Original edition of an extensive manual on all aspects of ship building, with a focus on ships for the French navy. The section on masting begins with two chapters on different rigs, and includes a great deal of technical and practical information, including on sails and the rigging of a ship, not only for the large sea-fearing ships, but also for the smaller vessels. The plates show typical rigging for various vessel types, the making of compound masts, and an attractive three-part plate of a crew constructing a large mast.
Pierre Alexandre Laurent Forfait (1752-1807) was a French engineer, hydrographer and politician, and Minister of the Navy. He became Napoleon Bonaparte's first Minister of the navy after the 18 Brumaire. He was a member of the Académie Royale de Marine, and later of l'Academie des sciences, to which he contributed numerous memoirs. He was charged with the creation of a French fleet of packet-boats for a regular transatlantic service to the French colonies. A second edition of the present work appeared in 1831, and a reprint edition in 1979.
The edges and corners of the boards are somewhat scuffed, the back board is stained. Internally very clean with only occasional foxing. Overall in good condition. Anderson p. 41; Cat. Ned. Hist. Scheepv. Mus. p. 751; Polak 3522; Scott 410; MacDonald 257 ("An important 18th century French treatise on masting and rigging; valuable plates").