The World Publishing Company

The Treasure Fleets of the Spanish Main

SunkenTreasureBooks

#C-5370
Marx, Robert F.

Library of Congress: 68-26981
Category: Sunken Treasure
Comments: Adolescent; illustrated
Size: 8.5″ x 11″
Pages: 127
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published simultaneously by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, and Nelson, Foster and Scott, Limited, Canada, in 1968. Both books are hardbacks with dust jackets. I have seen two varieties of the US edition…one with a pictorial binding and one with brown boards.
Description: This adolescent book overviews the history of the Spanish treasure fleets, including the “flota” system, the voyage outbound from Spain, the New World ports of Cartagena, Callao, Panama City, Nombre de Dios, Acapulco, Vera Cruz and Havana, and the trip back to Spain.

They Dared the Deep – A History of Diving

SunkenTreasureBooks

#C-5360
Marx, Robert F.

Library of Congress: 67-13830
Category: Sunken Treasure
Comments: Includes a bibliography; illustrated
Size: 6.5″ x 9.5″
Pages: 160
Editions: The first edition was published simultaneously by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland, and Nelson, Foster and Scott, Limited, Canada (1967) in hardback with a dust jacket. A UK edition (First Published in Great Britain – stated) was published by Pelham Books Ltd., London (1968), in hardback with a dust jacket.
Description: This book includes chapters on historical diving, submersibles, helmet diving and scuba, military operations, treasure and sport diving, and underwater archaeology.

Shipwrecks of the Western Hemisphere

SunkenTreasureBooks

#C-5320
Marx, Robert F.

Library of Congress: 73-149422
Category: Sunken Treasure
Comments: Same book as “Shipwreck in the Americas” (#C-5310) and “New World Shipwrecks” (#C-5220); includes a bibliography; illustrated
Size: 6.25″ x 9.25″
Pages: 482
Editions: The first edition (First Printing – stated) was published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland (1971), in hardback with a dust jacket. A second edition was published by David McKay Company, New York City (1975), in hardback with a dust jacket. The book was republished under the title, “Shipwrecks in the Americas”, by Bonanza Books, New York City (1983), in hardback with a dust jacket. A paperback edition of “Shipwrecks in the Americas” was published by Dover Publications, New York City (1987). The paperback edition was, in turn, republished under the title, “New World Shipwrecks 1492-1825”, by Ram Books, Dallas (1994,) and is marked “First Edition”. “New World Shipwrecks” is authored by both Robert and Jenifer (his wife) Marx, and a second printing was published in 1996. “New World Shipwrecks” is very similar to “Encyclopedia of Western Atlantic Shipwrecks and Sunken Treasure” by Victoria Sandz and Robert F. Marx (it’s just organized differently).
Description: This book is primarily a comprehensive listing of significant Western Hemisphere shipwrecks from 1492-1825, organized geographically. The area encompassed spans from Canada to South America. It also includes a short overview of locating shipwrecks, salvage, dating and preserving artifacts, and archaeological techniques.

Always Another Adventure

SunkenTreasureBooks

#C-5140
Marx, Robert F.

Library of Congress: 67-24468
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: Matanceros Wreck
Comments: Same book as “Secrets Beneath the Sea” (#C-5280); illustrated
Size: 5.75″ x 8.75″
Pages: 332
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by The World Publishing Company, Cleveland (1967), in hardback with a dust jacket. A paperback edition was published by Tower Publications, New York City (1967). A paperback edition was also published by Tower Publications under the title, “Secrets Beneath the Sea” in 1968 (although the book mistakenly has a 1958 copyright date). Interestingly, when I showed Bob Marx a copy of “Secrets Beneath the Sea” in March, 2000, he said that he’d never seen the book or knew that Tower had published it under a different title than “Always Another Adventure”.
Description: This book is the autobiography of a successful treasure hunter turned underwater archaeologist. It includes the Matanceros Reef shipwreck salvage in Mexico and the author’s voyage on the “Nina II”, following in the steps of Columbus.  One of the “Top 75 Books”.