Author Robert H. Davis.
includes books on or published by Siebe Gorman & Co.
and Henry Siebe.

Davis had a boundless enthusiasm for everything to do with diving and breathing apparatus which is evident in what he wrote and how he ran the company. He was always looking at something new and, over the years, developed an extraordinary diversity of products. That he should find time to write at all is of great credit to him and when we consider the scope and depth of his writing it is clear that this was his life. [pj]

He is of course remembered by so many divers, both professional and recreational, for his fascinating diving manuals which we know collectively as DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS.  (As you will note, the first three editions were not called this). 

As the title of the cover often differs from the title on the title page. I have listed the title page first (which is generally regarded as the true title of any publication) followed by the text on the cover.

CGP - Current Going Price - is available. 
 

[Prior to Deep Diving and Submarine Operations.]
 
 

.. 

MANUAL FOR DIVERS,
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMARINE OPERATIONS, &c, &c, &c
ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES
INVENTORS, PATENTEES, AND MANUFACTUYRING OF THE IMPROVED DIVING APPARATUS, 
For which Thirty Gold and Silver Medals have been Awarded.
SOLE MANUFACTURERS TO THE ROYAL NAVY.
Neptune Work:
BONIFACE ST., WESTMINISTER BRIDGE ROAD, LONDON
Offices: 187, WESTMINISTER BRIDGE ROAD, S.E.

Unwin Brothers, Printers. 27 Pilgrim Street, Ludgate Hill, E.C.

Hardcover, seventeen plates (in one copy reported), 9 x 6 inches size.
There are 45 printed pages with 22 plates, all at the back of the manual and printed single sided.  The printed text section really has 49 printed pages as there are also pages 22A, 22B, 22D and 22E - for some reason no page 22C?  The illustrations are numbered from Plate 1 to Plate 17, however, there are two plates numbered 3A, plus Plates 5A, 7A, 13A and 15A, making up to 22 illustrations.

The book appears to be the same in content to that of the 1895 and 1896 editions. 

.. Click to enlarge.

.. .

Details kindly provided by D.K. 

TITLE PAGE
Click to enlarge.

CONTENTS
Click to enlarge.

DIVING SCIENTIFICALLY AND PRACTICALLY CONSIDERED.
BEING A DIVING MANUAL AND HANDBOOK OF SUBMARINE APPLIANCES.
COMPILED AND EDITED BY R. H. DAVIS
Title on cover: A DIVING MANUAL SUBMARINE APPLIANCES AND THEIR USES, DEEP SEA DIVING ?c., ?c. PRICE 5/-
Published by Siebe, Gorman ? co. Ltd., London; no specific date indicated on the book. It is  the precursor to the following editions that resulted in  Deep Diving ? Submarine Operations.  See note on publishing date, below.
Physical: Quarto size, 10.5 x 8.25 x 0.75 inches. Bound in pale blue cloth covered boards with gold titling on front and spine.
(Note alss that a single copy is known to exist in grey paper covered boards with dark blue titling. The spine is of blue cloth, without titling; the content is identical).
Contents: 184 pp + (1) pages (6A ? 6B). Includes list of contents and list of illustrations but no alphabetical index. 
This is the first Diving Manual known to be compiled and edited by R.H. Davis and sets the pattern of basic content and general layout adopted in subsequent editions. It followed hot on the heels of the British Admiralty's deep diving trials of 1906 and contained the first published decompression tables, established by Haldane as a result of those trials. Another very important concern of the day, submarine escape, was also covered at length with details of the newly developed Hall, Rees escape apparatus. The text is amply illustrated, mainly from photographs, and covers the standard diving apparatus and its method of use, the physics and physiology of diving, decompression tables and general hints on methods of working underwater, self-contained apparatus, diving bells, chambers, submarine escape and general data useful to divers. Notable salvage and other underwater works are described and a brief history of diving and diving apparatus is given. [pj]
Chapters:
Introduction. General Description of the Construction of the Diving Apparatus anmd its Use. British Admiralty Deep Diving Experiemnts. The Physics of Diving. The Physiology of Diving. Diving Dress Working Under Different Conditions. Selection of Divers. Description and Hints as to Care of Various Parts of Diving Apparatus. Testing efficiency of Air Pumps. Dressing the Diver and Sending him Down. Signals Between Diver and Attenbdant. Duties of those in charge of Diving Operations. Instructions to Divers. Direction of Divers in Deep Water. Management oif Diver's Ascent. Table of Times to be allowed on the Bottom. Hisnts for the Diver, with Tables and Method of doing Work. Diving Apparatususe of as a Smoke Hemlet in case of Fire.
First Aid to the DIver in case of Accident. Diver's Pay and Hours of Work. Self-contaoned Diving Apparatus. LKife-saving Devices in Submarine Boats. Useful Data Relating to Diving. Historical. The evolution of the Diving Dress. [pt],[fs]

Review of private copy:
A Diving Manual
Subtitle: Submarine Appliances and their Uses, Deep Sea Diving, &c., &c.
Title on title page is: “Diving Scientifically and Practically Considered being a Diving Manual and Handbook of Submarine Appliances”.
[Note: Technically this is the official title of the book.]
Compiled and Edited by R H Davis (Managing Director of Siebe Gorman & Company Limited)
Published by Siebe Gorman & Co Ltd, Westminster Bridge Road, London S E
Published date c1909.  (Owners stamp shows 13 December 1909). In the details about the salvage of HMS Gladiator, R H Davis refers to an article published on the 9th October 1908.  There are other date references but this is the latest date, hence it was published between 9th October 1908 and 13th December 1909.
Printed by: Wightman & Co. Ltd, Westminster London
Hard back covers with no dustjacket; 184 numbered pages, but a ctually 186 pages as there is also page numbers 6A an 6B.
Dimensions: 27 cms tall (10.5 inches) by 21.5 cms wide (8.5 inches)

This is the first book published in a series by Robert Davis, ending up as the more familiar book known as “Deep Diving and Submarine Operations”.  It is larger in format than his later editions but was published using the same high quality glossy paper.  It is extremely well illustrated with 107 numbered photographs, 94 numbered diagrams and many more un-numbered – all monochrome.  In the introduction, it states the object of the book is:
“The chief purpose of this book is to ensure the safety of the diver and the caisson sinker who work at great depths.  It is hoped, however, that the information given may also prove useful to the submarine worker whose duties are confined to the more ordinary depths, such as are met within harbour, dock and bridge building, etc”.

The author acknowledges the help of some very distinguished people like Professor J S Haldane, Dr A E Boycott, Lieut G C C Damant and Professor Leonard Hill.  As you would expect, it is divided into many sections and each of those are divided into further sub-sections.  Major chapters are: “British Admiralty Deep Diving Experiments”, “The Physics of Diving”, “The Physiology of Diving”, “Diving Dress Working Under Different Conditions”, “Diving Apparatus, Description and Hints as to the Care of”, “Dressing the Diver and Sending Him Down”, “Duration of Dives in Deep Water”, “Self Contained Diving Apparatus”, “Life Saving Devices in Submarine Boats”, “Useful Data Related to Diving”, “Historical – The Evolution of the Diving Dress” plus much, much more.
We see, maybe for the first time, a published set of decompression tables.  There is also a very large section about submarine escape.   Reference is made to the work by William Walker at Winchester that was in progress at the time and incomplete – sadly the diver is not named in the book.

Not the easiest book to find but maybe a must for any true diving book collector.  The cover states the book originally cost 5 shillings – if only that was still the case!
 

DIVING SCIENTIFICALLY AND PRACTICALLY CONSIDERED A DIVING MANUAL AND HANDBOOK OF SUBMARINE APPLIANCES.
(by) R.H.DAVIS.
Title on spine: DIVING MANUAL BY R. H. DAVIS PRICE 7/6
Published by Siebe, Gorman ? Co., Ltd., Westminster Bridge Road, London, S.E.1
Physical: Quarto size, 9 x 6.25 X 3.25 ins. Bound in red ribbed cloth covered boards with gold titling on spine only. 
Contents: 3 leaves, pp iii-vii,  5-271,  (1).  Includes list of contents, list of illustrations and alphabetical index at rear.
This edition, commonly known as the "red" manual, has much the same layout and content as the previous edition, the difference in the number of pages being largely due to the smaller format. However,  there are some changes and additions such as the chapter on the Fleuss-Davis self-contained diving suit. [pt]
The actual text on the title page (see image left) is:
Diving Scientifically and Practically Considered
A DIVING MANUAL AND HANDBOOK OF SUBMARINE APPLIANCES
COMPILED BY R. H. DAVIS
(Managing Director of SIEBE, GORMAN ? Co., Ltd.).
EMBODYING THE DEEP SEA PRACTICE ADOPTED BY THE BRITISH ADMIRALTY, ?c.,
AND INCLUDING CHAPTERS ON THE PHYSICS AND PHYSIOLOGY OF DIVING, SALVAGE OPERATIONS, ?c.;
ALSO AN ACCOUNT OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE DIVING DRESS AND DIVING BELL, AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR DIVERS, ?c., ?c. WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS.
PUBLISHED BY SIEBE, GORMAN ? Co., LTD., 187 WESTMINSTER BRIDGE ROAD, LONDON, S. E. 

The following have been advertised on the internet:
.
DIVING MANUAL AND HANDBOOK OF SUBMARINE APPLIANCES (1st Ed) 
Compiled by Davis, R.H. 
Siebe, Gorman ? Co, London. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 271pp. 9 x 8.5 inches approx. Hardcover, not dated, maroon covers, gilt spine lettering. Believed 1st edition, around 1920? Frontispiece two photos of British Navy divers. Fully illustrated throughout with b?w photographs ? diagrams.
Our note: This is not the first edition. 

A DIVING MANUAL AND HANDBOOK OF SUBMARINE APPLIANCES. 
Robert H. Davis.  Acknowledged as the first edition of the later 'Deep Diving and Submarine Operations.'  This "first edition" 1919.  Softcover, 271 pages, profusely illustrated throughout. Diving scientifically ? practically considered.Embodying the deep-sea practices adopted by the British Admiralty, instructions for divers,etc etc. There are examples of all Siebe Gorman helmets, pumps and other equipment available at the time. 
Our note: This is not a first edition.

Note:
Reproductions of this manual have been found on the internet, and sold through eBay. The reproduction is reproduced in A4 format, the original scans being enlarged to fit the larger A4 page. 

DIVING SCIENTIFICALLY AND PRACTICALLY CONSIDERED 
A DIVING MANUAL AND HANDBOOK OF SUBMARINE APPLIANCES
COMPILED BY R. H. DAVIS
Title on cover: DIVING MANUAL AND INSTRUCTIONS TO DIVERS (ABRIDGED EDITION) COMPILED BY R. H. DAVIS

Published by Siebe, Gorman ? Co., Ltd., Westminster Bridge Road, London, S.E.1

Phyical: Quarto size, 9 x: 6.25 x 0.25 ins. Bound in buff paper wrapper with black titling on front and spine. This, as its cover title implies, is an abridged edition, containing the first 112 or so pages from the previous "red" manual, and is believed to have been supplied with standard diving apparatus. 
There are three known printings with slight variations:
(a) pp (vi), iv, (5)-114 pages.
(b) 4 leaves (title, "illustrations" p.v, "contents", pp vii-viii, one leaf of photographsl), pp 5-124.
(c) 112 pages.
 

DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS
A MANUAL FOR DEEP SEA DIVERS AND COMPRESSED AIR WORKERS
COMPILED AND EDITED BY ROBERT H. DAVIS
Title on cover: DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS

Unlike the previous editions, which were published by Siebe, Gorman Co., Ltd., Westminster Bridge Road, London, S.E.., the fourth edition was published by The Saint Catherine Press, Stamford Street S.E.1., and had a circular gold SCP logo near the base of the spine.

Physical: Quarto 10 x 7 x 1.75 inches. Bound in dark green ribbed cloth covered boards with gold titling on the front and spine. Pale green dust wrapper with black titling on front and spine. As far as is known, this was the first edition to have a dust wrapper, which was pale green with black titling on the front and spine, and a black circle containing a diving helmet on the front. The paper used was of a coarse texture and did not stand up well to wear and teat. Those that have survived are mostly dog-eared.

Contents:  510 pages. Includes principal contents list, coloured map and alphabetical index at rear. The contents of the fourth edition were split into two parts. Part One was essentially the diving manual, similar in content to the earlier editions, whilst Part Two, titled SECRETS OF THE DEEP, contained most of the historical anecdotal and other material. Part One, the diving manual, was published as a separate volume and was printed at least twice. The first, like the larger volume, was printed by the Arden Press and had the gold SCP logo on the spine. The second was printed by the De Montfort Press, with the errata in the first printing
corrected in the text and the coloured map omitted from the rear. The SCP logo was omitted from the spine and the title page was a cancel bearing the imprint SIEBE, GORMAN ? Co. LTD., SUBMARINE ENGINEERS, "NEPTUNE WORKS", DAVIS ROAD, TOLWORTH, SURREY in place of the LONDON, THE SAINT CATHERINE PRESS, STAMFORD STREET S.E.l., found on the first printing and on the larger volume. Both printings came with dust wrappers. It is not known if Part Two was ever published as a separate volume. 

A lot had happened since 1909, when the bulk of the text for the earlier editions had been written. The Great War had come and gone, with the German fleet scuttled and salvaged and cut up for scrap. Gold had been recovered from the sunken ships Oceana, Laurentic and Egypt. The Davis Escape apparatus had been adopted by the British and other navies and the Admiralty had conducted further deep diving trials, resulting in new decompression tables. In fact, so much had
happened that the list seems almost endless, and Davis was determined that it would all be in his new book, together with a mass of anecdotal and historical material he had collected. He was writing as much for the general reader as for the diver. [pj]

I also have this fourth edition recorded as:
Hardcover, no dust jacket, 230 pages, many mono photographs, drawings, colour chart of the British Isles on inside endpaper, double-double spread mono drawing of underwater activity loosely included, errata sheet. twenty-four chapters - physics and physiology of diving to escape from disabled submarines. It appears from an indication on the contents page that Part II includes The Secrets of the Deep, and covers Treasure Recovery, Salvage of Sunken Ships, Diver's Yarns and Adventures, A history of Diving - but this is not included in the book. [cd-part1].

My comment:  It appears that the first printing of the fourth edition contained only Part One, whilst the second printing contained Parts One and Two. I'd like this to be confirmed by a reader with these volumes. As for whether Part Two was ever printed as a separate volume, I would doubt it, as it was, apparently, combined with Part One in the second printing of this fourth edition. 
I now have copies of both printings of the 1935 Fourth Edition: one that contains just Part One, and the other that contaons Pats 1 and 2.  The above comments appear correct. I don't believe there was a dustjacket. I have Part 1 - there does not appear to be a Part Two. At the end of the Principal Contents page of the 'Part One' printing is the notation: Secrets of the Deep, followed by: Treasure Recovery From the Deep, Salvage of Sunken Ships and Cargoes, Diover's Yarns and Adventures, A History of DFiving and Diving Appliances, Diving Bells, Early Submarine Boats, etc., Index. This is then followed with *This section appears in Part II.  [ps-part1],[ps-Parts 1 and 2].

DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS
A MANUAL FOR DEEP SEA DIVERS AND COMPRESSED AIR WORKERS.
BY SIR ROBERT H. DAVIS
Title on cover:  DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS

Published by The Saint Catherine Press.

Physical: Quarto 10 x 7 x 1.75 inches. Bound in dark green ribbed cloth covered boards with gold titling on front and spine. Pale green dust wrapper with black titling on front and spine. 

Contents:  654 pages. Includes principal contents list, coloured map and alphabetial index at rear. Hardcover, dust jacket, 654 pages plus bibliography and index, large fold-out ‘underwater scene' drawing as frontispiece, errata included, appendicies. 

It may be of benefit to list all the chapters: 

Part 1. 1. A Summary of the Present State of the Art of Deep Diving. 2. The Physics and Physiology of Deep Diving. 3. Standard Diving Apparatus and Equipment. 4. Dressing the Diver. 5. Hints for the Diver. 6. First-Aid for the Diver. 7. Deep Diving in the Davis Submerged Decompression Chamber. 8. Helium and Oxygen in Deep Diving. 9. Diving Bells. 10. Self-Contained and Armoured Diving Apparatus.  11. The Sibmarine Observation Chamber. 12. Underwater Tools, Instruments etc. 13. Use of Pneumatic Tools and Explosives Under Water. 14. Escape from Sunken Submarines. 15. Diving Equipment for Underwater Warfare in the Second World War. 16. Useful Data Relating to Diving.

Part 2. THE SECRETS OF THE DEEP 1. Diving for Treasure 2. Salvage of Sunken Ships and their Cargoes. 3. Diver's Yarns and Adventures. 4. A Short History of Diving, Diving Appliances and Early Submarine Vessels.

The two parts are about equal in pages. 

Appendicies.
A. A Brief History pf the Firm of Siebe, Gorman ? Co.
B. Maximum Depth for Diving Apparatus.
C. Escapes from United Status Submarine Squalus. 
D. H.M.S. Reclaim.
E. Underwater Television. 

Once again. a lot had happened since the previous edition. This time it was the Second World War. The full potential of self-contained breathing apparatus was realised and the free swimming diver was re-born. During hostilities, Siebe Gorman worked hand in hand with the newly formed Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit, developing and manufacturing a whole range of equipment to meet the needs of the new underwater warfare. The 140 or so extra pages in the fifth edition are mostly taken up with developments which took place during, and as a result of,  the war.  [pj]

I also have a fine green leather bound copy with title embossed in gold; ribbed spine with title and author name, in a slip case. I have no reason to suggest that The Saint Catherine Press produced a special edition - if they did, it would surely be numbered. Thus I do suggest that this copy was privately rebound, and the slip case created for it at the same time. [ps]
 

Let collector and contributor PT tell of the circumstances in his own words:
I never knew there were "part I only" editions published for any other year than 1935 and when this was offered to me, it came as a real surprise.  The book not only has a dust jacket but has matching coloured board covers as you will see from the two photos.  Part one only consists of 344 printed pages plus the index at the back which is not numbered.  Also included are Appendix A to E and the Bibliography as included in editions containing both parts.  Interestingly, the details of Part 2 are included in the "Principle Contents" at the front of the book but marked to say "Part II is the complete edition of the book", similarly, the details shown in Part II are also listed in the complete index at the back.

DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS 
A MANUAL FOR DEEP SEA DIVERS AND COMPRESSED AIR WORKERS
BY SIR ROBERT H. DAVIS

Published by The Saint Catherine Press.

Physical: Quarto size, l0 x 7 x2 ins. Bound in dark green ribbed cloth covered boards with gold titling on front and spine. Pale green dust wvrapper with black titling on front and spine. As 5th edition but with 6th EDITION printed on spine.

Contents: 693 pages. Includes principle contents list, coloured map and alphabetical index at rear. Plus additional pages for index. One page bibliography. 
With respect to Chapers - the same as Edition Five.
Appendicies as for Edition 5, plus:
F. The Greatest Ocean Descents.
G. Holger-Nielseon Method of Resuscitation.

The Introduction to the Sixth Edition includes the comment that since the fifth edition was published (1951), new developments have taken place, which are mentioned here: the Marconi-Siebe, Gorman Underwater Television Apparatus; the search for the submarine Affray, the recovery of vital parts of the Comet jet airliner 'Yoke Peter' which crashed off the Isle of Elba in January 1954, Free Breathing Method of escape from wrecked submarines, a One-Man Escape Chamber, further accounts of successful escapes from wrecked submarines, the ‘Essjee' Aqualung Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. [ps]

DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS
A MANUAL FOR DEEP SEA DIVERS AND COMPRESSED AIR WORKERS
BY SIR ROBERT H. DAVIS

Published by The Saint Catherine Press.
Physical: Quarto. 10 x 7 x 2 ins. Bound in dark green ribbed cloth covered boards with gold titling on front and spine. Pale green dust wrapper with black titling on front and spine. As 6th edition but
with 7th EDITION printed on spine.
Contents:  693 pages. Includes principal contents list, coloured map and alphabetical index at rear. As far as can be determined, the 7th edition is a reprint of the 6th, with the errata corrected in the text and the addition of four items to the list of other works by the same author. This 7th edition was reprinted in 1969.
Also listed:
1969 Edition: (From sales blurb): Bright green boards with gilt lettering, dustjacket, 10 inches tall by 6.75 inches. xv, 693 pages ? 21 pages which include an index. Fold out illustration of 'A Diagrammatic Impression Of Underwater Activities' and a coloured fold out of a Chart of the British Isles Showing Areas Suitable for Various Classes of Diving Operations and many other plates throughout the text.
 

DEEP DIV1NG AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS
A MANUAL FOR DEEP SEA DIVERS AND COMPRESSED AIR WORKERS
BY SIR ROBERT H. DAVIS

This edition was published by Siebe, Gorman ? Company, Ltd., Cwmbran, Gwent, and is a facsimile of the 7th edition. The quality of the illustrations is not as good as in other editions, due to their being reproduced from a previous printing. Two versions are known, one with a foreword by the (then) Managing Director and
the other without.

Physical: Quarto size,  9 x 6 x 2 ins. Bound in green cloth covered boards with gold titling on front and spine. Pale green, film covered, dust wrapper with black titling on front and spine. 

Contents: 693 pages. As previous edition.
 

DEEP DIV1NG AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS
A MANUAL FOR DEEP SEA DIVERS AND COMPRESSED AIR WORKERS
BY SIR ROBERT H. DAVIS

In 1995, the Siebe Gorman Company released 1500 copies of the book for its One Hundred aand Seventy-fifth Anniversary. Printed in two volumes, it sold for several hundred Australian dollars, and is still available. Cost was US150 plus $US50 for shipment (to Australia)., but I suspect that this has risen considerably.  As mentioned, it is in two parts and in a hard boxed sleeve stamped Siebe Gorman One Hundred ? Seventy Fifth Anniversary.  The sleeve and books are numbered (to 1500). It is (was?) available from Hammerhead Press, in the USA. Link to the particular page for the book  Hammerhead Press.
I hope the url link is correct, but if not, use Google to find Hammerhead Press, or go direct to http://www.hammerheadpress.com  and take it from there. It may also be available from other distributors but not, I believe, any longer form Siebe Gorman in UK.  (I understand that Siebe Gorman as a company no longer exists).
[ps]

Obtainability: Scarce but general a copy on offer on the internet. Copy with dust jacket is rare.
August 2012. eBay offer. $356 buy now, with dust jacket. 

Image: Back cover of original.