Nuove Inventioni di Camillo Agrippa Milanese.

FIRST EDITION, [4], 52, [2]pp., Sig. [2] A-G4, 2 engraved folding plates, one with skillful tear repairs, wood cut printers device to title, woodcut head-and-tail pieces, inhabited initials, contemporary vellum over boards, 4to, Rome, Presso a Domenico Gigliotti, 1595

An extremely scarce work on navigation.

Camillo Agrippa (c. 1520–1600) was a sixteenth-century architect, engineer, and natural philosopher. Born in Milan, he spent the majority of his career in Renaissance Rome, where he was associated with Farnese and Medici circles and was also a member of the Confraternity of St. Joseph of the Holy Land, itself a centre for artisans and artists. Primarily known as an expert on fencing and swordsmanship, Agrippa used his knowledge of geometry to revolutionise techniques in this field.

In this work he applies his skills to the issue of navigation.

The copies at Harvard, Folger and the Smithsonian have two folding plates (present in this copy), however, the copies held at The National Maritime Museum & University of Kwazulu Natal Library have three. There is also a portrait frontispiece of the author that is not present in this copy.