American Clipper Ships, 1833-1858: Volume I

by Octavius T. Howe and Frederick C. Matthews

Book Overview

The legend of the American clipper ship endures not only as one of the most stirring portraits of adventure on the open sea but also as one of the most celebrated manifestations of a growing nation's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486251152
• ISBN13: 9780486251158
• Release Date: February 2012
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

The only reference Guide to American Clipper Ships available

This excellent reference guide originally published by the Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass. in 1926-27, actually consists of two Volumes:Vol 1: Adelaide-Lotus: ISBN: 0486251152 Vol 2: Malay-Young Mechanic: ISBN: 0486251160Volume 1 covers all American Clipper Ships built from 1833-1858 whose names begin with the letters A through L, and Volume 2 covers from M through Y. I don't know why they are offered separately, as Volume 1 also contains the introduction and Volume 2 the Index, so it makes no sense to purchase these separately. Also the pagination is consecutive. The brief introduction explains the criteria used to define a Clipper Ship, which is a ship "...of peculiar construction, designed for great speed rather than for capacity." (p.v) The authors Octavius T. Howe and Frederick C. Matthews consider the "Ann McKim" launched at Baltimore in 1833 to be the first Clipper, and the era of the Clipper to be over by 1858 with the launching of "The Star of Peace" at Newburyport. The books are basically listings of all 352 known Clipper Ships arranged alphabetically. Some entries are brief; others however are quite lengthy and include excerpts of contemporary descriptions in the Press and in Correspondence. It seems that the Sailing Records of Ships were of great interest to the authors, so the records of the fastest voyages on several routes can be found in these books. The Index includes not only the names of Ships, but also of Captains, Owners and Builders. Also included are reproductions of about 100 paintings and some drawings. These have not fared so well in the reprint edition, and their quality is sometimes not so good, but many are still helpful. This almost 800 page long book can be used as a reference book, or as a book just to page around. Original editions are quite hard to come by and expensive, so this reprint edition is very reasonably priced and a welcome addition to any Bookshelf of Maritime History.Review by Walter O. Koenig