Howard Chapelle was one of America's most distinguished naval historians. His crowning achievement, The History of the American Sailing Navy, has long been out-of-print, but its treatment of the subject remains unparallelled. Accompanying the authoritative text are detailed plans of over 50 sailing vessels as well reproductions of contemporary paintings and drawings. Lincoln Colcord said: "Chapelle, in my opinion, has the soundest ideas on the history of naval architecture and the development of American ship types of any man writing on the subject...HIs work will be of permanent historical value."