The History of the American Sailing Navy Value Guide

This seminal work by Howard I. Chapelle, a former Smithsonian curator and naval architect, serves as the definitive technical record of U.S. Navy ship design. Published by Bonanza Books between 1950 and 1970, this edition is highly sought after by maritime historians for its detailed architectural plans and authoritative research.

What affects the value of The History of the American Sailing Navy?

• The presence and condition of the original dust jacket significantly impacts the $15-$25 price range.
• Overall structural integrity, specifically the tightness of the binding and lack of foxing on the paper.
• Provenance or markings indicating previous ownership by maritime institutions or noted historians.
• The clarity and preservation of the technical ship drawings and architectural plates.

How to Identify The History of the American Sailing Navy?

• Verify the publisher is listed as Bonanza Books on the title page and spine.
• Check for the original cloth-bound hardcover binding typical of mid-century reprints.
• Confirm the presence of Howard I. Chapelle's name as the primary author and naval authority.
• Look for the inclusion of fold-out ship plans or detailed technical illustrations throughout the text.

History of The History of the American Sailing Navy

First published in 1949, this work by Howard I. Chapelle remains a definitive reference for maritime historians. Chapelle was a renowned naval architect and curator of maritime history at the Smithsonian Institution. This particular edition was published by Bonanza Books, a known reprint house that specialized in affordable, high-quality editions of historical and technical texts.