DESCRIPTION: Very rare antique edition of this book of sailing directions by Henry Michelot whose earliest career with Louis XIV's Corp des Galeres (Galley Corps) dates to approximately 1675. This edition published in French by Jean Mossy in 1805 is updated with sailing directions for the Levant coast and Greek Archipelago not found in the original 1703 edition.
For the collector of Michelot and Bremond sea charts this volume provides fascinating background and depth into their early works. 596 pages including an index. Includes a preface by Mossy. No maps or illustrations (as issued).
Henry Michelot and Laurens Bremond
Henri Michelot was an early eighteenth century French cartographer with a close connection to the sea. He described himself as Hydrographer and Pilot of the Galere Royale (Royal Galley), and was associated with a corps of approximately forty galleys (galeres), oared sailing vessels operating in the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coast. In the Mediterranean, these galleys were based primarily at the naval arsenal in Marseilles, France. They were typically rigged with triangular Mediterranean lateen sails, a configuration well suited to coastal navigation and variable winds.
Bookseller and royal hydrographer Laurent Bremond, styled “Hydrographe du Roi et de la Ville,” sold charts and maritime books from his establishment in Marseille, located near the port at the corner of Reboul Street (“au Coin de Reboul”). Bremond played a key role in the commercial distribution of nautical knowledge, supplying working mariners as well as official and institutional clients.
The collaborative output of Michelot and Bremond, produced roughly between 1715 and 1730, included an atlas of sixteen small-scale charts, a port book containing thirty-seven large-scale charts, and a Mediterranean coast pilot titled Portulan de la Mer Mediterranee, ou Guide des Pilotes Cotiers. Issued in multiple languages and published in editions extending at least to 1805, this body of work became a primary source of navigational information for the Mediterranean for many decades. The charts of Michelot and Bremond were highly influential and were frequently copied by later chartmakers, including Kitchin and Roux.
PUBLICATION DATE: 1805
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: France
BODY OF WATER: Mediterranean
CONDITION: Good
Binding strong. Contents in good condition with no foxing although the cover shows its age with significant scuffing and wear on the bottom front right. Small piece of title page missing , not affecting any text.
COLORING: None
ENGRAVER:
SIZE: 5
" x
8 "
ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 0
PRICE: $600
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