Beschreibung:

An illustrated manuscript written by Robert Tillidge, circa 1742, being largely neat transcription of sections of Captain Samuel Sturmy's Mariners Magazine (first published 1669), containing information on the Julian calendar, trigonometry, sailing and navigation, artificial fireworks, etc., written and illustrated with diagrams and vignettes on 109 leaves, mostly to rectos only, and including as original work 40 full-page pen and ink and watercolour illustrations including self portrait with globes and instruments, and a final amusing deathbed scene, some browning and dust-soiling, a few tears and old repairs with slight loss at front and rear, later half calf over marbled boards, heavily rubbed, folio (277 x 185 mm) A curious and interesting manuscript, that appears to be largely direct transcriptions of text and problems in Sturmy's work which reached its fourth edition in 1700. The illustrations are all, or mostly original works, and beside the self portraits include illustrations of artillery 'fire works'. The colophon beneath the deathbed scene at the end gives Tillidge's age as 25 on completion of the manuscript on 2nd June 1743. (1)