Bond, Henry.

Second edition, small 4to (191 x 142mm.), disbound, preserved in blue morocco-backed folding case, [Wing B3560A (one copy only: Magdalen College, Cambridge)], semi-circular tear to gutter of title and first three leaves, title with small chips to fore-edge, some light dampstaining

Harrison D. Horblit, bookplate, his sale in these rooms, Part 1, 11 June 1974, lot 137; Frank Streeter, bookplate, his sale, Christie's New York, 16-17 April 2007, lot 50

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Very rare: only one copy of this edition is recorded in the ESTC and only 3 copies of the first edition of 1642 are recorded (British Library, National Maritime Museum and Bodleian Library, Oxford). Practical manuals such as these survived in very small numbers.

Bond's manual gives sailors the tools for correctly proportioning masts, and preparing the yarding and rigging of any ship. He also describes the use of an opening scale to aid in the process. His final postscript on the last leaf responds to the criticism against his instruction.

Bond (c.1600-78) advertised himself as a "teacher of navigation, syrvey, and other parts of mathematics." He is best known for his prediction of the annual rate of the variation of the compass and for his proposed method for longitude by means of this and the dip-needle which was examined by a Royal Commission in 1675. He edited Tapp's Seaman's Kalendar for about twenty years.