NOAA's Collection of Rare 19th Century Oceanography Books This
collection features 19th century rare books that are part of the
larger NOAA Central Library Rare Book Room and which capture the
spirit and accomplishments of the formative years of
oceanography. The volumes are diverse, including official
accounts and results of oceanographic cruises, descriptions of
traditional and new technologies, personal reminiscences, the
first English-language textbook of oceanography, and even a
German-language volume selected for the beauty of its
presentation, as much as for its content. Many of the authors
were among the "founding fathers" of modern oceanography.
Ferdinand Hassler, the first superintendent of the U.S. Coast
Survey, gathered books for the original Coast Survey Library
beginning in 1811 and inscribed them with the words shown above.
Oceanography is a relatively new science. Once known as
"oceanology" or "thalassography," its early beginnings are lost
in the lore of the mariners and fishermen who first v