An extremely rare edition of a very popular manual on the art of navigation, based on 17th and early 18th century manuals by authors and mathematicians like Klaas Hendricksz. Gietermaker (1621-1667) and Klaas de Vries (dates unknown, an Amsterdam mathematician). These manuals were intended for (young) sailors as it explains everything aspiring mates and helmsmen had to know, not only in order to pass their exams in navigation and steering but also to subsequently put into practice on board of the ships of their employers. The work is richly illustrated with mathematical figures and tables in the text. The second work in the compilation consists completely of logarithmic tables, to help determine ones position.
With an ownerships annotation ("Broder Knudjen. Cevenum, 29 Jannuari 1812") on the verso of the first fly leaf, and a manuscript table inserted in the front of the work. The vellum is soiled and stained, internally the work shows some thumbing and is slightly stained in the margins throughout, pages 323/324 are printed on one slightly larger sheet of paper and has been folded to fit in the binding. Otherwise in good condition. Ad 1: Crone Library, no. 533 (note); STCN 310802733 (1 copy); WorldCat 959288112 (1 copy, same as STCN); Ad 2: Crone Library, no. 496; STCN 303837977 (1 copy); WorldCat 69359968 (1 copy, other than STCN).