The Middendorf is the classic reference when it comes to the rigging and sail plan of old ships. In 1903, the year of Ludwig Friedrich Middendorf's death, the long-time director of the Germanischer Lloyd in Hamburg, the book was published, presenting the contemporary knowledge comprehensively and up-to-date. For many years, the Middendorf was an essential resource in every design office and shipyard. Even today, experts and boat builders dealing with old ships turn to this standard work, which, given the passage of time, will likely forever mark the state of affairs. The book contains all the drawings, plans, and sections of the original.