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ZAMORANO, Rodrigo. Compendio del Arte de Navegar. Seville: Juan de Leon, 1586 [earlier printers imprimatur of Andrea Pescioni on final leaf dated 1582]. 8vo (182 x 128 mm). [3], 60 (i.e. 61) ff. with cancel title. Seven woodcuts in text. Condition: without the folding volvelle leaf?, title lightly stained in red, minor diminishing waterstain and light spotting at lower margin of first 2 gatherings, 2 tiny wormholes throughout. 19th-century black pebbled cloth, rebacked and cornered in black calf, cloth chemise and calf-backed slicase. Provenance: Edward Hoby (signed at upper margin of title and the motto "Uni soli et semper" in another early hand); two Spanish license stamps on title and on rear blank a family note concerning "Diego Rodriquez, born on the 10th December 1587, at 7 in the night." Acquisition: purchased from H. P. Kraus (1998), $9,680. the official navigation manual of the spanish navy during the armada period, this third edition of Zamorano is from the library of elizabeth the first's commissioner to inspect british defences against the spanish. Zamarano's manual is very rare at auction and records in the last 3 years record no copies of this edition or the first and only 3 copies of the second edition, one without the volvelle. Rodrigo Zamorano (c. 1542-?), cosmographer and 'piloto major' to King Philip II of Spain first published this manual for navigation as his role in the Navy demanded, in 1581, reissued again in 1582(with the title date altered in hand to1582) and again in this third edition with a new cancel title but original text. The knowledge of the seas by the Spanish far exceeded any other European nations and their navigation manuals were much sought after and once acquired were frequently translated into English. Sir Edward Hoby (1560-1617) was brother-in-law of the Lord Admiral and related to the Elizabeth I through his wife who was the daughter of the Queen's cousin, Baron Hunsdon. Recruited for several private diplomatic missions by the Queen, he was asked in July 1588 to inspect British preparations against the invasion of the Armada; in August of that year he signed the agreement made by all the British sea captains, including Drake and Hawkins, to pursue the Spanish fleet until it left British territorial waters. Hoby is also responsible for the translation of Bernardino de Mendoza's (Chief of Intelligence for Philip II) Theorica y Pratica de Guerra (1595). European Americana 586/70; Escudero 750; Medina, BHA 305; Palau 379249; Sabin 106246; this ed. not in NUC or BL.ImagesClick on thumbnails to see larger images:
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