True Stories of H. M. Ship Royal George From 1746 to 1841

E. Hartnall, 1841 . 1st Edition. VG+. First Edition 6.7 x 9.2 cm leather backed wooden boards with illustrations taken from the book to the front and rear with gilt stamped titles to the spine. All edges gilt, pale yellow endpapers, 116pp with 4 engraved plates. The book is in much better condition than is usually found and unusually the boards have been illustrated with similar illustrations to two of those in the book. It is likely that, as with copies of this edition, the boards are made from timber recovered from the wreck. There is rubbing to the spine tips and minor loss of 1-2mm at the foot of the spine and also to the boards where there has been rounding to the corners with minor loss to the bottom corner of the rear board. Internally there is minor loss to the front free endpaper and an associated 2.5cm closed tear along the front fore edge. There is no name, inscription or bookplate and the pages are surprisingly clean with creases to the very tips of the the top corners of a couple of pages. The Royal George was the largest warship in the world at the time of her launch on 18 February 1756. By the time she sank with the loss of over 800 lives during maintenance while anchored at Spithead she had seen service in both The Seven Years War and the American Revolutionary War. Several attempts were made to raise the vessel both for salvage and because she posed a major hazard to navigation in the Solent. This book covers the story of her sinking and the attempts to raise and later destroy the vessel. Rainford & Parris Books welcomes enquiries, so please do not hesitate to ask if you require further images or have any questions. All books are packaged with great care.