STURMY, Samuel (1633-1669). The Mariners Magazine, Stor'd with these Mathematical Arts: the Rudiments of Navigation and Geometry. London: John Playford for W. Fisher et al; Mary Clark, 1684; 1683.

Folio (298 x 191 mm). Engraved frontispiece portrait, additional engraved title-page, printed title in red and black, 11 plates, 3 with volvelles (2 volvelles in facsimile, other uncut), most folding, numerous engravings in the text (large tear to frontispiece, supplied from another copy and reinforced, marginal browning with some edgewear to engraved title). (Some marginal browning throughout, corner marginal tear with loss to sig. K). Modern morocco gilt. Provenance: early ownership signature on frontispiece recto and printed title-page; contemporary notes throughout.

THIRD EDITION, revised by John Colson. “The aim of this veritable encyclopaedia was to provide [Sturmy's] three brothers, his sons, and other young seamen with all they needed to know, even if their mathematical knowledge was restricted to arithmetic The Magazine was written in lively fashion, in the sections on seamanship the usual commands and responses being set out as dialogue between captain and crew (parts of this were lifted verbatim by Jonathan Swift for Gulliver's Travels” (DNB). Adams & Waters 3476; See Taylor Mathematical Practitioners 329; Wing S-6098.