Nautical Brevi Nozioni de' Sistemi del Mondo e della Sfera (= Brief Description of the World and Sphere System). With 19 (18 folded) plates, partly in pen and wash. O.O. (presumably southern Italy), c. 1780. Italian manuscript in black-brown sepia on laid paper (with unidentified watermark). Mostly 23 lines. Title page with drawn geometric border. Sheet dimensions each c. 30 x 19.5 cm. 241 (recte 247) hs. numb. S. 4°. 18th century HPgt. with gilt-stamped ribbed label and gilt fillets (endpapers and covers renewed, somewhat stained and rubbed). Clean fair copy of a manual on navigation. Contains as introduction a general geography and celestial science according to the systems of Ptolemy, Copernicus and Brahe. This is followed by the "Trattato della Navigazione" with chapters such as "Delle differenti sorte di bussole e loro uso (= On the different types of compasses and their use)", chapters on calculating longitude and altitude as well as localisation with the help of maps based on the constellations: "De Calcoli Astronomici, pertenenti all Navigazione (= Astronomical Calculations for Navigation)", as well as treatises such as "Del Moto proprio della Luna e del modo di trovare preso a poco L'Etá del medi pianeta (= The Moon's proper motion and the way to determine the age of the middle planet)". - The plates, washed in shades of grey, show calculation tables, schemes and diagrams as well as instruments and aids such as compass, compass rose, compasses, sextant, two plates on cartographic techniques and a plate on the phases of the moon. - Slightly browned due to paper, some ink stains, with minor paper losses (some of which have been professionally restored). Overall in very good condition. With 19 (18 folded) plates, partly washed pen and ink drawings. Presumably southern Italy, c. 1780. Italian manuscript in black-brown sepia on laid paper (with unidentified watermark). Mostly 23 lines. Title page with drawn geometric border. 18th century HPgt. with gilt-stamped ribbed label and gilt fillets (endpapers and covers renewed, somewhat stained and rubbed). - Handwritten manual on navigation. Contains as an introduction a general geography and celestial science according to the systems of Ptolemy, Copernicus and Brahe. Followed by the 'Trattato della Navigazione' with chapters such as 'Delle differenti sorte di bussole e loro uso (= On the different types of compasses and their use)', chapters on calculating longitude and altitude as well as localisation with the help of maps based on the constellations: 'De Calcoli Astronomici, pertenenti all Navigazione (= Astronomical Calculations for Navigation)', as well as treatises such as 'Del Moto proprio della Luna e del modo di trovare preso a poco L'Etá del medi pianeta (= The Moon's proper motion and the way to determine the age of the middle planet)'. - The plates, washed in shades of grey, depict calculation tables, schemes and diagrams as well as instruments and aids such as compass, compass rose, compasses, sextant, two plates on cartographic techniques and a plate on the phases of the moon. - Slightly browned due to paper, some ink stains, with minor paper defects (some of which have been professionally restored). Overall in well preserved condition.