The Baltimore Clipper, Its Origin and Development (Signed)
Salem: The Marine Research Society, 1930. First edition. Black and white plates, plans. Publisher's cloth over boards. Quarto. xii, 192 pages [plus 1 page publisher ad].
The first detailed study of these fast sailing ships. The type originated in Baltimore, Maryland, and most were built there. They were first used in the Revolutionary War, and by 1800 were extremely popular with privateers, slavers, pirates, and other mariners with a priority on speed.
Chapelle's text is engaging, well organized, and clearly written. Numerous plates from paintings and scaled plans appear throughout, making this a super reference for model-makers.
This copy is signed by Chapelle on front free endpaper and dated May 27, 1949--fittingly, at Baltimore, Maryland.
Ref. ALBION p. 31.
Near fine in a near find dust jacket. Bound in dark blue pebbled cloth over boards with gilt spine titles, blind embossed border rule to upper board, and dark blue topstain. Neat prior owner bookplate on front pastedown. Some very light occasional foxing inside and one shallow bump at lower fore corner of upper board, else remarkably free of wear. Jacket minor edge wear and a 1 3/4" closed tear along top of lower joint fold, with some associated wrinkles. A very bright, clean copy overall.
Item #1413
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