The magnificent age of sail lives again in this distinctive collection of ready-to-color American sailing ships. In a pictorial display spanning over 200 years of maritime history, artist and avid sailor Peter Copeland meticulously depicts vessels ranging from small, shallow-draft topsail schooners of Colonial times and early sail-and-steam powered ships to modern reconstructions of classic 17th-century vessels. Forty-five exciting, ready-to-color illustrations include the privateer frigate Bethel (1748), a colonial sloop (1760), the Andrew Doria (1776), the U.S.S. Constitution (1812), the paddle steamer Savannah (1819), the clipper ship Helena (1849), a Nantucket whaler (1850), and more.Complementing well-researched and accurately rendered drawings are informative captions which describe each ship — dates, types of vessel, construction, historical background, distinguishing characteristics, brief anecdotes, and more. Educational and entertaining, this impressive, fact-filled volume will delight colorists of all ages, students, teachers, as well as anyone captivated by the romance and adventure of the high seas. Read Less