gala, Eluard's disappearance, Ernst and Gala's pursuit of him, their meeting in Saigon where the love triangle came apart, and the resulting departure of the Eluards, who left Ernst to explore the jungles of French Indochina alone. Bound in brown cloth, spine lettering silver, lower corner of last few pages bumped. A very good copy in near fine pictorial dust jacket.

(James Berry Co, San Francisco, 1929). First Edition. Octavo. 38p. index. Colored frontispiece. While during this period, the sailing ship has been superseded by steam on the principal sea routes. This book attempts to provide how many sailing ships sail, and from what nations, their present occupation, if any, and other facts and figures. Bound in blue pictorial gilt cloth lettered in gilt, two small nicks to fore-edge of front endpaper and half title page, with bookseller label in endpaper at rear "Newbegins, San Francisco" 3/20/1929, else near fine copy.in the rare pictorial dust jacket with a few chipped to spine ends and top edges.

London: For John Stockdale, 1804. Quarto. Large paper edition in two volumes. Vol. I: viii. (Advertisement, Directions to the binder for placing the 17 Stothard engraved plates which include the frontispieces and title pages of both volumes. 405pp. Vol. 2: v, 446 pp. The timeless story of a castaway who spends 28 years on a remote tropical desert island near the coasts of Venezuela and Trinidad, roughly resembling Tobago, encountering cannibals, captives, and mutineers before being rescued. Bound in 3/4 calf over original drab paper covered boards, raised bands with spines stamped in blind, new black spine labels gilt, a few cosmetics to spine and corners, only an occasional spot of foxing or off-setting but mostly clean, from the library of Ralph Embree Doane with his bookplate. A very good set.

Cambridge, Maryland: Cornell Maritime Press, 1960. Cloth. Fine/Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. 237p. Warmly inscribed to Hugh Downs as follows: With my compliments for your efforts in the advancement of skin-diving nationally." Edward M. Brady dust jacket has a tiny amount of edge wear else a fine copy.

City of Washington: A. & G. Way (printers), 1808. Octavo. Seven documents bound into one volume. These seven documents (noted below) are all on the British attack on the Chesapeake which was one of the major causes of the War of 1812. When it left the shipyard in 1807, it was assumed there would be no immediate danger but once it was outside the three mile limit Captain Humphreys of the British ship the Leopard demanded to search and claimed the right of impressment. Here is the complete year of negotiation involving Madison, Monroe, British foreign secretary George Canning, U.S. General John Armstrong and others. Rarely are all bound together. Usually these were only in the hands of members of the House of Representatives though no ownership is evident: They are: Letter from the Secretary of State to Mr. Monroe..correspondance with George Canning, 88 pages. Letters from the Secretary of State to Mr. Monroe, on the subject of impressments. 137 pages. Letters from the Secretary of State to Messrs.… Read More

London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co, 1847. Octavo. 696 pages, index. ads, illustrations and a map. Published for the professional seaman with notes above the interest for the general public. Ranging on the murder of the captain and part of his crew of the English ship Avon to accounts of exploration, lost vessels, the Royal Naval Female School, the HMS Nemesis and its fight with Borneo pirates. As is the case in most of the annuals, the eventful items including the worse mishaps at sea are covered as well as the deaths, marriages, and births of those in the nautical field. Bound in 3/4 black morocco over green silk cloth raised bands gilt, maroon morocco spine label gilt, all edges marbled. Front inner hinge cracked but holding well with its ropes, some toning or occasional spots of foxing, corners worn or bumped with staining to cloth, previous owner's name to title page. A very intersting work.

Boston: Little, Brown and Co, 1909. Octavo. Inscribed by the author dated April 21st, 1909. Inscribed by the author dated April 21st, 1909. 314 pages. John D. Whidden started out at sea in 1834, at the age of twelve, and did not retire until 1870. His memoir was written to give a sense of the days before the rise of the steam powered ship. Orphaned at five, nothing held Whidden back from embarking on sea life seven years later. Serving as an apprentice, he quickly proved his worth, and earned himself a mate's position by his early twenties. Graduating to third, second, and first officer, he ended his career in command of, and having part-ownership of his own vessel. Bound in dark blue cloth lettered in white stamped in gilt, spine lettering gilt, just a bit of rubbing to spine ends and corners. Near fine.

Salem, Mass: Marine Research Society, 1924. Linmited Edition. Quarto. Large paper copy limited to 95 copies. The present copy is number 74. 51 plates with 213 plates (309-554) The clipper ships -- Donald McKay, builder of clipper ships -- Shipbuilding at Newburyport -- The removal to East Boston -- The clipper ship "Stag Hound" -- The "Sovereign of the Seas" -- Shipyard methods and personal anecdotes -- The "Great Republic" -- Business depression and failure -- Visit to England -- Retirement and death -- The sailing ships of New England : plates of vessels arranged alphabetically. Bound in 1/4 vellum over blue paper covered boards, spine gilt, corners bump. A very good copy.

(New York, 1996): Simon and Schuster. First Edition. Octavo. 364pp., signed by Cussler on the title page. This is Cussler's first non-fiction book. He explores the special world of undersea adventure that inspired and has its fictional parallel in Dirk Pitt novels. Cussler and his NUMA volunteers have found more than sixty shipwrecks. He has chosen twelve of the most interesting. The wrecks date as far back as 1840. Bound in purple paper covered boards, backed in dark blue grained paper, spine lettering gilt, fine in fine unclipped pictorial dust jacket.

New York: J. B. Lippincott Co, 1953. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/Very Good. Octavo. Inscribed to Hugh Downs with best wishes from MacMillan Clements.

Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons, 1832. First Edition in Book Form. 12mo. Author's first work, in two volumes from the library of Carlton and Territa A. Lowenberg, noted Dickinson collectors with their bookplate, with half-titles, 371, 384pp. Adventures on the high seas for a young man of only 13 who believed himself to be Nelson's successor. Bound in 3/4 black polished calf over marbled paper covered boards, spines flat and decorated in gilt, marbled edges. spines faded, inner hinges cracked but holding well.

New York: E. P. Dutton & Co, 1977. First Printing. Cloth. Very Good/Very Good. Admiral Joseph W. Golinkin.. Oblong Quarto. 252pp. Line drawings and full-page color illustrations. Bound in tan cloth boards, with illustrated dust jacket (closed tears, and sunning).

Court summons form of William Nichols, Marshal to Enoch Hobert to served as Grand Juryman at the U.S. District Court at Morristown, New Jersey. September 16, 1799. Ernest Hobert was mariner and a charter member of The Society for the Relief of the Poor and Distressed Masters of Ships, their Widows and Children (1765-1812). It was known as the Sea Captains Club and was one of Philadelphia's most selective organizations and was limited to commanders of ships. They would not accept Tories into their membership as they were supporters of the American Revolution. Besides shipwrecks, any death of a ship's master was examined to provide the impoverished surviving widow or child aid. The document measures approximately 8" x 2 3/4". He is also found in the Pennsylvania Will Index with a will on April 21, 1755 which was authenticated (proved) September 9, 1782. Here 17 years later he is chosen as a Grand Juryman.

(Steamboat Press, Winona, Minnesota, 1995). First American Edition. Quarto. Limited edition. This copy is # 923. 122p. indexes of names, places, pictures. Inscribed: "Good Luck/ to my River Friends/ Hank and Marilyn/ Capt. Ron Larson, U.S.M.M., Ret./ Master/First Class Pilot. A very good study of the steamboats on the Mississippi from 1840 to the last of the bridges built in the 1960's. Whether it is the race between the Robert E. Lee and the Natchez or the races between St. Louis and other cities on the river, he provides a marvelous view with over 150 illustrations. Bound in pictorial glossy paper over boards, lettered and decorated in black, spine lettering black.

Greenwich, London; (1990): National Maritime Museum; Distributed By Sotheby's Publications. First Edition. Thick Quartos. 2 volume set. Vol. I: 566pp. and Vol.II: 567-1153 pp. and (44)pp Index to dating paintings and a summary index. Beautifully illustrated in color and in black and white. The marine draughtsman Willem van de Velder the Elder was born in Leiden in 1611, the son of the master of a transport vessel. As a boy he travelled with his father which formed his career as a marine artist. His earliest drawings from the 1630's and 1640's depicted individual ships and the Dutch fleetat rest. However, he spent most of his career portraying naval battles as he travelled with the Dutch navy. During the winter of 1672, Van de Velde left Amsterdam for England joining his son. Charles II awared him a grant to making draughts of Sea Fights, while his son was responsible to put them into colors. After his father's death in 1693, Van de Velde (the younger) continued to oversee the studio. Van de Velde's… Read More