Vasa I: The Archaeology of a Swedish Warship of 1628 Hardcover – 21 Sept. 2006

... but a really good book with a lot of text based information and many illustrations and photos that really bring the Vasa to life.

This is not a review of the book, but rather the price.I just visited the Vasa Museum where I could get this book for £50 and not for the stated price.As for the book itself, it was fanatic, but not worth the stated price.

For those not familiar with the history of this great ship, it is the best preserved ship of the 17th century. In part, one may jest, because it was "only used once and never driven hard". Back in 1628 Naval Architecture took a bold step forward when the order for topsails taught the pressing need for proper ballast. As the King's fortune sunk into the wood preserving mud of the harbor the Vasa was lost from view, flash forward three hundred years Vasa is rediscovered at the turn of the century, last century, and raised in the seventies.Vasa I: The Archaeology of a Swedish Royal Ship of 1628 is the first of what will be four volumes published roughly one year apart or so. Just browse [...] to view the ship as it is today in Stockholm and you will buy the book.If you are a ship model maker with tens of thousands of hours of free time rejoice the plan set offer by the Vasa museum is about to be surpassed at light, of the day, speed. Of course as a four volume set the detail will be extensive, easily on a par with the great works of A.N.C.R.E. published in France which many consider the benchmark of ship design and history. Future volumes will cover sailing the ship and tactics, rigging, and hull construction.Vasa I is a flawless start to what will be a warm friendship with the past over the next few years, we are all very lucky.