As the models are not on public display, this book fills the need for a detailed catalog and visual reference with superb color photos of all the models, both overall portraits and multiple close-ups. Apart from lengthy descriptions of these magnificent artifacts, space is devoted to how they were identified, and the valuable research done by Arnold and Henry Kriegstein, the identical twins whose shared passion brought this all together. Beyond the technicalities of the ships, the story has a human dimension in the brothers' adventures in pursuit of every model and their dogged determination to secure them against official obstruction and dubious antiques-trade practices.

This is an entirely new and revised edition of 17th and 18th Century Ship Models first published in 2007, now expanded to include the additions to the collection since that date.