Dell' arcano del mare
By: di D. Ruberto Dudleo duca di Nortumbria, e conte di VVarvich. Libri sei ; ... Al serenissimo Ferdinando secondo gran duca di Toscana suo signore
Contributors: Lucini, Antonio Francesco, 1605- engraver; Onofri, Francesco, active 1631-1679, publisher
Publisher: Nella stamperia di Francesco Onofri
Published: 1646
Place of publication: In Firenze
Language: ita
Subjects: Naval art and science; Early works to 1800; Navigation; Longitude; Italian Atlases; Shipbuilding; Ocean; Maps
Other titles: Dell'arcano del mare; Arcano del mare
Notes: 3 v. of 2 books each. Each v. has own t.p., that of v. 3 with date 1647. Vol. 1 and 2 have half-titles. Each of 6 books beginning new pagination and register, but are consecutively numbered.

Vols. 1-2 (books 1-4) are folio; v. 3, pt. 1 (book 5) is in full sheets.

Pagination: [4], 8, [2], 9-10, [2], 11-14, [2], 15-26, [6], 27-56 p., [31] leaves of plates; 76, [2] p., [41] leaves of plates; [4], 48, [4], 49-55, [1] p., [8] leaves of plates; 36, [2] p., [24] leaves of plates; [2], 26, [2], 27-36, [2] p. [92] leaves of plates; [2], 60, [2] p., [131?] leaves of plates. (Pagination of book 6 from Phillips.).

"Libri sei; nel primo de' quali si tratta della longitudine praticabile in diuersi modi, d' inuenzione dell' autore, nel secondo, delle carte sue generali, e de' portolani rettificati in longitudine, e latitudine, nel terzo, della disciplina sua marittima, e militare. Nel quarto, dell' architettura sua nautica di vascelli da guerra, nel quinto, della nauigazione scientifica, e perfetta, cioè spirale, ò di gran circoli, nel sesto, delle carte sue geografiche, e particolari."

"Con licenza de' SS. superiori."

Engraved facsimile of the ms. patent from Ferdinand II (grand duke of Tuscany) confirming Dudley as Duke of Northumberland inserted after t.p. in v. 1.

Imprimatur dated 26 Augusti 1645 at v. 1, book 1, p. 56.

Letterpress slips with battle formations are inserted in v. 2, book 3 at pages 11, 13, 15 and 21.

Errata lists: v. 1, bk. 2, p. 75-76 and p. [1] at end; v. 2, bk. 4, p. [1] at end.

Head- and tail-pieces, historiated initials.

Engravings by Antonio Francisco Lucini include title vignettes, maps, portolan charts and ill. of navigational instruments. There are numerous volvelles and other movable parts.

Some illustrated plates have letterpress explanations on the verso.

The LC copies are described in P.L. Phillips, A list of geographical atlases in the Library of Congress, vol. 1, p. 203-216 (no. 457). This includes a list of the maps and portolan charts.

Description based on incomplete copy, lacking book 6 (v.3, pt. 2).