> --- In Paddleducks@y..., "David Allinson" <dallinson@a...> wrote:
(Snip)
> > There is another book, which I don't have, called "Clyde Passenger
> > Steamers". By Capt Williamson. Should be good read, as it was
> > originally published in 1904. Probably much more data and memories
> >available then (snip)
--- In Paddleducks@y..., "paulrjordan" <paulrjordan@c...> wrote:>
> Hi David!
>
> The book you refer to is:
>
> "THE CLYDE PASSENGER STEAMER: its rise and progress during the
> nineteenth century: from the 'Comet' of 1812 to the "King Edward' of
> 1901. Auth- James Williamson, Captain. English Books/Text 382pp.
> illust., ports. ; 23 cm. Pub Glasgow : J. Maclehose, 1904.
>
> This is an extremely rare book and I have never seen one come up for
> sale on the net in the past year.
....UNTIL TONIGHT, DAVID!!!!! I heaped a little more Welsh Coal on
the search engines (just one "S" made all the difference) and I have
found not one but TWO copies of this book currently available for
sale...and where else?? In Scotland of course!!!
Here is the description of one of the copies that ANY collector would
adore!
WILLIAMSON, Captain James. The Clyde Passenger Steamer Its Rise and
Progress During the Nineteenth Century from the Comet of 1812 to the
King Edward of 1901. Glasgow: Maclehose & Sons. 1904 Pp.xv,382,
frontispiece portrait, numerous illustrations, PRESENTATION COPY FROM
AUTHOR TO HIS SON, with ink inscription on front free end paper, also
signed in ink on preface, original cloth gilt, some minor marks on
cloth, corners slightly rubbed, boards slightly bowed but a tight
copy. This one at £85.00
Boy oh boy...wouldn't THIS be a treat for any Clyde Paddler
enthusiast.
The second book is described as follows:
Captain James Williamson: The Clyde Passenger Steamer : Its Rise and
Progress During the Nineteenth Century . From the "Comet" of 1812 to
the "King Edward" of 1901. Glasgow, James MacLehose and Sons, 1904
First. Illustrated portrait frontispiece of William Denny.
Illustrated with b/w photographs of steamers, owners, designers etc.
Includes discussion of the rivalry of steamships with railway, boilers
and engines, a complete list of steamers from 1812 to 1901, and
details of the railway companies in 1901. 382pp. Original blue cloth
with gilt lettering on spine. Some shelf-wear to top and bottom of
spine. Beginning to split along front hinge, but holding. Previous
owner's inscription deleted on front fly-leaf and another inscription
on title page, neatly in ink. Good/ VG. Scarce.
Price: US$ 84.49
If you, David, or anyone else is seriously interested in acquiring
this book(s) email me off list for further contact information.
Now...still on the subject of rare books...you'll LOVE this story. Go
grab a coffee and sit down..you'll NEED to!
One of the Hudson's Bay/Canadian Pacific Navigation sidewheelers I am
currently researching is the "Princess Louise" (1878) but there is
very little information available on her. So, having exhausted all
the Museums and Archives, what better place to go looking than with
the people who served aboard Canadian Pacific Coastal steamers of the
Northwest. I was put in contact with a wonderful octogenarian in
Victoria who had served aboard the CP "Princess Marguerite" when she
was torpedoed and sunk during WW2 in the Mediterranean. He went on to
become an Engineeer Inspector for CP ships and knows all of their
vessels intimately.
His basement workshop is a veritable Aladdin's Cave of models and
miniature operating ship's steam engines, stacked on shelves..although
all covered in a layer of sawdust!! He is also rather partial to
paddlers and years ago built a beautiful 1:48 "Director"
sidewheeler!!! (pictures to follow for Eddy, Trevor, and the
"Forceful" gang!) Well, you can imagine there weren't many pauses in
the conversation during my two hour visit....I fear I must have truly
tired the poor guy out!
He then told me he had a book which I could borrow as it would be very
useful in my research of the early paddlewheelers of Puget Sound and
the Pacific Northwest where I live. He then produced a plastic bag
covered in sawdust which, after he'd dusted it off, revealed a
beautiful enormous old leatherbound book tooled in gold...and weighing
almost as much!
"Take it home and read it" he said "it belonged to my Dad who arrived
here (on the West Coast) in 1865 and look..." said he proudly pointing
to a name in the index "that's him..he was a Chief Engineer with
Hudson's Bay and CPN".
I got the book home and eagerly removing it's plastic cover I opened
the heavy green tooled leather cover. The first thing I noticed was
the date..1895! The enormous book is full of detailed information on
all the West Coast paddle steamers while they were STILL in service
It contains numerous ship photographs and early photo portraits of
many of the Captains, Engineers and owners. I later found out that
each had paid a princely $100.00 to have their portrait included in
the book!!
I thought how much I'd love to own a similar copy of this truly
wonderful book since I had NEVER heard of it before. I cranked up the
search engines and it wasn't long before I turned up eight copies
available worldwide..but of a 1961 Edition, whereas this one THIS one
was 1895. These later editions are available from $US125 up to $350.00
in average condition! I reworded the search string a number of times
and PRESTO..suddenly up they came... five 1895 first editions
vailable for sale.
The least expensive one I found is in very poor condition at US
$325.00...The one in front of me is PERFECT!
Are you still sitting down??? Because, here's a listing that pretty
well describes the book sitting on my desk here!
Wright, E.W. [ed]: LEWIS & DRYDEN'S MARINE HISTORY OF THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST. AN ILLUSTRATED REVIEW OF THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENTS OF THE
MARITIME INDUSTRY, FROM THE ADVENT OF THE EARLIEST NAVIGATORS TO THE
PRESENT TIME, WITH SKETCHES AND PORTRAITS OF A NUMBER OF WELL KNOWN
MARINE MEN.
Portland. 1895. 494pp. plus plates and maps. Folio. Original pebbled
morocco, gilt-stamped cover and spine. Contemporary ownership
signature on verso of front free endpaper, slight wear to extremities.
Internally very clean. Very good. The most important and reliable
marine history of the Pacific Northwest to date of
publication, and a fundamental reference for the history of the entire
Pacific Coast. Includes many hitherto unpublished logs, narratives of
exploration, accounts of steamboating on the Snake River, the logging
industry, the gold rush, boundary controversies, exploration of the
Columbia and inland waters, Indian difficulties, etc. Essential in all
regards.
and now the PRICE! US$ 1250.00 (approx. C$ 1991.94). !!!!!!!!
TWO THOUSAND CANADIAN DOLLARS worth of book sitting in front of me
on my humble little desk!!!!
Incidentally, the next two were US$800.00 going down to US$600.00 for
a very marginal copy!
After my eyes regained their normal size I immediately called my old
"engineer" friend and told him to never again keep this treasure in
his dusty workshop and call his insurance company immediately to list
the item on his policy. I have this wonderful book for another week
and am feverishly (and VERY carefully) scanning and copying notes from
it...there's almost an electricity which emanates from its pages and
the smell of history from within it is intoxicating! WHO can have ever
thought musty old books are boring!!
PJ
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