A Treatise on Practical Seamanship; with Hints and Remarks related thereto: Designed to contribute something towards fixing Rules upon Philosophical and Rational Principles; to Make Ships, and the Management of Them; and also Navigation, in General, more Perfect, and Consequently less Dangerous and Destructive to Health, Lives, and Property
Liverpool: William Hutchinson, 1777. First Edition. Full leather. 4to. Pp. xiv, 213, plates. Frontis. black & white engraving of a sailing ship. Illustrated with black & white engravings and a fold out map of the Liverpool harbor. Marbled endpapers. Bookplate on front pastedown, along with owner's yacht name in ink on title page. Bound in contemporary leather, gilt lettering on red morocco spine label, raised bands. Old rebacking, original spine laid down. Rubbed edges and corners; foxing to preliminaries, balance of leaves fresh but for a light lower margin dampstain affecting the last three leaves. Blindstamp of the Falmouth Subscription Room, dated 1826, on title page. (No other ex-libris markings.) Map with closed four-inch tear. In sum, a well preserved copy. Very Good. Item #11341
First edition. Since 1760 Hutchinson served as Liverpool's dock-master. More than mere seamanship, his treatise covers shipbuilding, armory, stowage and observations on the health of seamen, thus providing a compendium of practical guidance. A scarce book, with only five copies appearing at auction since 1928.
Price: $1,450.00