The History of a Ship from Her Cradle to Her Grave, Grandpa Ben (James Lukin)

£102.50

The History of a Ship from Her Cradle to Her Grave, Grandpa Ben (James Lukin)

Name: The History of a Ship from Her Cradle to Her Grave, Grandpa Ben (James Lukin)
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4450
Price: 102.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

Write Review

In stock

£102.50

Shipping is calculated at checkout.

The History of a Ship from Her Cradle to Her Grave, Grandpa Ben (James Lukin) — New Edition

Publication: London, George Routledge & Sons, 1882

Formatting: Crown 8vo, pp. 382.

Condition Report: Good. The original dark blue cloth binding remains structurally sound, boasting striking, largely unoxidised gilt and black nautical tooling to the upper board and spine. The extremities, however, exhibit noticeable shelf-wear; the corners are bumped and rubbed, and the spine ends show fraying with minor cloth loss. Furthermore, there are remnants of old paper adhesion to the upper edge of the rear board, which also displays minor scuffing and blind-stamped decoration. The text-block, featuring all edges gilt, is slightly dulled and scratched from handling and presents a mild forward lean. Internally, moderate foxing is present, primarily isolated to the preliminary leaves, frontispiece, title page, and publisher’s advertisements, while the main body of text remains largely bright and highly legible. An attractive, well-handled example of Victorian trade publishing.

Catalogue Note: A visually arresting 1882 "New Edition" of James Lukin’s nautical primer, famously penned under the pseudonym 'Grandpa Ben'. Heavily illustrated throughout with striking engravings, including a notable frontispiece of the steamship Devastation, the work was notably printed by the esteemed Dalziel Brothers at the Camden Press.

Bound in a highly decorative publisher's cloth that brilliantly typifies late-Victorian trade bindings, the volume captures the era's fascination with maritime expansion and technological advancement, specifically highlighting its updated accounts of modern steamships and torpedoes. While copies appear with moderate frequency on the open market, they are often found heavily degraded; few retain such vibrant and untarnished gilt tooling to the upper board.

Penned under the endearing pseudonym 'Grandpa Ben,' The History of a Ship from Her Cradle to Her Grave is a captivating maritime voyage designed to educate and enthral the Victorian reader. Tracing the lifespan of a vessel from the shipyard to the high seas, this work provides a comprehensive look at 19th-century shipbuilding, navigation, and naval life. With an added supplement on the advent of modern steamships and torpedoes, it offers a fascinating, beautifully illustrated snapshot of a transitional era in Britain's rich maritime history.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Grandpa Ben (James Lukin)

Book Publisher: George Routledge & Sons

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Aviation & Maritime

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 382

Book Publication Year: 1882

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Cloth)

Illustrator: Dalziel Brothers

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.