A Maritime Heritage
Out of Auckland Revisited
Robert J. Hawkins
Type: New Zealand history book (reprinted edition)
Size: 265 × 210 mm
Pages: 162 + 20-page inserted Appendix II booklet
ISBN: 978-0-473-71819-0
Edition: Limited to 200 copies, 2024
Printing: Offset printed, 4-colour process on cream stock
Binding: Case bound main volume by Book Binding Press, with separate 20-page Appendix II booklet inserted in custom envelope
Production: Scanned, printed and bound in Aotearoa New Zealand
A Maritime Heritage – Out of Auckland Revisited is a carefully reprinted edition of the much-loved maritime classic first published in 1960 and expanded in 1976. This 2024 edition has been scanned from the original publication, preserving the integrity of the source material while introducing updated front matter, including a new introduction and foreword developed in collaboration with the New Zealand Maritime Museum.
Produced in close consultation with the author’s family, the reprint maintains the original Register of Ships and comprehensive index, alongside a selection of additional historical photographs.
This edition stands as a tribute from Robert J. Hawkins to his late father, honouring a body of research that remains unmatched in documenting Auckland’s maritime history. With a limited print run of 200 copies, the book has proven highly sought-after, with the edition nearly sold out.
Production
This edition of A Maritime Heritage – Out of Auckland involved the careful revival of a historically significant publication documenting Auckland’s shipbuilding and sailing history across the 19th and 20th centuries. The approach balanced preservation of the original material with the technical requirements of contemporary production.
Every page was scanned and meticulously prepared, with horizon lines corrected where required to ensure visual consistency throughout. Additional content was incorporated, including acknowledgements, a new foreword, and an introduction, expanding the publication while remaining sympathetic to its original structure.
Typography for the new material was closely matched to Bell MT, with considered adjustments to horizontal scaling, kerning, and weight to ensure a seamless transition between original and contemporary content. A new appendix was produced as a separate booklet and housed within a purpose-built envelope inside the back cover, adding a functional and tactile extension to the publication.
The cover was subtly reinterpreted, with a revised title and adjusted cropping of the iconic Moa image to clearly distinguish the new edition while respecting the original visual identity. Finishing treatments, including solid colour applications on the flyleaf and inside covers, along with specialist enhancements to the title, provided a final layer of refinement appropriate to the significance of the work.
“With an Auckland boating background, it was exciting to be part of bringing ‘A Maritime Heritage – Out of Auckland’ back to life, with the rich history it contained of ship building and sailing activities during the 19th and 20th centuries.” Jill Godwin - Designer