The Letter of Marque
The Letter of Marque is the twelfth Aubrey-Maturin novel by Patrick O'Brian, first published by Collins in 1988, with a W. W. Norton US hardback in 1990. Struck off the Navy List, Aubrey sails the Surprise as a privateer while Maturin travels to Sweden to find his wife.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First published
- Collins, 1988
- Series
- Aubrey-Maturin series
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- Fontana Paperbacks1989 Paperback · Aubrey-Maturin series 12 I own Letter of Marque Uk, Fontana Paperbacks 1989 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Read next
- Comes after
- The Reverse of the Medal
In print
- Editions recorded
- 25 on Open Library, 20 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 3 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Patrick O'Brian
CollectorsNot sure which edition you have, or want to tell other collectors about your copy?
Ask a question
Write a review
Read it or own it? Share what The Letter of Marque is like to read or collect.
Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of The Letter of Marque are there?
We track 1 edition of The Letter of Marque. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
When was The Letter of Marque first published?
The Letter of Marque by Patrick O'Brian was first published in 1988.
What should I read after The Letter of Marque?
In order, it follows The Reverse of the Medal, according to Wikidata.
Where these facts come from
- The Letter of Marque, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Aubrey-Maturin series, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Patrick O'Brian, complete first edition set of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin novels, Sotheby's (sothebys.com)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 3 November 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.