For the identification of types the actual sail plans of many famous ships are reproduced with a brief description of each rig.

There are 32 illustrations. A complete range of sail and rigging plans from the five-mast full-rigged ship Preussen to a Humber keel. These plans are fully detailed with all running and standing rigging, and include such famous vessels as the five-mast barque Potosi; seven-mast schooner Thomas W. Lawson; schooner yacht Sunbeam; that wonderful cutter Britannia, and many other ships, brigs, barquentines, coasting schooners, ketches, etc., some 31 plans in all. Each plan is accompanied by a full description of the vessel, notes on points of interest, and all details such as dates, builders, owners, dimensions, etc.

Drawings and diagrams and the keys explaining the naming of masts, spars, sails and rigging of the various rigs and with perspective drawings showing the lead of the running gear on a modern square-rigged mast are included.

This book forms what is perhaps the most complete collection of authentic sailing ship plans ever published under one cover.