The American Practical Lunarian, and Seaman’s Guide.

Item #48495
The American Practical Lunarian, and Seaman’s Guide.
Arnold, Thomas.
Robert Desilver, ( 1822), Philadelphia
21 cm. xviii, (6), 844, 71, (3 Subscribers) pp. b/w plates.
Price: $850

First and only edition of a little-known and rather extraordinary source of contemporary information about the Far Eastern and China trades, being a sort of combination of Bowditch’s Practical Navigator and Blunt’s Shipmaster’s Assistant, with advice on gunnery, signaling and other information on fighting a ship thrown in. Contents include tables and navigational instruction, as well as natural history, astronomy, sailing directions, practical seamanship, gunnery, naval tactics and “several sketches of trade not generally known” (Sumatran pepper trade, Mocha and Smyrna coffee, Isle de France, Bourbon and Batavia trades, salt trade, West Indian molasses and China trade). This is followed by a section of information for shipmasters, including duties, marine law and insurance. Scarce. Not in Karpinski or Sabin. American Imprints 7840. Scattered light foxing, a few plates tanned, but a good copy in 19th century calf binding, rebacked with spine label laid down.

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