A rare Mediterranean 'Straights Book'
By GOOS, Pieter , 1669
Sold

Lighting Colom of the Midland-Sea containing a Description of all the knowne Coasts, Islants, Sands, Depthes, and Roads, begining from the narowest, of the Streat, unto Alexandrette in the Levant. at Amsterdam.

  • Author: GOOS, Pieter
  • Publication place: Amsterdam
  • Publisher: P. Goos, dwelling on the Texels Key, neer by Sparrendamner Bridge, at the Signe of the Golden Sea-mirrour
  • Publication date: 1669.
  • Physical description: Folio atlas (460 by 290mm), title, 24 double-page engraved charts, and one full page chart, evenly age-toned, a few trimmed to neatline, title with 'Admiralty Office Library' stamp, cancelled, repair to right margin of title page, manuscript annotations to 'The height of Som Places in the Midle-land Sea', modern blind-stamped calf by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, spine in six compartments separated by raised bands, gilt.
  • Inventory reference: 1020

Notes

The third book (‘Straets-boeck’) of Goos’s ‘Lighting Colom’ (‘Zeespiegel’), which details the Mediterranean navigation. This ‘Straets-boeck’ – or ‘Straights Book’, so named after the Straits of Gibraltar – was first published by Goos with Dutch text in 1662 and, in that same year, with a different title page as part III of the ‘Zee-Spieghel’. The charts in the work were newly engraved by Goos, however the text was borrowed from Jacobsz’ ‘Straets-boeck’ of 1648. In the contents the author explains the differences between the handling of the compass by the Dutch and Italians, and that the information in this work is adapted to Dutch use. He also explains why the charts have no degrees of latitude, as well as the use of the backstaff. The list with “The height of Som Places in the Midle-land Sea” contains additions and corrections in manuscript.

Rare. We are only able to trace one example – the present copy – coming up for sale in the past 25 years.

Bibliography

  1. Koeman, Goos 45
  2. Wing, C-5403dA.

Image gallery

/