The English Pilot. The Third Book. Describing the Sea-Coasts, Capes, Headlands, Straits, Soundings, Sands, Shoals, Rocks and Dangers. The Islands, Bays, Roads, Harbors and Ports in the Oriental Naviga

£9,500 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

John Seller is a pivotal figure in the history of the British map and chart trade. When he started in trade, chart publishing was dominated by the Dutch. One of the ways the Dutch maintained their ascendancy was by producing editions of their atlases in Latin (the universal language of the period) or vernacular languages such as French and English, making it difficult for French and English publishers to compete. However, Seller was determined to challenge the Dutch primacy, writing in 1669, “Courteous Reader, These may be to inform you, that whereas being frequent complaints made that the English hath not as yet manifested that forwardness in the promotion of things of public concernment, for the general benefit of Navigation … and gives advantage to our neighbours the Hollanders to be furnishing us with Waggoners, Charts and Draughts … Therefore (worthy Gentlemen) I do hear make known unto you, that I intend, with the assistance of God, and am at the present upon making (at my own cost and charge) a Sea Waggoner for the whole World, with Charts and Draughts of particular places, and a large Description of all the Roads, Harbors and Havens, with the Dangers, Depths and Soundings in most parts of the World …”. The resultant pilot book was used under the heading ‘The English Pilot’, with separate volumes for the Northern Navigation, 1671, for European waters north and east from the Thames Estuary, and the Southern Navigation, 1672, for European waters from the Thames Estuary r

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