Books by The Marine Research Society

The Marine Research Society was organized in 1922 at Salem, Massachusetts, "for the purpose of collecting and publishing worthwhile material relating to the ship, its construction, rig and navigation; to the ways of the sailor and his adventures in uncharted seas; to the days of the pirates and the merchant adventurers; and to any other matter of general interest that pertains to the commercial marine. In this connection it is also proposed to reprint certain publications that have now become rare and inaccessible to the average collector in this field. It is the aim of the Society to restrict its work to the publication of matter of scientific or historical value...."
Preface of Sailing Ships of New England by Robinson and Dow, the first publication by the Society

Books by The Marine Research Society
Arranged by date of publication.

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Roll over Image to expandAmerican Clipper Ships 1833-1858 Volume I Adelaide - Lotus by: Octavius T. Howe and Federick C. Matthews, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1926. Very good in dark blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. The cloth at the head and heel of the spine is faded and rubbed and the front and rear end sheets are tanned around the edges. Without its issued dust jacket. Note: this is volume I only. Containing pages v through 372 and illustrated with line art and photographic reproductions of contemporary works of art. The thirteenth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. Per Albion this title is one of the three outstanding works on Amerian Clippers (Albion, p31 and 32) TB22605 $125.00

Roll over Image to expandAmerican Clipper Ships 1833-1858 Volume II Only by: Octavius T. Howe and Federick C. Matthews, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1927. Very good in dark blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. The cloth at the head and heel of the spine is faded and rubbed and the rear hinge is cracked. Without its issued dust jacket. Note: this is volume II only. Containing pages 371 through 780 including an index for Volume I and II, text and illustrated with line art and photographic reproductions of contemporary works of art. The thirteenth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. Per Albion this title is one of the three outstanding works on Amerian Clippers (Albion, p31 and 32) TB22551 $125.00

Roll over Image to expandAmerican Merchant Ships 1850-1900 by: Frederick C. Matthews, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1930. Very good+ in dark blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. The cloth at the head and heel of the spine is slightly faded and rubbed and the title page is slightly tanned due to the tissue guard on the frontispiece. The binding, hinges and joints are all strong and all pages are present. In a good dust jacket with 1/2" deep chips across the upper edge of the spine area and with small chips from the corners of the front panel. A small quarto measuring 10" tall by 7" deep containing 399 pages including an index, text and illustrated with 127 photographic plates of merchant sailing ships. The twenty-first volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. (Howes M-424) TB22582 $125.00

Roll over Image to expandAmerican Merchant Ships 1850-1900 (Series II) by: Frederick C. Matthews, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1931. Fair in dark blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. The cloth on the rear board is well wrinkled due to dampness which has invaded the lower half of the rear 125 pages of the text. Fortunately, there is no "high water mark" as a result of this water damage. Without a dust jacket (if it ever had one). 358 pages including an index. Illustrated with 53 photographs or photographic reproductions of works of art. The twenty-first volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22579 $30.00

Roll over Image to expandThe Art of Rigging containing an Explanation of Terms and Phrases by: Capt. George Biddlecombe, R. N., First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem: 1925. Very good+ in dark green cloth covered boards with gilt text stamping on the spine. The cloth on the spine is slightly faded and there is the ghost of a prior owner's book plate on the first free end page. The full title reads: The Art of Rigging containing an Explanation of Terms and Phrases and the Progressive Method of Rigging Expressly Adapted for Sailing Ships. 116 pages of text and illustrations followed by approximately 70 pages of tables and charts. Originally published in Great Britain in 1845, this has been considered one of the primary reference sources for historians and model makers. The eighth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22608 $80.00

Roll over Image to expandThe Baltimore Clipper Its Origin and Development by: Howard Irving Chapelle, First Edition Published by: The Marine Research Society in Salem: 1930. Very good+ in dark blue, textured cloth covered boards with gilt text stamping on the spine and blind embossed ruling on the front board. The cloth at the head and heel of the spine is worn and rubbed and there are a number of the pages with plates which show mild foxing. Without its issued dust jacket. 192 pages including an index followed by a one page ad for other books by the publisher. The book contains 35 plates, 48 plans and 29 figures which include rigging plans, line drawings, and reproductions of contemporary art work. The author provides a detailed history of the development and use of the Baltimore style schooner from 1775 through to 1845. This is the true first edition of this title. (Albion, p. 31) The twenty-second volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22535 $85.00

Roll over Image to expandThe Built-Up Ship Model by: Charles G. Davis, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1933. Near fine in blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. A very tight, clean and attractive copy in a a very good+ unclipped dust jacket with mild wear and rubbing to the upper edge of the spine area with light soiling to the spine area and to the fore edges of the panels. 206 pages containing an index, text with many line drawings through-out o provide a very detailed reference scource for rigging and on-deck features. Plans are included for the construction of a plank on frame, 16-gun brig within the text. The twenty-fifth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22632 $85.00

Roll over Image to expandThe Frigate Constitution and Other Historic Ships by: F. Alexander Magoun, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1928. Good in dark blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. The cloth on the spine is well faded and the head and heel of the spine are worn and rubbed with some fraying. There are several spots of red paint on the lower edges of the boards and some foxing to the preliminaries. Without its issued dust jacket. A folio measuring 13 3/4" high by 10" deep containing 155 pages with an index, 30 illustrated plates,16 plans of ships and 63 detailed illustrations of a viking ship,the Santa Maria, the Mayflower, the Constitution, the Flying Cloud, and the Bluenose. The sixteenth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22554 $60.00

Roll over Image to expandGoin' Fishin' The Story of the Deep-Sea Fishermen of New England by: Wesley George Pierce, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1934. Very good+ in blue, pebbled cloth covered boards with gilt text and rules on the spine. There is a prior owner's book plate on the first free end page and the cloth on the spine is a bit faded with the head and heel rubbed and very slightly worn. Without a dust jacket. 323 pages including an index and illustrated with line drawings and black and white photographs. One of the volumes in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. Per Albion, this title is a "Good firsthand description of methods." (Albion, p. 207) TB22548 $50.00

Roll over Image to expandThe Making Of A Sailor Or Sea Life Aboard A Yankee Square-Rigger by: Frederick Pease Harlow, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem: 1928. Very good in dark blue cloth covered boards with gilt text stamping on the spine. The cloth on the spine is faded and head and heel of the spine are rubbed and there are a number of pages within the text which show mild, light foxing. Without its issued dust jacket. 377 pages of text illustrated with black and white photographs. The seventeenth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22609 $60.00

Roll over Image to expandThe Pirates of the New England Coast 1630-1730 by: George Francis Dow and John Henry Edmonds, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1923. Good in dark red cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine and illustrated end sheets. The cloth on the spine is tanned and well worn at the head and heel with some fraying of the cloth at the head of the spine. Some of the pages within the text show modest foxing and tanning and there is the ghost of a prior owner's book plate on the second free end page. Without a dust jacket. A small quarto measuring 10" tall by 7" deep containing 394 pages including an index, appendices and text. Illustrated with maps and reproductions of contemporary works of art. The second volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22581 $75.00

Roll over Image to expandThe Rigging of Ships in the Days of the Spritsail Topmast 1600-1720 by: R. C. Anderson, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1927. Very good in medium blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. The cloth on the spine is a bit faded and the cloth at the edges of the spine is lightly rubbed and the end pages are beginning to show very faint tanning. Without its issued dust jacket. 278 pages including an index and text. Extensively illustrated with line drawings thtoughout. The fourteenth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22584 $85.00

Roll over Image to expandSailing Days On The Penobscot The River and Bay as They were in The Old Days by: George S. Wasson, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1932. Very good- in blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine and map end sheets. The cloth on the spine is quite faded and the cloth at the head and heel are rubbed, worn is fraying. The hinges, joints and binding are tight and strong with the text block tight, no pages missing and exceptionally clean and free of foxing or any damage. Without its issued dust jacket. 465 pages including an index and followed by a one page ad for other publications by The Marine Research Society. Illustrated with black and white photographs throughout.. "With a record of vessels built there [Penobscot River] compiled by Lincoln Colcord." (Albion, p. 135) One of the volumes in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22557 $175.00

Roll over Image to expandThe Sailing Ships of New England 1607-1907 by: John Robinson and George Francis Dow, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1922. Very good- in blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. The cloth at the head and heel of the spine is well rubbed and faded and there is dust staining to the top edge of the text block. The book is otherwise in a very nice, collectible condition with the binding tight with the joints and hinges tight and strong. Without a dust jacket. 66 pages of text followed by 308 black and white photographic reproductions of sailing vessels from New England. The first volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22611 $150.00

The Sailing Ships of New England Series III by: George Francis Dow, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1928. Poor in blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. This volume has been heavily damaged by water leaving stains across the boards and making all the pages wrinkled. Without a dust jacket. 45 pages of text followed by 770 black and white photographic reproductions of sailing vessels from New England. The twenty-eighth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22612 $25.00

Roll over Image to expandThe Sea, The Ship and the Sailor Tales of Adventure From Log Books and Original Narratives by: Various Authors, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem: 1925. Very good- in 1/4 black cloth and marbled paper covered boards with gilt text on the spine and illustrated end sheets. The cloth at the head of the spine shows a 1/4" deep closed tear with shallow related chipping of`1/32" on either side. There is the ghost of a prior owner's book plate on the first free end page. The title page and many of the illustrated plates within the text show mild foxing. Without its issued dust jacket. One of only ninety-seven copies printed and this copy is identified as number "95". 353 pages including an index of text illustrated with maps and black and white photographs. With an introduction by Captain Elliot Snow. The seventh volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22610 $100.00

The Ship Model Builder's Assistant by: Charles G. Davis, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1926. Good- in dark blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. The cloth on the spine is well faded and rubbed at the extremes. The front and rear hinges are cracked and the binding is shaken. Without its issued dust jacket . 275 pages containing an index, appendices, text and drawings throughout to provide a very detailed reference source for rigging and on-deck features. The twelfth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22559 $30.00

Roll over Image to expandShip Models How To Build Them by: Charles G. Davis, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1925. Very good+ in blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. The cloth at the head and heel of the spine is very slightly rubbed and there is a gift inscription on the first free end page. Without a dust jacket. 139 pages containing an index, text with many line drawings through-out to provide a very detailed reference scource for rigging and on-deck features. A pocket at the rear of the book contains two folded line drawings for the clipper ship Sea-Witch. The eleventh volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22607 $40.00

Roll over Image to expandShipping & Craft in Silhouette by: Charles G. Davis, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1929. Very good+ in bright red cloth covered boards with black text on the spine and black borders on the front board. The cloth on the spine is faded and a number of the pages within the text show modest, light foxing. Without its issued dust jacket. 200 plus pages including an index of silhouettes. Illustrated with 102 outlines or silhouettes of vessels ranging from a Norwegian Viking Ship to a Chinese Lorcha. Laid-in is an example of the silhouette of a ship of 1600 as would look if a leaf were taken out of the book and framed. Nonetheless, all 102 silhouettes are present. The twentieth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22580 $50.00

Roll over Image to expandShips and Shipping A Collection of Pictures Including Many American Vessels Painted by Antoine Roux and His Sons by: Alfred Johnson, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1925. Very good- in red, ribbed cloth covered boards with faded gilt text on the spine. The cloth at the head and heel of the spine is well rubbed and worn and beginning to fray. There is the ghost of a prior owner's book plate evident on the second free end page. The frontispiece and the title page as well as the first plate, index and final pages show light foxing and tanning. Without its scarce dust jacket. 270 pages including an index and 61 pages of text. Illustrated with 118 black and white plates. Introductory text by Louis Bres and reminiscences by Edouard Gaubert. Translated and annotated by Alfred Johnson. "A Dynasty of marine Painters Antoine Roux and His Sons." Originally published in Marseille in 1883. The original text in French is on the verso side of the pages of text while the corresponding English version is on the facing recto page. The ninth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22577 $100.00

Roll over Image to expandSlave Ships and Slaving by: George Francis Dow, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1927. Very good- in black cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. The cloth at the head and heel of the spine as well as at the joints is a bit worn and rubbed. There is a prior owner's name in pencil on the first free end page and a few pages within the text show minor spots of foxing. Without a dust jacket. A small quarto measuring 10" tall by 7" deep containing 349 pages including an index and text. Illustrated with maps and photographic reproductions of earlier works of art. The fifthteenth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22585 $100.00

Roll over Image to expandWhale Ships and Whaling A Pictorial History of Whaling During Three Centuries by: George Francis Dow, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1925. Good in green cloth covered boards with faded gilt text stamping on the spine and illustrated end sheets. The cloth on the spine is well tanned and rubbed and work at the head and heel. There is an area on the fly title page where the glue remains from a removed book plate and the preliminaries show extensive foxing. Without a dust jacket. 446 pages including an index, text and illustrated throughout with black and white plates of photographs and reproductions of earlier works of art. The tenth publication by the Marine Research Society. (Albion, p. 202) TB22547 $100.00

Roll over Image to expandWrecked Among Cannibals In The Fijis A Narrative of Shipwreck & Adventure In The South Seas by: William Endicott, First Edition Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1923. Fair to poor in 1/4 black cloth and light blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine. The cloth at the head of the spine shows a 1/4" deep single tear with related creasing and rubbing. The front board shows water damage with related "high water marks" across the lower 1/3rd of the board both inside and out. A dampness stain invades the lower 1/2 of the first ten pages of the text and there is the ghost of a prior owner's book plate on the first free end page. In a poor dust jacket which is missing the complete spine area with at least the complete front and rear panels and flaps present. The dampness stains noted above are present on the lower half of both panels. A small quarto measuring 9 1/2" tall by 6" deep containing 76 pages of text illustrated with photographs. The third volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22583 $75.00

Yoyages & Discoveries In The South Seas 1792-1832 by: Captain Edmund Fanning, First Edition Marine Research Society Published by: Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass.: 1924. Very good+ in dark blue cloth covered boards with gilt text on the spine and with map end sheets. The cloth at the head and heel of the spine is lightly rubbed and there is a faint stain (tea?) on the first free end page. Without its issued dust jacket. 335 pages including an index, text and illustrated with reproductions of earlier works of art. The author, a native of Stonington, Connecticut, provides his account of his voyages for a period of 25 years beginning in 1792 through the Pacific south seas and around the world. The sixth volume in the series of publications by the Marine Research Society. TB22546 $40.00

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