The Seaman's New Vade Mecum; Containing a Practical Essay on Naval Book-Keeping with the Method of Keeping the the Captain's Books,and Complete Instructions in the Duty of a Captain's Clerk. The Fourth Edition with Considerable Additions

LIDDEL, Robert.

Published by London: G. G. and J. Robinson, 1803

About this Item

The fourth edition, the first in the nineteenth-century, of this successful nautical handbook, originally published 1787. A concise guide to the administrative maintenance of a ship's internal economy intended for the instruction of young officers. Uncommon, just five locations world wide for this edition - NMM, Rice, the Ingenium, Canada, Smithsonian and Newberry. This copy from the library of Rolling Stones' drummer Charlie Watts who was fascinated by the Nelsonian navy. Contains all that would be required for a captain's clerk to keep the ship's records in order, including an explanation of the correct method of book keeping, examples of all the official forms that would be encountered, together with a summary of the duties of the various officers, a glossary of "sea terms", and an to naval signals with attractive illustrative plates. Liddel is described on the title page as a "purser in the Royal Navy"; he joined the service in 1780, and can be traced to the Culloden at Plymouth in 1802, and the prison ship San Nicolas in 1804. No markings of Charlie's ownership, but sold at the sale of the effects of Charlie and Shirley Watts from Halsdon House, Devon in May 2026 Octavo (214 x 124 mm). pp. [20], 154, 266, 32. With six hand-coloured engraved plates of signal flags, and numerous folding tables included in pagination. Contemporary mottled sheep, recently smartly rebacked and recornered, spine gilt lettered and with gilt three-master tools to compartments formed by a decorative roll. Some minor scuffing and a couple of patches of stripping from the boards, contemporary ownership inscriptions to head of title page and dedication leaf; scattered spotting, naïve, but effective and unobtrusive paper repairs to one folding leaf, another standing proud at the tail edge; overall an attractively restored and eminently usable copy, very good.

Seller Inventory # 193817

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Seaman's New Vade Mecum; Containing a Practical Essay on Naval Book-Keeping with the Method of Keeping the the Captain's Books,and Complete Instructions in the Duty of a Captain's Clerk. The Fourth Edition with Considerable Additions
• Publisher: London: G. G. and J. Robinson, 1803