Baculum Familiare : London 1590
Amsterdam: Da Capo Press / Theatrvm Orbis Terrarvm, 1970.
Reprint. Hardcover. Very Good- with no dust jacket. Item #7530
ISBN: 9022102254
Library stamps/marks/labels/pocket, cloth sunning, otherwise light wear. Solid hardcover.; Original t.p. reads: Baculum familliare, Catholicon siue generale. A booke of the making and vse of a staffe, newly inuented by the author, called the familiar staffe ... London, Printed by Hugh Jackson dwelling in Fleetestreete a little beneath the conduit, at the signe of S. Iohn the Euangelist, 1590. S.T.C. no. 3118. "Blagrave describes a portable quadrant or staff instrument for celestial observations, highlighting its applications in navigation and artillery ranging, with engravings illustrating its construction and calibration. ... In addition to the Mathematical Jewel, Blagrave invented the "Familiar Staffe," or baculum familiare, a portable measuring rod introduced in his 1590 work. This instrument consisted of a graduated wooden or ivory staff paired with sighting vanes, designed for quick field measurements of heights, distances, and angles without complex setups. It was particularly valued for its simplicity in surveying and basic astronomical observations, such as determining solar elevations or star altitudes, making advanced computations accessible to non-specialists like sailors and surveyors. Blagrave's promotion of astrology through these tools extended to using the staff for erecting nativity figures and prognosticating events, aligning with the period's blend of empirical science and esoteric knowledge. Surviving examples are approximately 4–5 feet long, suitable for walking and outdoor use." - Grokpedia. ; The English Experience, Its Record In Early Printed Books Published In Facsimile; Ex-Library; Vol. 225; 70 pages.
Price: $49.95