Below and Above the Water Line
Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs Limited, Circa 1909. Small octavo, olive-green cloth, spine and front cover printed with black lettering, front cover printed with illustration in black, [x], 140 pp., illustrated throughout with 24 black-and-white plates, one black-and white map included. Spine ends and corners of covers bumped, water mark on top left of front cover that extends over top end of spine to back-right corner of back cover without loss of text, spotting on top and fore-edge of text block, foxing on endpapers, some rubbing of leaves close to spine on title page and verso, partial split in binding between leaves iii and iv but holding firm, a line on leaf 105 is smudged without loss of text, top inside corners of leaves 122 to endpaper stuck together without loss of text, half-title page inscribed by the author, "Author's Copy" handwritten on title page, map is loose and top left corner is missing; otherwise a good copy. Possibly first edition. This handsome slim volume was written by Captain Walter Manning (under the pseudonym "Seafarer") at the beginning of the 20th Century and tells of his time with New Zealand's Union Steam Ship Company. The Merchant Service of the British Empire was a crucial food-carrying link between nations during peacetime and a means of transport during wartime. In his acutely observed writing, Captain Manning details the duties and lives of those who worked on steamships, "from the humblest coaltrimmer to those wielding the controlling power."
The pieces collected here first appeared in The Press, Christchurch's daily newspaper (which was first published in 1861 and is still circulating today) and offer an intriguing insight into the golden era of steamships.
Loosely inserted at the back of this book is a map with top left corner of the leaf missing, titled "Chart of Coast Line between Sydney & Brisbane" Item #4818
Inscribed by the author on the half-title page with: 'To E W Manning Esq. With the Authors com-pliments "Seafarer" (Capt W Manning) SS Mararoa Sept 26th 1911.' Written in the same handwriting on the top left corner of the title page is 'Author's Copy'.
Price (AUD): $100.00