Pinnock's catechisms. A catechism of navigation; in which the elementary principles of that science are explained in easy language; and the technical terms used at sea rendered perfectly intelligible to youth, For whose use it is designed, preparatory to more copious Works

70pp, [14]. With an engraved portrait frontispiece depicting Captain Cook, and an additional engraved title page. Original publisher's printed paper wrappers. Stitching perished, text-block separated into constituent gatherings and detached from binding. Extremities heavily rubbed and marked. Contemporary inked ownership inscription to verso of frontispiece, occasional spotting. The volume on navigation from publisher William Pinnock's (bap. 1782, d. 1843), series of highly successful short catechistic manuals, constructed in the form of questions and answers and sold under his name. It is unclear how much of the literary work Pinnock did himself, and how much came through from other publishers, writers, and schoolteachers in the London area. He issued a total of eighty-three 'catechisms' at 9d. each, covering such eclectic topics as chess, conchology, sacred geography, agriculture, and algebra, of which many were translated and issued on the Continent. Size: 12mo.