Supplement Observations Construction Ships (2 results)

Full-Leather. Condition: Good. First Edition. Original full-leather binding with spine label. Leather worn. Hinges holding well. 208 pages, with illustrations and 7 plates, numbered as 6. An extraordinarily rare volume by innovative British mariner, ship designer, and nautical inventor Richard Hall Gower, with special attention paid to his experimental vessel, Transit, which is featured in the volume. Gower was among the first to bring empirical science to bear on naval architecture. His intention was to improve ship design that, in whatever wind and weather, vessels would sail safely, speedily and economically with a crew properly accommodated and put to no unnecessary risk. Gower was among the first who saw the vessel as a single entity in which all the parts, hull, rigging and sails, and, in Gower's view, crew, should related to each other in ways appropriate to the task to be performed. This entailed giving greater consideration to designing the vessel as a whole, rather than leaving it to the various crafts to perform their respective works as best they could--an approach now called "holistic". Gower also recognized that for innovations to be successful they had to be well founded in good science, properly protected by letters patent and backed by the Crown, government, patrons and merchant venturers. Gower defended most of his ideas by applying for letters patent, explaining the original invention and expounding the physical theories he believed supported his innovations. Three different versions of the Transit, along with other vessels, became working models of his experiments in nautical design and invention of parts. As part of his holistic approach, Gower was also an advocate of humanitarian reforms aboard ships to improve the lives of sailors, speaking out forcefully against the traditional cruelties of naval punishments. A rare volume. Only 3 known copies held in institutional libraries around the world.

Addressed to the Honourable the Committee of Shipping of the East-India Company. 4to. Original wrappers, corner torn off upper cover, a damp stain on lower cover. 17 pp. London, Discussing the copper-sheathing of ships.