DUDLEY (Sir Robert). Arcano del Mare. Florence, Giuseppe Cocchini [for Jacopo Bagononi and Anton Francesco Lucini], 1661. 6 parts in 2 vol. in-folio (ff: 42 x 56 cm; binding: 44 x 57.5 cm), brown calf, double fillet framed in cold, decorated ribbed spine, roulette on the edges, spotted edges (period). "One of the greatest atlases of the world and one of the most complex ever produced" (Wardington). The Arcano del mare is an innovative marine treatise, sublimated by numerous engravings, with movable parts (on 146 engraved leaves) and 146 nautical charts. This highly erudite encyclopaedia is a benchmark for astronomical navigation calculations, map drawings, shipbuilding and sea battles. It was also the first atlas to bring together nautical charts from all over the world, the first to base these charts on the cartographic projections used by Mercator, and the first to indicate winds, currents and magnetic deviations. A superb copy of the extremely rare second edition. Full description, collation and special remarks on request. Bibliography: - Lord Wardington, The Book collector, vol. 52, no. 2 and 3, 2003 : Arcano del mare "is one of the greatest atlases of the world and one of the most complex ever produced: it is the first sea atlas of the whole world, the first withall the charts constructed using Mercator's new projection, as corrected by Edward Wright, the first to give magnetic deviation, the first to give prevailing winds and currents, (....) the first to expound the advantages of "Great Circle Sailing" [the shortest distance between two points on a globe], and perhaps less importantly the first sea-atlas to be compiled by an Englishman, albeit abroad in Italy. (...) The Arcano del mare was a monumental and totally original task (...) The whole surpassed anything published before and not equalled in quality until fifty years later in France. "(Wardington, The Book collector, vol. 52, no. 2, p. 199). - Phillips, Atlases, 3428. - Phillip D. Burden, "The Mapping of North America", 1196 Remarks: Early manuscript bookplate, repeated on the 2 title pages: "Le Guay" (preceded by a large cross). Volume I: many loose parts are detached (missing threads). The blue strings are missing. Book I, pl. 1, is missing a large graduated disc. Book IV, fig. 14, missing left part of vessel; right part cut short. Book V, fig. 27bis, lacking a small alidade; the last 2 plates crumpled and stained. - Volume II: pale print or lightly brushed background to some maps. Some wetness, stains, foxing. Minor rubbing and small tear at foot of spine of volume I. Binding skilfully restored. Detailed collation: Volume I, Book I: Longitude (1) f.: Title, with vignette of a navigational instrument (1) f.: "Avvertimento", signed § (mitre-mounted, with stains in the gutter); completed on 28 January 1660. (1) f.: "Indice tomo primo". (2) ff: Patent by Ferdinand II, Grand Duke of Tuscany, for the confirmation of Dudley's titles (engraved double-page spread) 30 pp. of text, signed A-P. 31 engravings on 28 ff. Book II : 24 pp. of text, signed A-M. 15 engravings on 9 ff., and 15 nautical charts (including 5 double-page charts and one folded chart): 3 charts representing America, 6 the coasts of Europe, 4 Asia, and 2 Africa. Book III: 25 pp. of text signed A-[N], including figures of military formations in block letters. 8 engravings on 6 ff. (including 3 depicting a naval battle, and 5 plans of citadels) Book IV: 12 pp. of text signed A-F. 18 engravings on 14 pages, including 6 on double-page: plans and sections of ships Book V : 26 pp. of text signed A-N. 145 engravings on 89 ff., including a laminated element added for fig. no. 23. Volume II, Book VI : (1) f. Title with engraved title vignette, decorated with a globe with the lines of the Equator and the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer (1) f. "Indice General 41 pp. of text signed A-T (penultimate f. signed again T, last f. unsigned). 131 charts of all parts of the world of which 80 on double-page: 58 for Europe, including Greenland (2) and Iceland and Canada (2); 17 for Africa; 23 for Asia; 33 for America. Detailed condition report available on request.