Limenheuretica [Greek], sive porluum investigandorum ratio. Metaphraste Hug. Grotio Batavo

STEVIN, Simon

Published by Ex officina Plantiniana apud Christophorum Raphelengium. Academiae Lugduno-Batavae Typographum, Leiden, 1599

About this Item

DETERMINING LONGITUDE IN THE RENAISSANCE . First Latin edition, extremely rare, of Stevin s highly important work on the determination of position at sea using the magnetic variation (or declination) of the compass needle, the angle between magnetic north and true north; since latitude was simply measured, this was tantamount to the determination of longitude. Originally published in Dutch as De Havenvinding, "the [Latin] translation appeared almost simultaneously with the original Dutch version" (Crone et al., p. 375); English and French translations followed later in the same year. "In a seafaring nation like the Dutch republic matters of navigation were, of course, of great importance. In addition to his astronomical works, Stevin … approached the subject of determining the longitude of a ship, a problem that was not fully solved until the nineteenth century. Several previous authors had suggested that longitude might be determined by measuring the deviation of the magnetic needle from the astronomical meridian, a suggestion based on the assumption that the earth-wide distribution of terrestrial magnetism was known. Since the determination of latitude was well known, such a measurement would allow the sailor to chart longitudinal position against the latitudinal circle. Stevin, in his booklet, gave a clear explanation of this method; he differed from Petrus Plancius and Mercator in that he did not rely upon a priori conceptions of the way in which geomagnetic deviation depends upon geographical position. Although he was willing to offer a conjecture about this dependence, Stevin insisted on the necessity of collecting actual measurements from all possible sources and urged the establishment of an empirical, worldwide survey. His method was sound, although as data began to accumulate it became clear that the magnetic elements were subject to secular variation. The problem of determining longitude was at last solved more simply by the invention of the ship s chronometer" (DSB). The Latin translation of De Havenvinding is important as the first edition to be published in a language understood throughout Europe, and hence is likely to have been much more widely read that the Dutch original. It also contains a fascinating dedication by Grotius, not of course present in the Dutch edition (or in the English and French editions). According to ABPC/RBH, in the last 50 years no copy of the Dutch or Latin editions has sold at auction; they list just the Macclesfield copy of the French edition, and the Streeter/Boies-Penrose copy of the English edition (sold Christie s New York, April 16, 2007, $36,000). OCLC lists no copies in US. "By the end of the sixteenth century the Dutch Republic had become a major sea power … It was thus understandable that the authorities in the Dutch Republic Prince Maurice (1567-1625) and the States general were greatly interested in a safe and speedy method of maritime travel. Maurice showed considerable enthusiasm for nautical affairs, and it is likely that he asked Stevin to prepare a study of the subject … "Stevin explains what he intends right at the start of the book. It is known, he says, that for a long time past, principally since the great voyages to the Indies and America began, a means has been sought by which the navigator might know at sea the longitude of the place where his ship is at the moment in order thus to get to the harbours to which he wishes to go, but that hitherto it has not been possible to arrive at such accurate knowledge of the longitude. For some people, hoping to find it through the variation of the compass, ascribed a pole to the said variation, calling it magnetic pole, but it is found upon further experience that these variations do not obey a pole. Nevertheless the search for this has furnished a means for reaching a desired harbor, even though the true longitudes of both the harbor and the ship are unknown. In navigation, the variation of the compass is underst. Seller Inventory # 5421

Bibliographic Details

Title: Limenheuretica [Greek], sive porluum ...

Publisher: Ex officina Plantiniana apud Christophorum Raphelengium. Academiae Lugduno-Batavae Typographum, Leiden

Publication Date: 1599

Edition: First edition.