Maritime, navigation – Seller (John, 1632-1697, Hydrographer...

Hammer

£600

Maritime, navigation – Seller (John, 1632-1697, Hydrographer to the King), Practical Navigation, or, an Introduction to the Whole Art, Dublin, S. Powell, 1715 small 8vo, (v) + 272pp, various diagrams, bound with, A Table of Logarithms, with a Table of Artificial Sines, Tangents and Secants, the Radius 10,0000000 [sic] and to every Degree and Minute of the Quadrant, Dublin, George Grierson 1725, MS inscription over the main title page of John Seller’s book, overwritten ‘Bought by Matt. Scott of Mr. Grierson in Dublin July 26th 1739 5s 5d’, further inscribed on first title page ‘John Guine 22nd July 1809’, calculations on front pastedown, the rear including part of a letter headed from an Irish address, bound blind calf, untitled, rear board slightly spotted, contents remarkably good (1)

***John Seller was the son of a London haberdasher, and was later a Merchant Venturer, becoming one of the most important men in the early history of the atlas trade in England He also traded in scientific instruments, notably compasses, at his shop in Wapping, published his first version of Praxis Nautica: Practical Navigation in 1669. He was made Hydrographer to the King in 1671 and published several other guides, charts and maps, dying in 1697. ‘Matt. Scott’ may perhaps be identifiable with Matthew Scott (1698-1758) of Convoy, Co. Donegal, a kinsman of the Earl of Tarras