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Author: Alcalá, Galiano, Dionisio
Title: Memoria Sobre las Observaciones de Latitud y Longitud en el Mar
Place Published: [Madrid, Spain]
Publisher:En la Imprenta de la Viuda de D. Joachîn Ibarra
Date Published: 1796
Description:

[2], [87], [1] pp + 7 folding tables. (4to) modern polished red sheep with gilt borders, spine tooled & lettered in gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers. Second Edition.

Rare treatise by the Spanish naval officer, cartographer and explorer Dionisio Alcalá Galiano (1760-1805), on the determination of latitude and longitude at sea. Much expanded from the first edition of the preceding year, which did not have the seven folding tables. Palau 5752. Old inkstamp on title page, likely a bookseller, from Malaga, Spain.

Galiano was a pioneer of the use of the chronometer in Spain, allowing him to produce far more accurate maps of the Spanish colonies in the Americas than previously available. After graduating from the Spanish naval school in 1779 he participated in hydrographic surveys of the Spanish and South American coasts and other Spanish naval scientific explorations. He joined the expedition of Alejandro Malaspina to Vancouver; at the age of 45 he was killed at the battle of Trafalgar.

Light stain to top corners of most leaves intruding to text; very good.