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 The Royal Navy in the Year of the Act of Union 

This broadside, titled A List of the Royal Navy of Great-Brittain, in the Year 1707, provides a comprehensive inventory of the ships in the British Royal Navy in the same year as the Scots Royal Navy was merged into the British Royal Navy. Printed and sold by Benjamin Bragge "at the Raven in Paste-noster Row" in London, the document serves as both a public record and a detailed resource for understanding the organization and scale of Britain’s naval power during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714). 

The broadside is divided into multiple columns, listing individual ships grouped by rate or classification, which reflects their size, armament, and role in the fleet. These classifications range from first-rate ships, the largest and most heavily armed, to smaller vessels such as sloops, fire ships, bomb vessels, and ketches. The information for each ship includes:

• Ship Name: The official designation of the vessel.
• Where Built: The location of construction or acquisition.
• By Whom Built: The shipbuilder responsible for its construction.
• Year of Completion:
• Length, Breadth, and Depth: Dimensions of the hull in feet.
• Tonnage: The ship's displacement or carrying capacity.
• Number of Guns and Men: The ship’s firepower and crew complement.

At the bottom, there is a summary of the total number of ships by category and a total (284), showing the size and structure of the Royal Navy’s fleet in 1707. The price of the broadside, "One Peny," is listed. 

The year 1707 was a pivotal time for the British Navy, coinciding with the Act of Union that formally united England and Scotland under the Kingdom of Great Britain. This inventory reflects the growing strategic importance of the Royal Navy in maintaining Britain’s maritime dominance and protecting its expanding empire. The navy played a critical role in safeguarding trade routes, engaging in naval battles, and supporting military operations during the War of the Spanish Succession, which sought to prevent a unification of the Spanish and French thrones.  

Rarity

OCLC locates 1 example (Harvard University).