CLASSIC DIVING BOOKS - Reproductions

CLASSIC DIVE BOOKS

Reproductions - historic diving books.

HOMEPAGE

With improved technology in the design and use of 'instant' printing equipment, and the the use of Optical Recognition software, it is possible to reproduce a book relatively easily and cheaply. This has been achieved with several old, out-of-print diving-related books, especially those where no copyright exists. Some reproductions are excellent, an exact 'replica' of the original internal pages, but not alwayss of the binding; some have been done well and are welcome additions to aany serious library. Other reproductions have been nothing short of rubbish, with little care to ensure that the OCR softwaare has done its job correctly. Considering the age of some of the original books reproduced, it is understandable that the OCR software will misinterpret a word here or there, and in some instances, will find it very difficult to interpret. In extreme cases, OCR soiftware will simply not word, for say 17th century manuscripts where the letter 's' is often written as the letter 'f' for example. All OCR text should be edited, but this has not always been the case. and thus the end result is a virtually unreadable reproduction. Some books have been reproduced in text only, with the illustrations omitted - 'because they were too difficult to reproduce' was one excuse in a book of simple illustrations that could very easily have been scanned. It is my opiniuon that if a book cannot be reproduced faithfully, in correct text and illustrations it should not be done at all. One 'reproducer' indicated that illustrations were left out of an important original book reproducction because off cost - "it is better to at least reproduce the text tahn do nothing at all". I disagree. Do it properly or not at all. Some reproductions have cheap binmdings which again does nothing to endear the end result to the reader. Some reproductions have been done exceptionally well however with clear edited OCR text faithfully reproducing the original text, and often with additional annotation. Some reproductions have also included a page copy of the original text, especially if there are illustrations to include, or where the original text font in itself is of interest. It all gets back to the care and dedication of the reproder - do they want to make a good reproduction that a reader will enjoy, or are they out to make a quick dollar. The problem is that often it is impossible to tell the quality of the reproduction until you have bought and received it. This website aims to be positive, but you may find ssome criticism in this section. My advise is to be careful when buying a reproduction.

A 'reproduction' does not have to be an exact facsimile of the original. It must of course contain the exact text, and illustrations, and not omit any detail, but after OCR scanning or retyping, it can be reset for readability. Often an original is hard to read for the reasons mentioned above. The original text should not be tampered with, unless it is done with the express aim of readability, through sentence construction and annotation. If this occurs it is important that the original text, through a complete scannned page, be also reproduced in the same volume. It is also an advantage to have the original title page scanned and reproduced, and if the cover and/or spine is anything but plain, a reproduced scan is also interesting. Note that many old texts were not bound by the publisher: purchasers would buy the book in plain or sometimes printed 'wrappers' - it was then up to the purchaser to arrange their own binding according to taste and cost.

Does a reproduction affect the value of the original? I would doubt it. In some instances it may actually increase the value of the original in that the reproduction will make the public more aware of the original's existence. You may never have heard of Frank Meir's 'Up For Air' but after seeing a reproduction you may pine for a copy. In time, a well produced reproduction may gain in value, or at least retain its value depending on interest and print-run etc. (Many reproductions are produced on a 'print-on-demand' basis, but someone has to do this, and people, and printers, come and go.) Shoddy reproductions are not worth the paper they are printed on; if a shoddy reproduction is popular because of what the interest and status of the original book, then someone will come along one day and do justice to the original book.

Please note: The books are listed for interest only, and not offered for sale.

It is fitting that we start this page with the excellent monographs reproduced by the Historical Diving Society in the United Kingdom. This active group has taken great care to select and reproduce a number of fascinating publications, the end result being of high standard both in content and physical design.
The books are available (while stocks last) at the society; see www.thehds.com

A DEMONSTRATION OF THE DIVING ENGINE; IT'S INVENTION AND VARIOUS USES.
By Jacob Rowe.

A fascsimile and transcription of the original manuscript with an introduction, and a life of the author, by Michael Fardell and Nigel Phillips.
Published by The Historical Diving Society in association with The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, 2000. Number 1 in a Monograph series produced by the HDS, 2000. Print run limited to 750. Copies numbered. Case bound (hardcover), dustjacket, 40 pages, five full page original reproduced illustrations, and other illustrations. Dim. 246 x 189mm.
Original title: A DEMONSTRATION OF THE DIVING ENGINE; IT'S INVENTION AND VARIOUS USES.
Although just the first of the mongraphs produced by the HDS, this reproduction has set the standard. It commences with an introduction by Fardell and Phillips, giving an aspect of the author's life which is always helpful. The introduction continues with a description of the original 15-page manuscript, and where it was printed. As the original manuscript is handwritten in a flourishing scroll hand, this reproduction provides an exact copy in Times Roman font for ease of reading. The original text is also reproduced as a full page scan. The book gains full marks as a very professionally produced publication and one that provides knowledge and great pleasure in its reading.
From the HDS website: The late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries saw an increased interest in the business of diving, and a proliferation of new designs of equipment. In the first half of the eighteenth century, a number of divers used the 'barrel' type of apparatus to salvage goods and treasure from the bottom of the sea. One of these was Jacob Rowe, a man of many parts: sea captain, engineer, inventor, author and diver, but it is as a diver that he is now remembered. He was a man of great drive and determination, achieving two remarkable feats of marine salvage, during an era when underwater salvage was just beginning in earnest. Here, for the first time, is printed his treatise on diving, describing in detail how his apparatus was constructed and used. Not only is Rowe's treatise the first know English monograph on diving, it is also one of only a handful on the subject, in any language, written during the eighteenth century. The publication of Rowe's original manuscript, together with a recently researched account of his life and work, throws new light on this aspect of maritime history. [ps]

SUBMARINE RESEARCHES
by C.A.Deane.

A facsimile reproduction of the original by Deane, with an Introduction by John Bevan, PhD., F.S.U.T/; edited by Michael Fardell and Nigel Phillips. Number 2 in a Monograph series produced by the HDS, 2001. Print run limited to 750. Copies numbered.
Case bound (hardcover), dustjacket, 50 pages, 19 plates and other illustrations. Dim 260 x 200mm.
Original book title: SUBMARINE RESEARCHES ON THE WRECKS OF HIS MAJESTY'S LATE SHIPS ROYAL GEORGE, BOYNE AND OTHERS, by MR.C.A.DEANE, IN HIS IMPROVED DIVING APPARATUS; WITH AN INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNT OF THE LOOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE, BY TWO OF HER SEAMEN, WHO ARE YET SURVIVORS OF THAT AWFUL CATASTROPE.
Originally printed and sold by J. Davy, Queen Street, Seven Dialss, 1836. Price Three Shillings.
John Bevan's introduction includes 'The Life of Charles Deane' (eight pages including illustrations), followed by a description of the original book published in 1835. The reproduction reproduces the original title page (of both the 1835 and 1836 editions). As the original body test and captions are of good quality, they appear to have been scanned and printed as a page - there is no problem at all with readability. The nineteen plates are all very interesting and well reproduced.
From the HDS website: Submarine Researches, published in 1835, is the first book about diving using the diving helmet and dress, with air pumped down from the surface. This apparatus, with little modification, became the familiar 'hard-hat' or standard dress in use throughout the world. Originally intended for breathing in smoke-filled rooms, it was invented by Charles Deane and his younger brother John, who successfully carried out naval and commercial salvage, and civil engineering projects under water. In this book Charles Deane illustrates, with extensive notes, some of his diving operations. By 1835 he had been so successful that he mounted a Submarine Exhibition in London's Regent Street, for which he obtained royal patronage. A series of huge oil paintings, a collection of artefacts recovered from wrecks, and the diving apparatus itself were placed on show. Submarine Researches was published principally to promote the Exhibition, but it also provides us now with a valuable record of the first years of the diving industry. The authoritative introduction by Dr. John Bevan tells the story of those pioneering years. Charles Deane died in depleted circumstances in 1848, but his brother John went on to become the country's foremost submarine engineer, finally retiring in 1856, by which time the diving industry had spread across the world. [ps]

DESCRIPTION OF A DIVING MACHINE
Karl Heinrich Klingert.

A facsimile reproduction of the original by Deane, with an Introduction by Michael Jung; translated by Nigel Phillips and Anne Pettigrew. Edited by Michael Fardell and Nigel Phillips. Number 3 in a Monograph series produced by the HDS, 2002. Print run limited to 500. Copies numbered.
Case bound (hardcover), dustjacket, 51 pages, 8 plates and other illustrations. Dim 260 x 190mm.
Original book title (translation): DESCRIPTION OF A DIVING MACHINE SUITABLE FOR USE IN RIVERS. Originally printed and published in Breslau by Grass at his private Royal Prussian City Press, 1797. Original dedicated to His Royal Highness and The Crown Prince of Prussia.
Also include in the reproduction is the original: A BRIEF SUPPLEMENT TO THE HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF A DIVING MACHINE, TOGETHER WITH THE EXPLANATION OF A LANTERN OR LAMP WHICH BURNS IN ANY VITIATED AIR, AMD IN WATER, published in 1822.
After a short preface, the introduction by Jung includes Klingert's life, and description of his diving machine. The reproduced text follows in Times Roman font with illustrations throughout. Also included is an original bibliography which has not been interpreted of course. Page scans of the original book opr manuscript have not been included.
From the HDS website: Karl Heinrich Klingert was an ingenious inventor and mechanic, but an unlikely designer of diving equipment, living as he did several hundred miles from the sea in eastern Europe. Nevertheless at the end of the eighteenth century he invented and constructed several items of diving apparatus, the last of which was a 'open' helmet that also made use of a cylinder of compressed air from which the diver was able to breathe independently of the surface. Klingert's designs, however, were not put into practice despite their publication in two of his books. The 'open' helmet was re-invented shortly afterwards and led to a revolution in diving; and much later the use of compressed air for diving became commonplace. Now for the first time the complete text and illustrations of Klingert's two books, describing in detail his pioneering diving equipment, are published in English, together with an authoritative introduction incorporating much original research by Michael Jung. [ps]

THE ART OF LIVING UNDER WATER
Marten Triewald.

Originally written in Swedish in 1834 by NMarten Triewald, Durector of Mechanics & Fellow of the Royal Societies of England and Sweden, and now translated into English, together with the Use of the Art of Living Under Water (1741), by C.J.L. Croft, Lars Gustafsson and Michael Kahan. With a life of the author, based on an essay by the late Captain Bo Cassel (Royal Swedish Navy) aand an introduction by Michael Fardell and Nigel Phillips.
Published by then Historical Diving Society 2004. Print run limited to 500. Copies numbered. Dedicated to The Supreme King, King Friedrich, King of Sweden.

Casebound (hardcover), dustjacket, 96 pages, index (of names), full page mono plates and other illustrations. The introduction commences with the life of the author, and continuews into a description of the original book. Text has been transcribed into Times Roman for ease of reading. Theer is no scan of the original text. Full page illustrations are clear.
From the HDS website: Mårten Triewald was one of Sweden's most prominent scientists, combining a sharp intellect with a natural mechanical ability. The period during which he lived saw the beginnings of the industrial revolution in Sweden. He came to England in 1716, and during the next 10 years was involved in desiging and building some of the earliest steam engines, improving the ventilation of coal mines, and giving some of the earliest public lectures on scientific subjects. Returning to his native Sweden in 1726, he continued his pioneering work in building the countries first steam engine and giving lectures on scientific subjects. He formed a diving a salvage company, which involved setting up a well organised system far in advance of anything else in Europe. He introduced a new design for the diving bell, which was the principal apparatus for diving at that time, and also an array of tools for salvaging wrecked ships. The Art of Living Under Water and its Supplement provide a unique insight into the equipment, tools and methods of diving and salvage used in the first half of the 18th Century, and might be described as the first manual on the subject. The were very few monographs on diving published in the 18th Century, but Triwald's book was the largest and easily the best of them. Furthermore, it is the best and most detailed book on salvage by divers written to the end of the 18th Century, and beyond. This English translation is the first printing of either work since 1741 and the first edition to appear in any language other than Swedish. A biography of Triewald and a commentary introduces his two books. [ps]

THE CONQUEST OF THE SEA, A BOOK ABOUT DIVERS AND DIVING
Henry Siebe.
OCR scanned copy, reprint, by General Books, 2009.
Softcover, 79 pages, no illustrations. Dimensions 23 x 15 cm. Note: twenty-four of these pages are listings of previous publications by the original publishers, no doubt reproduceed from the original of course published in 1874.
See original: 19th century books.
There is a note at the beginning of the book stateing the fact that this is an OCR scanned book and that this "can result in a lot of typos and missing text .... but we feel it is more important to make the book available for a low price or not at all". I'm not so sure that this is a reasonable philiosphy if this book is an example. There are many errors in the scanning, both in the letters/words and in the paragraph layout. This could have been rather quickly overcome by a manual edit by reading and correcting where required; it is thus rather annoying to read. Again, with further effort, and admittedly cost, any illustrations could have been scanned and included (especially of the excellent wood engravings in the original). The General Books company should have realised that anyone wanting to read this historic diving book would have a very keen interest in diving history and would not mind, I am sure, paying for the priviledge of a good facsimile - ideally a photographic scan of the book pages including the engravings, and a separate edited OCR reading text. This has been superbly achieved as witness the books produced by the (UK) Historical Diving Society (see above). Henry Siebe deserved better - and so do we. [ps]

UP FOR AIR - Diving for a Living.
Frank Meier.
Martono Publishing, USA, 2009.
Reprinted from the original published by E.P.Dutton & Co., Inc., 1940.
See Author's page.

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