1852 was a turning point for the China tea trade, for in that year the British clipper Challenger set out to break the burgeoning American monopoly of fast passages from the Far East. The ship was commanded by Captain James Killick, a highly experienced 'China Bird' who was to play a significant part in the development of the tea clipper.
Originally published to mark Captain Killick's firm's centenary, The China Bird has been completely revised and extended to cover the last quarter century, with much new information and many new illustrations including plans of the most significant vessels.
Celebrated maritime historian David MacGregor wrote a great number of books around all classes of ships built in the nineteenth century. The David MacGregor library in the Brunel Institute at the SS Great Britain is named in his honour.
Hardcover
224 pages
Publisher: Conway Maritime Press
ISBN: 0851773818