A Treatise on Navigation by Steam; Comprising a History of the Steam Engine, and an Essay towards a System of the Naval Tactics Peculiar to Steam Navigation, as Applicable both to Commerce and Maritime Warfare; including a Comparison of its Advantages as related to other Systems in the Circumstances of Speed, Safety and Economy, but more particularly in that of the National Defence. Ross, Captain John. Arctic,Maritime,Polar

First edition. 4to. pp. xxiv, 182, [2], 68 (Appendix); eng. frontis. of"The James Watt, Steam Packet, Propelling against a storm", 31 figures to text including 1 engraved plate, errata slip tipped-in at p.1; a little foxing to frontis., else very good in contemporary full calf, expertly rebacked with original spine retained, gilt decorated spine with contrasting lettering piece, minor wear to extrems. Presentation inscription to flyleaf from Lady Rivett-Carnac to Richard Creighton in 1844 with recipient's ownership inscription to title-page, the Bertram Plimer copy with his bookplate loosely inserted. The British Admiralty had been slow in seeing the advantages of steam navigation when Ross wrote this, the first work on steam navigation by a naval officer. His plea for the new technology was borne out in practice by Ross himself, who at that time was preparing his second attempt at the North-West Passage aboard the paddle steamer Victory. A rarity of the literature.