Arthur Curtis James - Unsung Titan of the Gilded Age

“A must have for anyone with an interest in American history and sailing. In our current age of bogus celebrity and glitz, this story serves as a wonderful tonic for the soul.”

— NATHANIEL PHILBRICK

In 1930, Arthur Curtiss James was considered one of the corporate titans who ran America. Yet few have heard of this railroad visionary, this intrepid blue water sailor, and leading philanthropist of his generation. Why? Because he wanted it that way. James would become one of the 10 richest men in the country, owning one-seventh of all the railroad track in the U.S. He also owned and skippered three legendary vessels: the schooner Coronet; the brigantine Aloha, and the bark Aloha. James logged a total of 270,000 nautical miles under those keels.

Brought to light after 20 years of research by James’ descendant Harry Anderson, the combination of James’ eminence, and his insistence on anonymity, was intriguing enough for filmmaker Joseph Daniel and writer Roger Vaughan to produce a documentary about him: OF RAILS & SAILS. Further information about James unearthed in the course of making the film prompted Vaughan to write a biography of this unique, generous gentleman who was one of the great, funded proprietors that industrial civilization has produced.

Available here in a very limited edition, custom boxed set of the ARTHUR CURTISS JAMES biography and a DVD of the film OF RAILS & SAILS (watch trailer here) to members and friends of the three yacht clubs of which James was Commodore – New York Yacht Club, Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club. The elegant leather-feel cover made of navy blue eco-fiber that is gold-stamped, white silk-screened, and blind embossed, wraps nearly 400 four-color printed pages that are beautifully gilded and finished with a gold headband and navy blue place ribbon. It is Smyth-sewn and customized on the front end sheet for each yacht club with its burgee and a message from the Commodore (also available in an Unaffiliated Version), and is contained in a handsome box along with the 53-minute film.