Ghost Ships, Hamilton and Scourge : Historical Treasures from the War of 1812

Windsor, Berkshire [U.K.]:: Fountain Press Ltd., 1983. 8.25" wide by 10.75" tall. A square, tight copy. Sharp corners. The Dust Jacket is clean and bright, with just a touch of rubbing at the edges. Pages are fresh and crisp. No underlining. No highlighting. No margin notes. This book gives the historical background and details the archaeological recovery of two American schooners sunk by a sudden squall on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. In 1982 a photographic survey of both vessels confirmed their near-perfect preservation and the presence of a remarkable array of artifacts. The book is lavishly illustrated with underwater photographs, old maps and prints, paintings of officers and crew, etc. Endpapers feature line drawings of the two vessels. From the Dust Jacket: "Author Emily Cain presents eye-witness accounts of the naval campaigns in which Hamilton and Scourge were involved as well as a documented picture of their pre-war role on the lake as merchant schooners. In particular, Seaman Ned Myers recounts firsthand the sinking of Hamilton and Scourge as told to one-time shipmate James Fenimore Cooper. Profusely illustrated with color photographs by NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC photographer Emory Kristof, engravings, portraits, documents, and drawings, GHOST SHIPS delightfully brings to life the story of these historical treasures…" List of chapter notes/sources. Index. Bound in the original brown boards, lettered in shiny gold on the spine.. First British Edition.. Hard Cover. Fine condition./Very Good+ dust jacket.. Illus. by Kristof, Emory (color photographs). 152pp..