Whenever I come home from a book fair, I set my purchases aside for collation and inspection. If a previously undetected flaw emerges, it’ll be close enough to the time of purchase that the original seller will not be excessively inconvenienced by its return. Sometimes, however, distractions arise. When I returned from New York last month, I put all my purchases on a shelf, commenced collation and inspection, and then… I don’t remember exactly. There was a minor flood in the basement, the lawn needed mowing, a film crew arrived to do some gun stuff, I had to run up to Maine. In short, no shortage of half-assed excuses for not doing my job in an efficient manner.
In fact, it wasn’t until I started working on Maritime List 310 (coming your way in a few days, I hope), that I rediscovered my New York shelf. There were a couple of standards on it, such as Bligh’s “Narrative,” and an early American book on artillery, not to mention a few tasty bits of manuscript and ephemeral material.
But the real surprise was my rediscovery of a book I purchased Saturday morning at the Flamingo shadow show:
Douglas, Sir Howard. A Treatise on Naval Gunnery. London: John Murray, 1860. 22.5 cm. xii, 668, 32 (adverts) pp. b/w frontispiece, folding plates, ills. in text.
Fifth edition, revised, of a classic and influential text first published in 1820. It is an exhaustive work, covering theoretical, practical and tactical aspects of gunnery. Douglas was a prolific writer and his ideas were of such importance that the gunnery training ship “Excellent”was established in part as a result of this book. (See DNB). Douglas was sensitive to technological changes and this later edition takes into account improvements in the manufacture of gunpowder and the existence of steam-powered vessels in naval warfare.
All well and good. But the most attractive aspect of this book is its powerful association. It is signed twice – on the front pastedown and the front blank – by James D. Bulloch, dated August 1861. This is a particularly significant date, because a contract was made between British ship builders John Laird Sons & Co., and Captain James D. Bulloch on August 1, 1861, for the construction of a 210-foot ship of war at a cost of ₤47,500.She was referred to as #209 when she was on the ways, But after launching she became known, and feared, as “CSS Alabama.”
Bulloch, a former US Navy officer, was the Confederacy’s chief foreign agent in Great Britain. As such, he oversaw the blockade runners and commerce raiders whose depredations provided the Confederacy with its only source of hard currency. He arranged for the purchase by British merchants of Confederate cotton, the dispatch of armaments and other war supplies to the South, and the construction and acquisition of a number of other warships and blockade runners, including the notorious Confederate raider “CSS Alabama.” On the verso of the front blank is a further inscription, “from the Alabama,” and on the next blank are two paragraphs of notes relating to specific aspects of gunnery related in the text. The last of these notes refers by name to the Douglas-inspired training ship “Excellent.”
Inside the book are dozens of marginal linings, many with manicules (pointy finger symbols) highlighting important sections of Douglas’s work.
The book is bound as issued in publisher’s ribbed blue cloth, but it has seen hard use. The inner front hinge is nearly cracked through, leaving the text block on the verge of separating from its covers. An old newspaper clipping has been taped to the front blank, and there are two crude celotape repairs to the binding. An important association copy, in need of minor restoration. $750
Jeff says
Nice find Greg……………good scouting.
Sim says
Evening Greg, I had a phone call from Democrats Abroad the other day to make sure I’m registered for the midterm elections, so I took the opportunity to talk with a fellow Democrate. Biden is too old to win next time and the party needs to tell him that and find someone who can beat Trump. So picture it. Joe knows this is the end of the road and it’s time to at least get one important thing done. Next Monday at 0900 he signs an Executive Order which bans the ownership of any automatic weapon. Every owner has 30 days to hand in their weapons to local federal authorities. In exchange they will each receive a coupon for One single shot flintlock musket which is the gun the 2nd Amendment provides ownership of by all American citizens. Further acts will deal with those who previously sold automatic wespons and now sell flintlock muskets and ditto to those who previously manufactured automatic weapons. Cheers, Sin Comfort
Eric says
400 million guns in USA…approximately 45% of guns in the world, reside quite comfortably in The “Untied” States of America. Trump and guns are just 2 reasons, that I no longer reside in USA,
Eric C. Caren
Brothers Without Arms says
Ain’t gonna study war no more……..?
Why you……?
It’s like a Jew putting Hitler stuff on eBay or out on the table at book fair….…censorship or learning moment…
There’s them that does and them that don’t
Others may continue to do until the last man standing doesn’t …because no one left agrees or is left on earth to listen…..
No balance sheet for protest versus use….
It just doesn’t add up.
However … I get it….. if you know of a senior arthritic Lincoln Brigade going to the Ukraine ….. put them in touch….
On my death bed I will say…..” I never understood any of it….
Never did… never will…..”
But….. I gave it my best _ _ _ _ !
Marvin Getman says
I’m waiting for people to say they miss you Eric.