The New Practical Navigator

Second American edition of this highly influential maritime work on everything you need to know to successfully navigate and sail the oceans of the world. FULL TITLE The New Practical Navigator: being an epitome of navigation; containing the different methods of working the lunar observations, and all the requisite tables used with the nautical almanac, in determining the latitude and longitude; and keeping a complete reckoning at sea: illustrated by proper rules and examples: the whole exemplified in a journal kept from England to the island of Teneriffe. The first American, from the thirteenth English edition of John Hamilton Moore. Improved by the introduction of several new tables, and by large additions to the forme tables, and revised and corrected by a skilful mathematician and navigator. Illustrated with copper-plates. To which are added, some general instructions and information to merchants.by John Hamilton Moore and with significant additions by Nathaniel Bowditch Overall condition: Fair to Poor, front board detached. Textually complete. Without frontispiece, publisher ads removed. BOOK INFO Published in 1800 by Edmund M. Blunt in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Second American edition as indicated on title page and with correct 1800 publication date. Bound in its original full sheepskin which is wrapped in old sailing vessel canvas. Octavo, 8.5" x 5.5" Lacking frontispiece and publisher ads, textually complete: [xii], 13-570 pp., 7 copper engraved plates - illustrations, maps and diagrams. Illustrated within text throughout. Included are over a hundred numerical navigation charts, tips for nautical safety, essays, and a journal of a famous voyage from 1795. ABOUT THE AUTHOR John Hamilton Moore (1738 - 1807) was a Scottish teacher of navigation, chart seller, and hydrographer active in London during the latter part of the 18th century. Moore was born in Edinburgh and was educated in Ireland before joining the Royal Navy. After leaving the navy he set up a navigation academy in Brentford, Middlesex. In 1772 he published the navigation textbook The New Practical Navigator and Daily Assistant. The work became the most popular such text of its day and ran into some 17 editions, firmly establishing Moore's credentials. He taught navigation to a select audience as well as traded in navigational instrument and nautical charts. Moore began publishing his own charts. These were among the earliest blueback charts, called such for their distinctive blue paper backing. Moore took on draughtsman William Heather and John Noire, both future publishers of blueback nautical charts in their own right, to draw and engraves his charts. His obituary in The Gentleman's Magazine, a sign in and of itself of Moore's social significance, offered him high praise: "he caused the best Charts to be published that had ever been done by any individual in this or any other nation." ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR Nathaniel Bowditch (March 26, 1773 - March 16, 1838) was an early American mathematician remembered for his work on ocean navigation. He is often credited as the founder of modern maritime navigation. During his time at sea, Bowditch became intensely interested in the mathematics involved in celestial navigation. He worked initially with John Hamilton Moore's London-published Navigator, which was known to have errors. To have exact tables to work from, Bowditch recomputed all of Moore's tables and rearranged and expanded the work. He contacted the US publisher of the work, Edmund March Blunt, who asked him to correct and revise the third edition on his fifth voyage. A few years later, he wrote his own navigation book, The American Practical Navigator. The American Practical Navigator is still on board every commissioned U.S. Naval vessel, over 220+ years after it was first published. CONDITION REPORT FAIR to POOR Exterior and binding - heavily soiled and worn canvas covering degraded, original sheepskin covered boards. Writing on canvas. Front board det.…