Breve Compendio de la Sphera y de la Arte de Navegar

Breve Compendio de la Sphera y de la Arte de Navegar – Vicent Garcia Editores – R-1/145 – Biblioteca General e Histórica de la Universidad (Valencia, Spain)

Seville (Spain) — May 27th, 1551

How to make a sea astrolabe or determine the time at night: Martín Cortés de Albacar's milestone in navigation and cosmography with groundbreaking findings about the Earth's poles

  1. Martín Cortés de Albacar (1510–1582) wrote the standard navigational textbook of the 16th century

  2. Albacar explains the variability of magnetic declination when using a compass in different regions of the globe

  3. It was first published on May 27th, 1551 by Antón Álvarez in Seville and enjoyed numerous translations

Breve Compendio de la Sphera y de la Arte de Navegar

R-1/145 Biblioteca Histórica de la Universidad de València (Valencia, Spain)
  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Breve Compendio de la Sphera y de la Arte de Navegar

This is a particularly interesting piece of Spanish scientific history, which explains the variability of magnetic declination when using a compass in different regions of the globe. In doing so, it broke with the prevailing wisdom of the time and overturned it, setting new standards for navigation in the 16th century. Aside from introducing this new method of navigation, it details various instruments and how they ought to be used by sailors at sea.

Breve Compendio de la Sphera y de la Arte de Navegar

The treatise, whose full title translates to “Brief Compendium of the Globe and the Art of Navigation” in English, is usually referred to simply as Arte de Navegar. It was written by Cádiz native Martín Cortés de Albacar (1510–1582) and published on May 27th, 1551 in the Seville printing house of Antón Álvarez. Alcabar was a Spanish cosmographer whose treatise was considered to be the standard navigational textbook in the 16th century. The practical codex concisely described navigation, cosmography, and solving problems related to magnetic declination as well as models for various instruments. These include the first known description of a Nocturnal, which allows one to calculate the local time at night based upon the relative positions of at least two stars, and instructions for making and using a mariner’s astrolabe, which determines latitude. All of this is explained in easily legible Gothic script and is adorned by clear, precise woodcuts. The work went on to enjoy numerous translations, with the 1561 English translation by the alchemist Richard Eden (ca. 1520–1576) enjoying particular popularity, appearing in at least six editions, and representing the first formal navigational work in English. Thus, the Spanish original at hand was of importance not only for the land of its origin, but had a significant impact on sailors and navigators across Europe.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Breve Compendio de la Sphera y de la Arte de Navegar: con nuevos instrumentos y reglas, exemplificado con muy subtiles demonstraciones
Size / Format
204 pages / 30.0 × 20.5 cm
Origin
Spain
Date
May 27th, 1551
Language
Illustrations
Tables of geography and nautical instruments
Content
Treatise on navigation and cosmography
Artist / School

Available facsimile editions:
Facsimile Editions

#1 Breve Compendio de la Sphera y de la Arte de Navegar: con nuevos instrumentos y reglas, exemplificado con muy subtiles demonstraciones

Vicent Garcia Editores – Valencia, 1996

Publisher: Vicent Garcia Editores – Valencia, 1996
Limited Edition: 3160 copies
Binding: Parchment binding on wooden board; presented in a cloth-lined case with gold engraved leather spine
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €
(under 1,000€)
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