FADEN, William (1749-1836). Le Petit Neptune Français: or, French Coasting Pilot, for the coast of Flanders, Channel, Bay of Biscay, and Mediterranean, to which is added the coast of Italy from the River Var To Orbitello: with the Gulf of Naples and...

FADEN, William (1749-1836). Le Petit Neptune Français: or, French Coasting Pilot, for the coast of Flanders, Channel, Bay of Biscay, and Mediterranean, to which is added the coast of Italy from the River Var To Orbitello: with the Gulf of Naples and the island of Corsica. London: for W. Faden, 1793.

First edition, a large, uncut copy, of Faden’s adaptation of a successful pilot guide which began circulating under the title Le petit flambeau de la mer in the 17th century. For his edition, compiled in preparation for a war with revolutionary France, Faden copied an edition published by his one-time partner Thomas Jefferys (1761), here with re-engraved charts. Shirley BL M.FAD-1a.

Quarto (288 x 218mm). Engraved frontispiece showing the Tower of Cordouan, 46 engraved charts on 39 sheets of the coast of France and 3 folding plates of coastal profiles, all but the profiles delicately coloured by hand (very occasional light spotting). Uncut and partly unopened, bound later in early calf, gilt spine (some light wear). Provenance: John Hamilton (possibly the contemporary map and atlas publisher at Edinburgh; contemporary signature on title).

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