Commander Raphael Semmes (2 results)

Cloth. Condition: Good Only. Not Stated (illustrator). First edition. The first edition of this fascinating account of two Confederate Naval raiding ships and their missions during the American Civil War. The first edition of this work, with a London edition published in the same year by Saunders, Otley & Co. Bound in the original, publisher's cloth binding. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece portrait of Raphael Semmes. This fascinating work tells of the maritime adventures of The Alabama and The Sumter; two Confederate Navy ships, that operated as commercial raider vessels against Union forces, during the American Civil War. The historical account, compiled from the papers of its captain, Raphael Semmes, and his officers, with detail of their naval strategies, challenges in supply chain and their opposition to the dominant, Union naval fleet. Bound in the original, publisher's cloth binding.Externally, a little sad. Fading to cloth at spine and boards. Damp staining to board extremities. Dark stain to front board. A small tear and lifting to cloth at the head and tail of spine, extending to the front joint. Slight bumping to extremities. Lacking the original front free end paper. Tiding to lower gutter of rear pastedown and end papers. Internally, binding fragile in places. Hinge starting and strained in places throughout. Pages 75 to 94, working loose and held by a single cord. Pages generally bright, with the odd handling mark or spot and marginal age toning throughout. Good Only. book.

Couverture rigide. Condition: Très bon. New York, Carleton publisher (London, Saunders Otley and Co), 1864, probably first edition, hardcover, original dark green textured cloth with gilt lettering to spine and blind stamped decorations to boards (other copies on the net stated blue cloth for the first edition ?), about 7 ¼ X 5 ¼ inches, 328 pages, illustrated with a portrait frontispiece. Our copy is in very fine condition. Cover is flawless EXCEPT only for some oxydation to gilted lettering and decoration at spine. Interior is very fine too without noticeable wear or flaw except three library stamps on title page, some light dust soiling to page edges and a few short creases to last free endpaper. A nice copy.