The Council of Colonization Period Ships Mitchell's Manifest Buy and Sell Whaling and Maritime Related Books, Prints, Paintings, Artifacts etc.
FREDERICK MITCHELL 47 Alice Street 617/994-6870 Dartmouth , MA 02747
J. Tuttle Maritime Books 1806 Laurel Crest f.\adison , WI 53705
Catalog upon request of out-of-print books on the sea, ship and the sailor.
SEA FEVER BOOKS
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PO Box 461 , East Haddon CT 06423 (203) 873-8881
We specialize in out-of-print and rare nautical books. Free nautical catalog upon request. Search service available.
We buy nautical/maritime books. 32
by Nicholas S. Benton When Gary Brown accepted the assignment as a vol unteer researcher for the Sea Lion project, he had no idea that he might come up against any problems that couldn 't be solved by dogged determination and perseverance in poring over endless pages of archival materials . Most of his work was, indeed, straightforwardget a sixpence minted in 1586 from England , photocopy a dictionary and so on. But now he was faced with a problem of extraordinary dimensions: Get an inventory of equipment and weapons copied from Oppenheim's Administration of the Royal Navy , Volume/: 15091660. But because of this particular work's rarity , it fell into a category at the library which forbade any reproduction whatsoever. In the end, Brown got his copy, but not through ordinary channel s. Hi s story, however, helps to illustrate one of the many diffic ul ties one encounters in researching and replicating pre-nineteenth century ships. Much of the difficulty stems from the simple lack of records. With much of the world illiterate or semi-literate, records were seldom made and much less often kept. Of those that do survive, most are vague in their description of details. And worse still, as in the case of Brown 's nearly inaccessible inventory, one cannot always gain access to rare documents . Behind the scenes at the Sea Lion project and other replica ship efforts such as the Mayflower, Elizabeth and Godspeed , one can hear the subdued grumblings of researchers who have exhausted every reasonable lead . Their consternation is shared by shipwrights , riggers and crews in search of authentic materials and tool s - ''What do you mean there is no more hemp houseline?" Rare materials are becoming more expensive all the time, and frequently when they are available one can only obtain them in quantities exceeding one's need or budget. After years of involvement in replica projects in both a personal and a professional capacity, I began to detect a universal need for a banding together to help overcome the logistical problems. Heretofore there has been very little communication between the far-fl ung members of this small but vital community. Most of the particular issues and problems that confront builders of pre-nineteenth century vessels are of little interest to the majority of general maritime organizations or publications. So , out of the need for an organization that can facilitate the nuts and bolts operations of groups involved in the building and sailing of replica ships, the Council of Colonization Period Ships was born .
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The Elizabeth II, autumn 1986 . The goals are diverse but precise. Objectives include compiling a period bibliography and index , bringing new archaeological evidence to print and publishing technical works for which there is no practical market. Organizing crew exchanges and visits, conferences and sailing functions are other goals. The joint ordering of rare materials such as hemp ropes , flax sail cloth, masting stock, iron, and so on is another priority. Providing advice to new projects so that they are spared the mistakes experienced by others is yet another purpose . With these objectives in mind , the interested parties have been corresponding-partially through a newsletter-and preparing for a meeting to be held 6-7 October 1987. The meeting will be held in association with the Alexandria Seaport Foundation , the National Maritime Historical Society, and as an affinity group of the National Trust for Historic Preservation just before the Trust's annual meeting in Washington . People involved with research and the operation of pre-nineteenth century ships from around the country will meet to establish a more formal structure and system of communications. A number of organizations will be bringing sailing and rowing craft for a " Rendezvous of Colonial Craft" on the Potomac. '!'he Council of Colonization Period Ships is an entirely volunteer organization open to virtually anyone. At present no dues or conference fees are required. All participants have come together out of a mutual desire to promote better conditions under which these historical reproductions can thrive. Address membership inquiries to: Council of Colonization Period Ships, c/o The Rigging Gang, 1134 Wapping Rd., Middle town, RI 02840, 401 846-0102 SEA HISTORY , AUTUMN 1987