Howard Chapelle’s masterful work on the evolution, design, and details of hull and rig of these iconic vessels. This is the 1994 W.W. Norton edition, in good condition with dust jacket.

by John Leavitt, Mystic Seaport publication, 1973. Lovely volume describing the last American whaler, giving a history of her 37 voyages complete with their crew lists, up to her restoration to a floating vessel by Mystic Seaport. Fine condition, dj good with a few bumps and scuffs.

Beautiful 1768 French collection of several works relating to the sea: “Essay on the navy of the ancients”, “Description of the naval combat at Actium”, “On some particularities of natural history”, “On the general properties for salt water and fresh water”, “On the worms which gnaw the wood of ships, and on how to protect oneself from them”. Several lovely fold-out engravings. Other copies online for $900!

How to build and use 18 traditional navigational tools, by Dennis Fisher. Very clear instructions for making (besides the titled ones) a kamal, astrolabe, quadrant, sundial, nocturnal, cross-staff, backstaff, dry card compass, traverse board, hand (sounding) lead, heaving line, chip log, weatherglass, pelorus, sun compass, and an octant. Great for both movie Props and Set Dressing, as well as replica ships and living history programs! Like new condition.

Joseph T. Higgins’ 1927 thin volume for building a model; the subtitle is “The Distinguishing Details of Old Time Whale Ships with a Complete Description of a Typical Whaler and Working Plans of the Famous Alice Mandell”. Very good condition, has both plan sheets; ex J. Porter Shaw library. Very scarce original Rudder Publishing Company edition, not a print on demand.

1955 Second Revised edition of Cyrus Day’s classic, published by the US Naval Institute. The Bibliography is a treasure trove. Very good condition, ex-San Francisco Maritime Museum book,

A newer reprint of William Baker’s classic 1966 book tracing the development of this type of vessel, from European origins through the Colonial period in America and into the 1800’s. Excellent condition.

Timothy Wilson’s book published by the National Maritime Museum Greenwich in 1986. Very good condition, though for some reason one chapter has yellow highlighting (I didn't do it!). Beautiful illustrations throughout, including many in colour. I’ve used this one as reference on a couple of movies, when historically accurate flags were needed.

Cedric Windas’ collection of random tidbits of information, mostly from the age of sailing ships, with lovely illustrations. A paperback copy published in 2001, taken from the original 1942 volume. Very good condition.

Hervey Garrett Smith’s Dover edition of his 1953 book. Some of the same info as his The Marlinspike Sailor, but some differences. This copy got carried around in my rigging bag for a little, so it has some wear, but the spine is still perfect and the pages are good. A few scuffs and some water (salt? fresh? gin?) curling on the first 8 pages or so.

Graumont and Hensel’s classic, thorough treatment of splicing. There’s some interesting ones in here, as well as good explanations of various tackle purchases, rope characteristics, and tools. One of the best for this topic. As new condition.

Don’t laugh…I read this when I was a 6th grader living in Savannah, Georgia, and memories of this book with its lusty sailing ship action in Revolutionary War-era Newport, Rhode Island, stuck with me so much that I felt like I was re-living the book when I sailed into Newport a decade later on Bounty! As male-romance-novel as it gets, this book’s historic plot has been retold several times, including by James Nelson. Honestly, this was one of the books that fed my early interest in historic sailing ships.

This is the smaller version of Bjorn Sandstorm’s beautiful book. The dust jacket is present but torn. The text block is good though. Easier to carry around than the big volume!

Ernie Bradford’s book on the history, discovery, archaeology, and planned raising and exhibiting of Henry VIII’s ship, sunk in 1545. Lots of good photos and drawings of artifacts. Hardcover, with dust jacket in very good condition.

V.R. Grimwood’s 1942 book has a wealth of line drawings of vessels not commonly seen, including a San Francisco scow schooner and a gondalow, as well as superb. rigging and deck detail drawings. With dust jacket, in very good condition.

Anything with Basil Greenhill’s name on it is worth having! This volume has British and North American vessels and their people. Lots of great photos. 1970 hardback, some water damage to the top and bottom boards but the text block is unaffected.

Geoffrey Budworth’s beautifully photographed 2002 hardcover volume. I wish he had done it with only the lovely hemp lines…lots of synthetic braided cordage in there, but a great resource nonetheless

Graumont and Hensel’s classic work, published by Cornell Maritime Press in 1943 (3rd edition). If you only have this one and Ashley, you’re in good shape.

Darcy Lever, in the large Dover edition. Excellent condition. Every rigger should have at least one copy!

Sea Officer William Bentley novel #3, by Jan Needle. I really loved this series, and wish he’d written more of them. Fine condition

by Lowell Thomas, Garden City Publishing 1927. Amazing true story of a German sailing ship captain who captured and sank enemy ships during WW1—without killing. The last of the real fighting ships under sail! A bit beat up copy, but the text block is good and intact.

Charles Nordhoff’s (Mutiny on the Bounty trilogy co-author) writes of his experiences at sea on a whaling vessel. A beautiful little volume. Dodd, Mead & Co 1895 edition

First Dell printing in 1961, in conjunction with the release of the Marlon Brando/Trevor Howard film, using the Bounty replica I sailed on! Compilation of various authors, including Bligh, Christian (!), Peter Heywood, James Morrison, and Sir John Barrow,

Thrilling story of Hawkins, Drake, and other Englishmen breaking into the Spanish New World