A Fleet in Being

London: Macmillan & Co., 1898. 8vo. [iv], 84 pp., including half-title. FIRST EDITION. Publisher’s illustrated cloth, title and author on front and spine; minor spotting, overall an excellent copy. Item #15238

First edition of Kipling’s account of the Royal Navy at an interesting stage in its development. First appearing as a group of six articles in the Morning Post in November 1898, the author provides a fresh look at the newly strengthened Fleet at the turn of the century. In his unique style, Kipling paints a vivid picture of the ships and their crew as he was allowed to join the Fleet at sea. The illustration on the cover by Norman Wilkinson (1878-1971) shows a battleship of the “Majestic” class with a single distinguishing band on her funnel. Wilkinson, who was awarded the Order of the British Empire, was known for his marine painting in oil and water color.

The phrase “a fleet in being” refers to a fleet in port which extends control of the surrounding seas without leaving port.

Kipling (1865-1936), one of the greatest English authors, is famous for an array of works like Just So Stories and The Jungle Book. He received the 1907 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Price: $150.00

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