The Yacht America, By Winfield M. Thompson, William P. Stephens, William U. Swan, Together With Material From Contemporary Record, with A Foreword By John E. Spears, Illustrated, Boston, Charles E. Lauriat Co. 1925, a first edition (the dates on the copyright page and title page match - they both say 1925 - and there are no other printings), with a piece of the canvas carried by the America in the first race for The America’s Cup that took place in New York harbor in August 8, 1870 on a paper signed by William U. Swan, the last civilian commander of the America.
The gilt on the spine says “The Yacht America, Thompson, Stephens, Swan “ and depicts the America’s Cup in bright gilt, with blue cloth covers, endpapers that show a map of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, a beautiful frontispiece engraving of The America from the original sketch taken on the spot by Oswald W. Brierly in 1851 and the lettered tissue-guard to protect the frontispiece, then the title page and the copyright page, which says the book was printed at the Colonial Press in Boston. It is 310 pages long, with an eight-page foreword by John Spears, the Contents and six pages of Illustrations - it is fulled with photos and engravings - and a sixteen-page Appendix at the rear that includes what the menu was at the first Cup race in 1851, a complete list of all the Cup races, the names of the cutters and schooners the America beat in 1851, and all the challengers she faced up to 1920, and a nine-page index on top of that. There’s also a very clean fold-out chart of the hull from three different viewpoints at the rear, and they faithfully represent the original lines of the America when it was designed by George Steers in 1851.
Without exaggerating, America is the world’s most famous racing yacht, and one of the most beautiful yachts in the world. The reason is simple: the original America put yachting on the map. It is why the most famous trophy in sailing is called The America’s Cup.
In 1851, this 139-foot yacht won the ‘Royal Yacht Squadrons’ 100 Guinea Cup given to the winner of a race around the Isle of Wight. It is said that the margin was so great while she was watching America sail past the royal yacht, Queen Victoria famously asked “Who came second?” “Your majesty… there is no second” was the reply. The winners, who were members of the New York Yacht Club, donated the trophy to the Club, to be held as a “challenge” trophy. Thus was born the America’s Cup, named after the boat, not the country.
Owned by Commodore John C. Stevens and five other members of the New York Yacht Club, the America was built in New York following the revolutionary design of George Steers and launched in May 1851. A succession of British syndicates attempted to win back the cup, but the New York Yacht Club remained unbeaten for 25 challenges over 113 years, the longest winning streak in the history of sport. Matches were held in the vicinity of New York City from 1870 to 1920, and from 1930 to 1983, the races were sailed off Newport, Rhode Island for the rest of the New York Yacht Club’s reign.
The consignor’s wife’s grandmother was related to William Swan, the captain and commander of the America, and why he had the book in his collection, and it is in
impeccable condition.
The book is 8vo. and measures 8 x 5 5/8 in. wide, the gilt on the spine is bright, and a great addition to anyone who collects maritime and racing memorabilia.