Histoire navale

8vo., Tenth Edition thus, with 18 plates containing 24 plans of naval battles, 3 full-page maps and large folding map (this last lightly age-soiled); handsomely bound in full navy crushed morocco, sides with gilt frame border, back with raised bands ruled in gilt, second and fourth compartments lettered and ruled in gilt, all other compartments tooled with anchor in gilt, gilt top, hand-made endpapers, ribbon marker, uncut, gilt blocking from original upper board and backstrip mounted on new and separate preliminaries, a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. Mahan's most celebrated work, written whilst still a captain and first published in Boston earlier the same year. It is here that Mahan coins the term 'sea power' and in a masterly opening chapter defines the elements of this concept. Thereafter he embarks on a stage-by-stage analysis of the maritime conflicts that resulted in Britain's naval supremacy, illustrating his strategic assessments with a flood of examples. After some while in the doldrums, Mahan's reputation as a naval historian and strategist is once again on the rise. Albion, p.211; Hattendorf, A2b; NMM V/1 514; Sandler 2196 (all recording the first UK edition).