The Wonder Book of The Navy

The Wonder Book of the Navy

Edited by Harry Golding, Published circa 1930 / 1931

With a foreword by John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe, Admiral of the Fleet, G.C.B., O.M., G.C.V.O., LL.D.

A stirring and evocative volume from the early twentieth century, The Wonder Book of the Navy captures Britain’s maritime imagination at its height. Intended to inform and inspire, it presents the Royal Navy not merely as a fighting force, but as a feat of engineering, discipline, and national character.

The book is introduced by a foreword from Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe, one of the most significant naval figures of the modern era. As commander of the Grand Fleet during the First World War, Jellicoe carried what Winston Churchill famously described as the unique burden of being “the only man on either side who could lose the war in an afternoon”. His presence here lends the book real authority, anchoring its wonder firmly in lived experience.

This particular copy bears a personal trace of its past: it was once owned by Gordon W Stratford, whose name appears within the book. Such marks of ownership remind us that these volumes were read, handled, and valued, not merely displayed.

As with all genuine antiquarian books, this copy shows signs of age and use. There may be wear to the binding or pages, and it is entirely possible that previous owners have left annotations, inscriptions, or markings. These are not defects but evidence of a long and interesting life.

This is not a pristine museum piece. It is a book that has travelled through time, hands, and homes — an object shaped by history rather than sealed away from it.

Please note:
Each antiquarian book in the Ada & Vera Cabinet of Curiosities is unique. Condition will vary, and no two copies tell quite the same story.