Vin

1750 · 0001563 — Good. 1750. On offer is an absolutely sensational ancient original 1750s manuscript sailor's vade mecum or reference manual handwritten by and or for a mariner over 260 years ago. The name William Wine appears on the rear inside cover dated March 4th 1788. The handwriting is similar throughout to the signature but it is inconclusive if Mr. Wine is the author original owner or a later owner. The first page detached but present is dated November 1750. There are many many tables of information illustrations charts drawings etc. that are indexed and with over 420 pages written in a small meticulous hand there are within these pages everything that a mid-18th Century senior officer or mate would require being filled with geographical mathematical financial navigational and geometric information and there are also sections detailing carpenter's work joiners painters glaziers lavers masons plus foreign exchange and monetary info and conversions in foreign countries. There are sections for algebra calculus trigonometry all manners of measurement whether liquid or dry and even how to calculate the contents of a globe with many of the mathematical sections deal with measuring heights and distance from afar measuring and surveying dealing with casks all information that a Lieutenant 1st mate or Ship's Master or even a Captain would need. We conclude that the information and the quality of the manuscript book vellum which double folds and creates an envelope that would protect the pages from the elements plus a metal clasp broken give further credence that this book was owned by a senior officer and most certainly of English origin as evidenced by the section regarding Oxford and Cambridge terms plus a chart that helps one establish the dates of the Easter season leap years tides . The volume begins with a few pages of indices and in the first section one finds pages of geographical place names and distances from one to another: "the coast of Carolina Virginia etc. to Newfoundland" and the "Bohema Islands" and another "The Coast of y.e main Continent in y.e West Indies" and the degrees of longitude and latitude are listed alongside each listed place. The standard depth and sheer volume of information also leads us to conclude that the seaman was likely an officer of a merchantman as opposed to a casual traveler. This is an absolutely unique manuscript relic of ancient seafaring and the age of sail. The 7 x 4.5 x 1.5 inch book is generally soiled on the covers but the interiors are good save for the loose page and the odd stains to the inner pages. The cover is stiff somewhat fragile and has some cracks/tears but overall the book is G. ; 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN ENGLAND BRITANNIA RULES THE WAVES NELSON HORNBLOWER AUBREY RAMAGE REFERENCE MANUAL HANDBOOK NAVIGATION MARINE NAUTICAL NAVAL TIDES VADE MECUM SAILOR SAILING AGE OF SAIL SEVEN YEARS WAR TRAVEL ASEA SURVEYING LONGITUDE LATITUDE MATHEMATICS GEOMETRY GEOGRAPHY PORT OF CALL HARBORS SEAFARING SEAFARERS HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DOCUMENT LETTER AUTOGRAPH DIARY JOURNAL LOG KEEPSAKE WRITER HAND WRITTEN DOCUMENTS SIGNED LETTERS MANUSCRIPTS HISTORICAL HOLOGRAPH WRITERS DIARIES JOURNALS LOGS AUTOGRAPHS PERSONAL MEMOIR MEMORIAL PERSONAL HISTORYantiquité contrat vélin document manuscrit papier Antike Brief Pergament Dokument Manuskript Papier oggetto d'antiquariato atto velina documento manoscritto carta antigüedad hecho vitela documento manuscrito papel. . hardcover