Ainsley Marine Board Extra Examination Guide 1883 – Illustrated Third Edition
 
Thomas L. Ainsley – Third Edition, 1883
Published by Thomas L. Ainsley, Mill Dam, South Shields & 86 Bute Street, Cardiff
 
Overview
 
A scarce third edition (1883) of Thomas L. Ainsley’s authoritative Guide Book to the Local Marine Board Examination: The Extra Examination: a comprehensive late-Victorian maritime instructional manual. Extensively illustrated with technical diagrams and occasional colour illustrations, this substantial volume was printed and published by Ainsley himself, a well-known nautical instructor in South Shields and Cardiff.
This edition is dated internally through the “Advertisement to the Third Edition” (February 16, 1883).
 
An important historical nautical training text, increasingly difficult to find in any condition, particularly complete.
 
Key Features
 
Third Edition, 1883 (confirmed via internal advertisement)
Fully illustrated: technical diagrams + some colour illustrations
Publisher: Thomas L. Ainsley, South Shields & Cardiff
617 pages of main text + answer section
Includes 20 unnumbered supplementary pages between pp. 56–57
Large format; substantial, technical training manual
Historically used by mariners preparing for the Extra Examination
 
Binding & Exterior Condition
 
Bound in blue textured cloth designed to mimic leather grain, with:
Gilt illustration of sailors in a boat at sea
Gilt lettering to the front board
Panelled boards
 
The cover is intact but displays period wear, including:
Discolouration, staining, and general marking to the cloth
Rubbing and rips to cloth at edges and corners
Important note: The cover is completely disbound from the text block (separated)
 
Dimensions: 25 × 17 × 5.6 cm
Weight: approx. 1,506g
 
Interior Condition
 
Yellow pastedowns and endpapers
Heavy foxing and marks on pastedowns
Pages lightly tanned with occasional light foxing, heavier at edges and to early leaves
Pen inscription on front free endpaper: “Mum To Arthur”
Minor pen markings on one answers page
Occasional small edge rips and inner-margin nicks (not affecting text)
Pages predominantly uncreased
 
Binding Note
 
Text block itself is secure
Occasional very light gutter cracks (minimal)
Complete separation between cover and text block
Back free endpaper absent
 
Pagination Note
 
All 617 pages of the main text present
Answer section incomplete:
Answers run through Exam Paper XXV
Answers for Exam Paper XXVI are missing → possible missing leaves
20 unnumbered pages between pp. 56–57 (publisher’s surplus/inserts)
 
Provenance
 
Inscribed “Mum To Arthur” on front free endpaper
 
Summary
 
An academically and historically significant nautical training volume – heavily used in the Victorian maritime examination system. This scarce 1883 third edition offers extensive diagrams and technical guidance for the Extra Examination, reflecting late-nineteenth-century navigation, seamanship, and marine engineering instruction.
Despite its binding issues, the text block remains complete and structurally secure, making this a valuable reference copy of a rarely seen edition.