The Seaman's Signal Manual for the use of Her Majesty's Fleet

British Admiralty; Royal Navy

Published by Official Copy HMSO, London, 1899

About this Item

21, (3), 12 plates pages; Original blue cloth covered card binding, gilt title on upper cover; cloth rubbed and scratched at spine andfront cover; LC bookplate and two institutional stamps - LC surplus release stamp on ffep and presentation stamp from the British Admiralty. Text and plates clean and complete. Two b&w illustrations (semafore signals), plus twelve colour plates, lithographed by Wyman and Sons. Pagination: 21, (3), 12 plates. OCLC 752909111. WorldCat identifies 2 locations and COPAC cites four locations for this 1899 edition. Colour plates are clean and bright. "the English did employ signal books as early as 1714. John Greenwood s signal book was the first of the sort published in England and was not updated until some thirty years later by John Millan in 1746. However, both manuals were merely commercial ventures rather than tactical works. . By 1806, William, then the Duke of Clarence, had invested in his own naval signal book. William was on the cutting edge of maritime communication as such manuals were long absent from British naval tactics." Throughout the 18th and 19th century various texts relating to nautical signals and signaling appeared, with the Royal Navy eventually settling on this commmonly accepted manual.

Seller Inventory # 44622

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Seaman's Signal Manual for the use of Her Majesty's Fleet
• Publisher: Official Copy HMSO, London
• Publication Date: 1899
• Binding: Softcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • 19th Century
  • Travel and Exploration
  • Military History