M. Bézout - Traité de Navigation - 1769

Continuation of the Mathematics Course for the Guards of the Pavilion and the Navy, containing the Treatise on Navigation

By Étienne Bézout (1730-1783), of the Royal Academy of Sciences, examiner of the Guards of the Pavilion and the Navy. Published in Paris by J. B. G. Musier fils, Bookseller, quai des Augustins. 1769. With the Approval & Privilege of the King.

Original edition - Navigation treatise 1769

Complete copy with all 9 engraved plates — an exceptional rarity. Most surviving copies have lost the large folding maps due to extensive use of the volume or during old restorations.

Fundamental work of French mathematical and nautical education in the 18th century. Étienne Bézout, a renowned mathematician of the Royal Academy of Sciences, authored this reference pedagogical course for training officers of the royal navy. Bézout's course established itself as the standard of French mathematical education for over a century, including at the École polytechnique.
This copy encompasses the entire practical and theoretical teaching of maritime navigation: spherical geometry, cartographic representation, nautical instruments (compass, quadrants, astrolabes), determination of latitude and heading, route reduction, trigonometric and logarithmic tables.

Contents: The 9 engraved plates

Plate I: Reduction Quadrant (sophisticated logarithmic graph for navigation calculations).
Plate II: Navigation I - Detailed nautical instruments (magnetic compasses, astronomical quadrants, astrolabes, dials, spherical diagrams, wind roses).
Plate III: Folding marine chart - World Ocean (North Atlantic with coastlines of Europe, Africa, North America, rhumb lines geometrically drawn).
Plate IV: Southern Hemisphere - Complete polar projection with geographic nomenclature, constellations, and regular projection grid.
Plate V: Northern Hemisphere - Polar projection for the northern hemisphere with Europe, Asia, North America, and main constellations.
Plate VI: Spherical Geometry and Mercator Projection - Diagrams showing visual demonstration, spherical triangulation, 3D representation.
Plate VII: Northern Hemisphere - Alternative geometric variant with polar projection.
Planches VIII-IX: Final nautical instruments and complete table of logarithms of numbers (essential for trigonometric calculations).


Clear and well-printed engravings in etching. Excellent contrast. Remarkable finesse of the lines and regularity of the hatching. No copper breakage on the plate. Uniform inking. Signatures of the engravers visible.


Full marbled calfskin binding from the period, featuring natural colors (ochre, brown, red) with characteristic swirling marbling of the 18th-century French style. The spine with raised bands is adorned with gold tooling, still visible. The structure is solid and intact.

✓ All nine engraved plates are present and properly bound.
• Readable pages and in good overall condition
• White paper with a natural patina from aging
• Structure intact and solid
Original period binding in good preserved condition.
No missing pages or illustrations.

Normal minor defects due to age (256 years): slight soiling of the binding at the back (intensive educational use), a few minor aging stains, and slight natural yellowing of the paper.

Dimensions

Height: 20.5 cm | Width: 13.5 cm

Careful and tracked shipment