Sir Francis Drake has a dilemma. He is famous and rich as a result of his plundering of Spanish treasure, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and his historic voyage around the world in 1577-1580. More than a decade later, many of his exploits and discoveries from that epic voyage are still unknown to the world. Queen Elizabeth confiscated all of his journals, drawings, and charts and refuses to allow any of them to be published; she's afraid of further antagonizing the Spanish and wants to keep the new discoveries secret. How can he ensure that his achievements are not lost forever? What should he do? Vice President Ray Cartwright has a dilemma. As an antiquarian book collector, he is approached with a manuscript said to be created by Sir Francis Drake four hundred years ago; the sale requires his keeping the document secret. The offer and its conditions seem ridiculous. After all, there is not a single known original document of Francis Drake's related to his historic voyage around the world in the 1570s. Is it fake? Is it stolen? Is it a political set-up to sidetrack his run for the presidency? What should he do?

In 1791, Captain George Vancouver is given a great opportunity to gain fame and fortune-sail to the Pacific coast of North America and explore the coastline for the long-sought Northwest Passage back across the continent while taking possession of the vast territories of northwest America from the Spanish. Four years later, he returns home to dismissal and ridicule. He dies three years later at the age of forty, a sickly, impoverished man desperately trying to complete the publication of his journals. What happened? Now, there are two large collections of rare books related to the early exploration of northwestern America coming to auction, a major event in the modern world of antiquarian books. Many dealers and individual collectors are positioning themselves to be the successful bidders. The centerpiece of the auctions is a heretofore unknown, astonishing copy of the journals of George Vancouver printed over two hundred years ago. How much will it sell for? Is this, in some way, a vindication of Vancouver, maybe even his vengeance? The emergence of the special copy of Vancouver's journals causes President Ray Cartwright to re-examine the unique Sir Francis Drake document he bought years ago. Is it really legitimate? How can he find out? What should he do if it's a fake?

In 1791, Captain George Vancouver is given a great opportunity to gain fame and fortune-sail to the Pacific coast of North America and explore the coastline for the long-sought Northwest Passage back across the continent while taking possession of the vast territories of northwest America from the Spanish. Four years later, he returns home to dismissal and ridicule. He dies three years later at the age of forty, a sickly, impoverished man desperately trying to complete the publication of his journals. What happened? Now, there are two large collections of rare books related to the early exploration of northwestern America coming to auction, a major event in the modern world of antiquarian books. Many dealers and individual collectors are positioning themselves to be the successful bidders. The centerpiece of the auctions is a heretofore unknown, astonishing copy of the journals of George Vancouver printed over two hundred years ago. How much will it sell for? Is this, in some way, a vindication of Vancouver, maybe even his vengeance? The emergence of the special copy of Vancouver's journals causes President Ray Cartwright to re-examine the unique Sir Francis Drake document he bought years ago. Is it really legitimate? How can he find out? What should he do if it's a fake?