BAKER, Samuel "A Few Words of Advice to the Mariners of England" [Bradbury & Evans, 1854]

[BAKER, Samuel]. A Few Words of Advice to the Mariners of England and Enterprising Youths Inclined for the Sea Service: Showing the Advantages to be Derived by Service in the Royal Navy.

London: Bradbury & Evans, 1854. 7.5” x 4.25”, 12 pp. Illustrated with a woodcut vignette on the title page showing sailors rowing toward a naval vessel. Original stitched pamphlet, lightly worn with some foxing and faint staining to lower margin. Purple crowned monogram stamp on title page, likely from an institutional or naval library. Very Good-.

Issued at the outset of the Crimean War (1853–1856), this rare piece of naval recruiting propaganda seeks to encourage both seasoned mariners and adventurous youths to enlist in the Royal Navy. It emphasizes the honor, pay, and prospects of service, reflecting Britain’s shift away from press-gangs and toward voluntary recruitment supported by patriotic persuasion. Survival of such ephemeral pamphlets is uncommon, making this an important document of Victorian naval and social history.