Howard M. Chapin — Early Sea-Presses

New York, Press of Ars Typographica , 1925 . First edition. Paperback. A very scarce study surrounding the earliest printing presses used at sea, written by Howard M. Chapin. The first edition. Bound in the publisher's original paper wraps. Very scarce. This fascinating historical work presents an insight into the earliest printing-presses found on board of ships in the eighteenth century. The author explores the usage of these sea-presses, with particular reference of those on board the Languedoc, an early French vessel which travelled from Toulon to Boston in 1778. With a frontispiece showing a facsimile image of the 'Declaration addressee, au nom du Roi', from the Languedoc voyage, and five further facsimile images. Written by Howard M. Capin, a librarian of the Rhode Island Historical Society. With the bookplates of U. S. naval surgeon and medical historical, Frank Lester Pleadwell and his daughter, Laura Mell Pleadwell. Bound in the publisher's original paper wraps. Externally, very good, with fading to the extremities and small closed tears to the head and tail of the spine. Bookplates to front paste down. Internally, front endpaper and half title are detached, but present. Otherwise firmly bound. Pages very bright and clean. Good . Ill.: None. Good .