Liber Nauticus, and Instructor in the Art of Marine Drawing
Published by Edward Orme, London, 1805
- First Edition
- Softcover
- Used
Seller: Hordern House Rare Books, Potts Point, NSW, AustraliaHordern House Rare Books
AbeBooks seller since January 17, 2013
Condition: Used
£ 2,377.58
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Large folio, with printed title page, 16 pp. letterpress description, engraved dedication leaf and a total of 17 plates (12 engraved and 5 aquatints, one of which is handcoloured); recent half calf preserving original blue tinted wrappers. The first published part to Liber Nauticus, one of the great English naval aquatint books of the Napoleonic era. This ambitious work is the product of a fruitful collaboration between Dominick Serres and his son John Thomas. A Gascon by birth, Dominick Serres was educated at the Benedictine academy at Douai but ran away to sea to escape a life in the clergy. After working as a common seaman on the South American routes he rose to become a master of a ship trading from Havana until captured by a British frigate. When in England, Serres met the famous marine artist Charles Brooking and began a successful new career that included Royal Academy membership and a stint as marine painter to George II. John Thomas followed in his father's footsteps and likewise enjoyed Royal patronage. The title page of the present volume describes him as "Marine Draught-Man to the Honourable Board of Admiralty". In the elegantly engraved preface leaf titled "Address to the Amateurs of Marine Drawing", John Thomas Serres outlines his intention for Liber Nauticus: "Many are the obstacles to the attainment of a proficiency in drawing Marine subjects, particularly as it is not only a requisite that a person desirous in excelling in this Art should possess a knowledge of the construction of a ship, or what is denominated 'Naval Architecture'. but he should likewise be acquainted with seamanship." Accordingly, John Thomas published the Liber Nauticus to educate land-locked artists in the technical details of various naval craft so that they could accurately depict them in action settings. Thus it was possible to forego the rigour and brutality of naval life and "even those who are unacquainted with these floating monuments of British Power" could render them with relative ease. This is an early issue of the first edition, indicated by the single letter printed "S" as an overslip on the title page correcting "Nauticum" to "Nauticus". Likewise the last letterpress leaf bears the pasted slip reading "End of Part First". It is an appealing copy, with the original wrappers present, as is the engaging lithographed titling onlay depicting two leviathans beneath a crown formed from masts and sails. The onlay includes the original sale price for the first part of £2/2s, proof that this was an expensive publication in its day. . Title-page a little chipped, some plates thumbed and worn at the margins, but a very good copy with generous margins in recent half calf preserving original blue tinted wrappers.…
Seller Inventory # 3808815
Hordern House Rare Books
Potts Point, NSW, Australia
Shipping rates from Australia to U.S.A.
| Item | 25 to 45 business days | 8 to 14 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 11.42 | £ 13.75 |
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Store description
Hordern House, founded by Anne McCormick and Derek McDonnell in 1985 and named for our original building in Sydney's Potts Point, is an internationally renowned dealership, specialising in rare books, manuscripts and paintings. Always reflected in our extensive stock of rare and select material is our specialization in voyages and travels (with a special interest in the Pacific & Australia), natural history and colour-plate material, paintings and voyage art, historical maps and manuscripts. We issue regular catalogues, some of which are published online only: all our recent catalogues can be viewed on our website.…
Specialty
Voyages and travel, Natural History, Hawaii, Illustrated books, Colonial and voyage art, Manuscripts, Australia, Voyages, Pacific.Association member
Seller's business information
Hordern House Rare Books
Hordern House, Level 2, 255 Riley Street
Surry Hills, NSW Australia 2010
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