Brown, Son & Ferguson

Brown, Son & Ferguson Ltd is a Glasgow-based nautical publisher, printer and ships' stationer that has operated under various forms since the early 19th century. Its own website states that the firm has been "nautical publishers, printers and ships' stationers since 1832," while a company history page describes the business as having been established "in a small way about 1850 as a retail stationery business" on the south side of the River Clyde in Glasgow, next to the railway terminus in Bridge Street. The company later moved to Drury Street, then York Street, and around 1908 to 52 Darnley Street, before settling at its present premises at 4/10 Darnley Street in December 1981. The firm's origins lie in a retail stationery shop that served the sailing ships then navigating up the Clyde into the heart of Glasgow. Visits from captains and crews led the business into publishing works connected with shipping, at a time when few maritime publications were available apart from titles such as Norie's Epitome of Navigation. Over the following decades Brown, Son & Ferguson developed a distinctive list of nautical textbooks, technical and non-technical works, books about the sea, historical books, information on old sailing ships and guides to building model ships. The company is particularly associated with classic sailing-ship literature. Its catalogue has long featured the works of Basil Lubbock, including The Colonial Clippers, The China Clippers, The Last of the Windjammers and The Log of the Cutty Sark, as well as standard works by Harold A. Underhill such as Masting and Rigging, Sailing Ship Rigs and Rigging and Plank-on-frame Models. These titles are noted for remaining in print for very long periods and for their old-fashioned, quality feel; the company's own history observes that they can often be sold for higher prices second-hand than new because many booksellers are unaware of how many remain in print. In addition to its publishing activities, Brown, Son & Ferguson operates as a printer and ships' stationer. Its online shop sells nautical textbooks, navigation and seamanship titles, rules of the road, books on ship construction, oil transport, signalling, astronomy, knotting and splicing, and general maritime works, alongside annuals and reference books. Flagship offerings include Brown's Nautical Almanac, Brown's Tidal Streams, Thomas' Stowage, Meteorology for Seafarers, Marine Heavy Lift and Rigging Operations, and Bernard's Nautical Star Chart. The company also sells drawings and plans, including drawings by Alistair Macfarlane and working plans for scaled ship models covering both power craft and sailing ships. Brown, Son & Ferguson remains a small, independent publisher devoted to quality and traditional standards, in contrast to the publishing conglomerates that dominate much of the industry. Its website serves as both a catalogue and a shop, and the business continues to trade from Glasgow, supplying maritime professionals, students, historians and model-makers around the world.

Brown, Son & Ferguson Ltd traces its origins to a small retail stationery business established in Glasgow around 1850, according to the company's own history page. The firm's website also states that it has been "nautical publishers, printers and ships' stationers since 1832," indicating a longer heritage in the trade. The original premises were on the south side of the River Clyde in Glasgow, next to the railway terminus in Bridge Street. At that time there was no railway bridge across the Clyde to Central Station, and sailing ships navigated right up the river into the heart of the city, making it easy for captains and crews to visit the book shop. Those visits led the firm into publishing works connected with shipping. In the early days there were few maritime publications available, apart from titles such as Norie's Epitome of Navigation, and the company helped fill that gap. As the business grew it moved from Bridge Street to Drury Street, then to York Street, and around 1908 to 52 Darnley Street. A final move to the present premises at 4/10 Darnley Street took place in December 1981. Over the 20th century Brown, Son & Ferguson built a reputation for handsomely produced, beautifully illustrated books on sailing ships, particularly those by Basil Lubbock. Titles such as The Colonial Clippers, The China Clippers, The Last of the Windjammers and The Log of the Cutty Sark became classics and often remained in print for very long periods. The company also published standard works by Harold A. Underhill, including Masting and Rigging, Sailing Ship Rigs and Rigging and Plank-on-frame Models. These books are noted for their old-fashioned, quality feel and for the fact that they can often be sold for higher prices second-hand than new, because many booksellers are unaware of how many remain in print. In the later 20th and early 21st centuries the company continued as a small, independent publisher devoted to quality and traditional standards, in a period dominated by publishing conglomerates. Its retired Managing Director, L. Ingram-Brown, wrote of the background of the business, its less familiar products and its present state. The firm expanded its catalogue to include technical and non-technical nautical textbooks, books about the sea, historical books, information on old sailing ships and guides to building model ships. It also continued as a printer and ships' stationer. Today Brown, Son & Ferguson operates an online shop from its Glasgow base, selling flagship references such as Brown's Nautical Almanac, Brown's Tidal Streams, Thomas' Stowage, Meteorology for Seafarers, Marine Heavy Lift and Rigging Operations and Bernard's Nautical Star Chart. It also offers drawings and plans, including drawings by Alistair Macfarlane and working plans for scaled ship models covering power craft and sailing ships. The business remains privately held and independent.

• 1981

  Final move to present premises at 4/10 Darnley Street in December 1981.

• 1908

  Moved to 52 Darnley Street, Glasgow.

• 1850

  Established in a small way as a retail stationery business on the south side of the River Clyde in Glasgow, next to the railway terminus in Bridge Street.

• 1832

  Company website states the firm has been nautical publishers, printers and ships' stationers since 1832.

A small, independent, quality-focused nautical publisher, printer and ships' stationer with a long heritage, serving maritime professionals, historians and model-makers.

• Brown's Nautical Almanac

  Annual nautical reference published by Brown, Son & Ferguson.

• Brown's Tidal Streams

  Tidal stream reference, 19th edition listed on the company's website.

• Thomas' Stowage

  Stowage reference, 11th edition noted as new for September 2026.

• Meteorology for Seafarers

  Meteorology textbook for seafarers, 6th edition.

• Marine Heavy Lift and Rigging Operations

  Technical title on heavy lift and rigging operations.

• Bernard's Nautical Star Chart

  Nautical star chart sold by the company.

• Basil Lubbock sailing-ship books

  Classic titles including The Colonial Clippers, The China Clippers, The Last of the Windjammers and The Log of the Cutty Sark.

• Harold A. Underhill books

  Standard works including Masting and Rigging, Sailing Ship Rigs and Rigging and Plank-on-frame Models.

• Ship model plans and drawings

  Drawings by Alistair Macfarlane and working plans for scaled ship models covering power craft and sailing ships.

1. 1Brown, Son and Ferguson Ltd - Nautical Publishers, Printers and Ships Stationersskipper.co.uk
2. 2About us - our history | Brown, Son and Ferguson Ltdskipper.co.uk
3. 3The History of Glasgow as a Ship Building City | Brown, Son and Ferguson Ltdskipper.co.uk
4. 4The Basil Lubbock People | Brown, Son and Ferguson Ltdskipper.co.uk
5. 5Brown, Son & Ferguson - Wikidatawikidata.org