WATSON (Ralph). A Brief Explanatory Statement of the Principle and Application of a Plan for Preventing Ships Foundering at Sea, and thereby Rendering every Ship a Life Ship.1829

Printed by A. Hancock. Large 8vo,[v],6-70,[2]pp., presentation inscription from the author to Sir Thomas Phillipps (the famous book and manuscript collector) at head of title, new endpapers, two small engravings in the text, orig. boards, re-backed, new printed label on upper cover, uncut. One of the earliest recorded descriptions of the use of hermetically sealed vessels to maintain buoyancy when ships are taking water. In addition he proposes using similar sealed globes as buoyancy aids for the crews of foundered ships.