Naval - Military - Pre-20th Century | Archive | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Manila Galleon [Anson’s Voyage] – F van Wyck mason – First Edition 1961.

An unusual one from the Anson’s Voyage Cannon … the novelisation of the dramatic events by American author Francis van Wyck Mason.

First UK edition published by Hutchinson, London in 1961. Octavo, 490 pages plus appendices and explanatory forward. Dust jacket a bit tattered cloth covered boards a bit flecked. Nice and clean inside, end paper charts etc. A pretty good copy of an interesting read.

The story of Anson’s voyage to put it about the Spanish in the Pacific and steal their gold [lots of it] from the “Manila Galleon” is a remarkable one. Several books from the period, mid 18th century, and many afterwards. Our author was languishing in a London hospital bed in 1946 when he read the interesting contemporary account of Pascoe Thomas … like many he was hooked on the broader story from then … it took a while to read the other volumes, assimilate the basis of his historical story and finalise this weighty fact based novel. We love it.

The Manila Galleon – Anson’s Prize

$80.00

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A.G. Mumford limited – Engineers, Boiler Makers, Launch and Yacht Builders, Makers of Steam Pumps, Valves etc – Catalogue No & – 1906 Edition – Reprinted for Historical Reference 1985

Mumford’s were based in Colchester, England. Their Culvert Street Engineering Works was the centre for Marine Engineering development and manufacture.

Foolscap in size, 117 pages of diagrams and specifications that are simply a mechanical engineers delight. Mumford were contractors to the Admiralty, War office, the Colonies, Spanish and other foreign governments. The contents are best described by way of the example images shown

Marine Engineers Delight – Mumford

$50.00

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Historic Sail – The Glory of the Sailing Ship from the 13th to the 19th Century – Wheatley

A massive production principally by Joseph Wheatley as this is a most visual work … text by Stephen Howarth.

Squarish folio, 33cm by 32cm, 206 pages, published by specialist Greenhill Books, London in 2000.

With 91 colour plates of historic vessels with accompanying text page. A quality production and a very good copy. Probably too big for an overseas purchase (and our scanner) .. please enquire though.

Presented in chronological order with the Danish 13thC Cog and then the Cinque Ports Cog and Venetian Merchantman. Along the way we have Carricks and Caravels before the 16thC Galleys and the Flemish Warships. Some specifics … the Revenge and the San Martin and the Golden Lion. The Armada vessels and the Dutch and the mighty Sovereign of the Seas. Gun ships and the first yachts … HMB Endeavour an to finish a Scottish Tea Clipper.

At the time of publication Joseph Wheatley was part of the crew on the replica Endeavour … half your luck … one of the images is that magnificent converted collier.

A special book for grown up Boys who like the Sea.

$50.00

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Mercator’s World – Anson’s Voyage

Volume 3 No 6 of Mercator’s World published in 1998.

Our favourite features is “Victory at Sea – How George Anson Became Leader of the British Navy”. Having said that, we do not like the title as he became the “Father” of the Royal Navy for many reasons, albeit including the incredible circumnavigation and stealing of the Spanish gold, the story of this feature.

An eight page article nicely illustrated, mostly from images and maps out of the official account. The charming engraving “England’s glory. Wagons heading into the Tower of London with the Spanish treasure” is a very rare engraving the originator unknown.

Provides fresh insight into the voyage particularly as you would expect concerning the charts and the route taken and the mistakes made and bad luck encountered. It is a lesson in the difficulties had before the problem of the longitude was solved by Harrison’s chronometer.

Other articles include quite a bit on underwater surveying … Davy Jones Locker etc and Portlan reflection a good one on early sea charts.

Mercator’s ideas and views on the Anson Voyage.

$25.00

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Original Watercolour – Lt Janvarin Grassie R.N. – New South Wales – 1876

A delightful Australian School watercolour … a Woman Bathing by a Lake 32cm by 21cm. External frame dimensions. 50cm by 39cm. Lovely palette and a charming naivety.

Matted and framed by upmarket London Picture Framers, Restorers and Guilder with their label on the back. Slight hints of age but still in very good condition.

The artist date and location nicely noted lower left and right on the mat. Decorative lines drawn to mat with lovely choice of fill colouring.

After reasonable research we have not come up with anything on the artist nor any obvious record in the Royal Navy.

Nice Australian watercolour from the 1870’s – Artist named but little known about him.

$390.00

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Log of the Centurion – The Anson Voyage – The Log of Saumarez – Leo Heaps

The great Anson circumnavigation of the mid-18th century to basically steal as much Spanish gold – as possible (successful in that regard). This book based on the papers of Captain Saumarez and an essential part of the incredible story that makes up this historic adventure.

Based on the original papers of Captain Philip Saumarez on Board HMS Centurion, Lord Anson’s flagship during his circumnavigation 1740-44.

The four Saumarez logs have not been previously published or referenced. They had been lost for year until found in the 1960’s in a cardboard box along with letter and other documents at the Saumerez manor in the Channel Islands.

Published by Macmillan, New York a first edition 1974.Large octavo, 264 pages, world map end papers showing the track of the fleet, numerous illustrations from original works, some in colour. A very good copy.

While Great Britain was at war with Spain in 1740, Commodore George Anson led a Squadron of eight ships on a mission to harass the Spaniards on the west coast of South America and cut off their supplies of wealth from the Pacific.

“Returning to England in 1744 by way of China and thus completing a circumnavigation, the voyage was notable for the capture of the gold laden Acapulco Galleon but also for the loss of all ships except Anson’s Centurion and horrific losses to disease with only 300 of the original 900 surviving.

Anson’s voyage is remembered as a classic tale of endurance and leadership in the face of fearful disasters, but to Englishmen of 1744 it was the treasure of the galleon, triumphantly paraded through the streets of London, which restored national pride after an unsuccessful war against the Spaniards.”

Saumerez another perspective on Anson

$40.00

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Naval – Military – Pre-20th Century

Manila Galleon [Anson’s Voyage] – F van Wyck mason – First Edition 1961.

A.G. Mumford limited – Engineers, Boiler Makers, Launch and Yacht Builders, Makers of Steam Pumps, Valves etc – Catalogue No & – 1906 Edition – Reprinted for Historical Reference 1985

Historic Sail – The Glory of the Sailing Ship from the 13th to the 19th Century – Wheatley

Mercator’s World – Anson’s Voyage

Original Watercolour – Lt Janvarin Grassie R.N. – New South Wales – 1876

Log of the Centurion – The Anson Voyage – The Log of Saumarez – Leo Heaps

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