Makarov's "Discussion of Questions in Naval Tactics" with the Author's Inscription

"Discussion of Questions in Naval Tactics" was published in 1897 in St Petersburg by the printing house of the Naval Ministry. Its author was Stepan Osipovich Makarov, a naval figure, oceanographer, polar explorer and shipbuilder. This copy is special: the title page bears the author's presentation inscription, dated 19 June 1897, Kronstadt.

Makarov became a vice admiral in 1896 and commanded the Practical Squadron of the Baltic Sea in 1896–1898. The inscription is addressed to "His High Excellency Nikolai Afanasyevich" (the surname is hard to read, probably Demyanenkov) and made "as a token of deepest respect from the author". Seven years later, on 31 March (13 April) 1904, Makarov was killed near Port Arthur together with the battleship Petropavlovsk, which struck a mine.

The book apparently had a soft cover that wore out, so the text block was given a new binding in the 19th-century tradition, of dark brown imitation leather with an inset of lighter patterned paper. Traces of restoration are visible on the title page, and some leaves carry pencil marks. The book contains inserts with printed tables and drawings.