[Fine Binding | Alfred De Sauty] The Laws of the Navy

Hopwood, Rear Admiral Ronald A. The Laws of the Navy. Devonport: Hiorns and Miller, 1898. Third impression. With the inscription "Daisy from the Author" to the verso of a front blank, and Hopwood's signature to the tail of the final leaf. With a loosely inserted handwritten poem from the author, titled 'Let's' and beginning with the line 'There need'nt be dissensions, and there need'nt be unrest'. This appears to be an original and unpublished work from the author. In addition, in a separate hand, there is a small handwritten "Plan of Homograph" page (potentially excised from a separate work), illustrating the code of signals developed in the early 1800s. The verso features a description of signals to be utilized at night.

Bound in full tan morocco by Alfred de Sauty, featuring a signature Arts & Crafts-style de Sauty design, with the title of the book to the front center board, surrounded with a roundel of gilt flowers and leaves. On top and bottom, there are small circular ornaments with similar floral & leaf tooling. Small inlaid green dots accent the design. Five bands to spine, with title to second compartments and small gilt clover to remaining compartments. Gilt-ruled turn-ins with de Sauty's standard grey endpapers. All edges gilt. With the publisher's original thick paper wraps bound in at rear. Bookplate of Egerton Parker to the front pastedown. Measures approx. 5.5" x 8.25". Some toning to board perimeters, with some light spots to front board, and a darker mark to rear board. Spine toned, bumping to corners of rear board. 

A wonderful signed work from the decorated Navy officer, acclaimed in 1941 a "poet laureate of the Royal Navy" by Time Magazine. Time gave this collection of poetry "precedence among Navy men even over Kipling's 'If', due to its inclusion of good-natured military advice".