"Meet the Men Who Sailed the Seas" by John Dyment with illustrations by Victor Mays, Step-Up Books published by Random House, 1966. The Step-Up Book Club series were published by Random House in the 1960s and 1970s as a follow-on series for students who had surpassed the reading level of the I Can Read books.

Hard boards, illustrated front cover [some wear, especially spine ends, and corners]; 6.3/4" x 8.1/2"; endpapers are maps, "Judith S. King" is written on the front endpaper, 86 pages, a little soiling, very good condition.

Handsomely illustrated and easy to read, it covers legendary sailors from the Phoenicians through Joshua Slocum. In between are famous explorers, admirals and daredevils who risked their lives for knowledge and adventure.

Victor Mays (1927-2015) was an American Navy captain, writer, artist and illustrator. He joined the U.S. Navy just before the end of World War II and he was sent to Ohio State University for officer training. Mays transferred to Yale in 1946 and took his Bachelor of Arts degree from there in 1949 with a combined major in history, English and art. He again served in the Navy during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954 and afterward remained in the Naval Reserve as an officer and eventually attained the rank of captain.

Following his discharge from active duty he concentrated on free-lance illustration. He is known for historically accurate illustrations having illustrated more than eighty books for other authors, not counting book jackets and magazine illustrations. From 1977 he exclusively devoted his talents to watercolors of a marine historical nature, and his more recent works are now seen in art galleries.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ------------- $12.50
Canada: 1st Class (c.2-7 weeks) ----- $28.50
World: 1st Class (c.2-10 weeks) ----- $42.50