Treasures of the National Maritime Museum

This handsome A to Z companion reflects the diversity of the Museum’s collections through over 300 carefully considered, beautifully photographed items. Each is accompanied by an account of its historical significance, written by Museum experts. Short but informative essays intersperse the objects, introducing subjects as intriguing and diverse as Nelson’s navy, latitude and longitude, polar exploration, slavery and the history of Greenwich itself, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Some of the special items in the collection include the first letter Nelson wrote after the loss of his right arm, an unusual love token from him to his mistress, Emma Hamilton, and the uniform in which he was shot at the Battle of Trafalgar. John Harrison’s legendary timepieces sit alongside a watch that stopped when it hit the water on the night the Titanic went down. The last message from Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated expedition to find the North-West Passage and a logbook from a slave ship exemplify the many contrasting motives for sea voyages. Ship models demonstrate expert craftsmanship and the beauty of an astrolabe belies its practical function in helping early explorers to navigate by the stars.

Many of the treasures featured have been specially photographed for this book.