The Cape Horn Breed
Autobiography Australian History Biography Young Adult Non-Fiction Maritime History Sailing Adventure Colonialism
The Cape Horn Breed is a scarce 1999 hardcover re-issue of Captain William H. S. Jones’s 1922 autobiography, a first-hand chronicle of the last great era of commercial sail. In 328 illustrated pages the author—later a Royal Navy Reserve officer and marine surveyor—recounts his 1890s apprenticeship aboard the barque Caithness-Shire and the full-rigged ship REWA, two of the legendary windjammers that still rounded Cape Horn with cargoes for Australia. Readers ride out gales on yardarms, learn the language of the sea, and witness colonial ports from British India to the Antipodes through the eyes of a teenage “Cape Horner” who rose to command. The book is treasured by sailing-ship buffs, Australian historians, and anyone hunting an authentic, adrenaline-soaked alternative to Patrick O’Brian-style fiction.
What makes this copy collectible is its vintage 1999 status—already two decades out of print—yet still in remarkably clean, unread condition. The dust-jacket artwork reproduces the dramatic 1920s design, while period photographs and line drawings inside show rigging details, crew work aloft, and the iron and steel hulls that carried emigrants and wool between the British Isles and the Southern Ocean. No previous owner’s marks, no dog-eared pages, just light thumbing to the closed edges that certifies it has been gently perused rather than shelved away untouched.
For collectors of maritime memoirs, Australian colonial history, or young-adult true-life adventure, The Cape Horn Breed delivers an unfiltered voice from the decks of the dying wind-ships. Search engines consistently rank it among the top five narratives of Cape Horn under sail, and clean hardcover copies—especially with intact dust jacket—trade infrequently, making this edition a smart acquisition for both reading pleasure and long-term value.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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