How Sailors Learned to Signal

During the period I research, there were surprisingly few official signal guides available for young gentlemen learning the art of naval signalling. Instead, much of this knowledge was passed on informally, leading to the creation of wonderfully detailed, hand-drawn guides copied, adapted, and handed down from one generation to the next. Flicking through these pages creates an immediate and intimate personal connection with the past. Each sketch and annotation reflects not only practical instruction, but the quiet diligence of those learning their trade aloft, transforming coloured flags into the precise language of command at sea.