M'Kay, Lauchlan

Oblong 4to (9 3/8 x 10 3/4 in.; 238 x 273 mm). 7 folding engraved plates, 1 text illustration; waterstained throughout, one leaf lacking (pages 103-4 in "Explanation of terms"), 2 leaves detached at the end, contemporary manuscript correction of one word on page 96, folding plates browned and stained with outer margin of one plate frayed and another detached and still another with a few creases. Contemporary leather, goldstamped leather title label on spine; worn, joints cracked, part of title label gone.

Daniel S. Dimon (noted as "late owner" by Griffiths) — John W. Griffiths (signature on front pastedown, title, pages 35 and 107)

See Chapelle, The Search for Speed under Sail, 1700-1855 (1967), p. 7; M. Smith, "To See Which is Sea Witch," Nautical Research Journal 26, pages 55-62

waterstained throughout, one leaf lacking (pages 103-4 in "Explanation of terms"), folding plates browned and stained with outer margin of one plate frayed and another detached and still another with a few creases. Contemporary leather, goldstamped leather title label on spine; worn, joints cracked, part of title label gone.
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First edition of the only book on naval architecture written in America before 1850, a heavily used copy, from the library of the naval architect John W. Griffiths.

Lauchlan M'Kay started as an apprentice of Isaac Webb, and became a naval architect, shipbuilder and sea captain. The present copy of his work was owned by Daniel S. Dimon, part of a shipbuilding family in Suffolk County New York, and a partner in the firm of Smith & Dimon in lower Manhattan, where Griffiths (1809-1882) began his career, designing the clipper ships Rainbow (1845) and Sea Witch (1846). After his great success with those vessels, Griffiths began to publish his own works. Donald M'Kay (brother of Lauchlan) wrote Griffiths "You are a master of your profession, have no superior in it" (quoted in M. Smith).

A monument in the history of American naval architecture, presenting a radical redesign of the hull, and a legendary rarity. Only two copies have come up for auction in the last 40 years, each in varying states of disrepair. This copy is likely to be the working shop manual of the Smith & Dimon firm.