Findlay A G.Directory for the Navigation of the South Pacific Ocean 1884 Derrotero Manual Navegación

Alexander George Findlay. Directory for the navigation of the South Pacific Ocean, with descriptions of its coasts, islands, Etc., From The Strait Of Magalhaens To Panama, And Those Of New Zealand, Australia, Etc.; Its Winds, Currents And Passages. Fifth Edition, With Addenda. By Alexander George Findlay. Published by Richard Holmes Laurie, London, 1884. 

Original hard covers, gilt lettering on front cover and spine and gilt design on front cover, blind embossing and ruling on the front and rear cover,  16 x 25 cm. Heavy book 2,8 Kg. This 5th edition (1884 later print) contains lxvi pages (preface, contents, introduction, section I, tables) plus 1252 pages of text and 383 pages of Addenda in greenish colour (1901). Addendda preceeds the main text and it is placed after Section I. This Addenda is not found in the earlier editions. This copy also contains a  tipped-in price-increase notice from the publisher. 

Contains 7 folded charts and 4  b&w engraved plates, printed on one side only. 

These are the illustrations as stated after the tables:

Folded chart of the currents of the South Pacific Ocean

Four engraved plates taken from Admiral Fitz-Roy's Voyage of the Beagle:

1.        Views in Port Famine and Admiralty Sound
2.        View of Mount Sarmiento
3.        View of Wollaston Island, Cape Horn
4.        Views of Cape Horn, Cape Spencer, False Cape Horn, Cockburn Channel, &c

Folded chart of the Fidji Islands

Folded chart of the winds Pacific Ocean

Folded chart of the Magnetic Variation and Dip

Folded chart of the Bottom

Folded chart of the Passages in the South Pacific

Besides there is an additional folded chart  titled "Pacific Ocean Great Circle track and Wind chart"

This comprehensive book contains much historical information on every island then known in the South Pacific Ocean. It includes descriptions of dangerous reefs and often mentions the various wrecks they have caused. Islands are described with excerpts from the accounts of various voyagers;  as well as with details about the current population and other data. 

A Rare Book. The fifth edition, with the 383 page addenda, is considered the high point of this work. Especially rare with its original covers and with all 7 fold-open maps and 4 plates intact. 

GOOD complete condition in original covers with all maps and illustrations present. 

Detailed condition: Covers: The spine lettering has faded, with the gilt lettering mostly rubbed off; the spine is rubbed and worn but still solid; the covers and spine show a couple old tape marks, perhaps from reinforcement, but there is no longer any tape; the covers are bent at the corners;  there is some old water damage to the bottom front corner area of the rear cover; and both covers show some general aging and wear. Overall however, the covers are still very solid and nice, and the gilt on the front cover is still bright. Internally: The bottom corner area of the rear pastedown and last few pages show some water damage, with the rear pastedown and rear free endpaper showing some staining, and the rest of the affected pages simply showing some waviness. The verso of the front free-endpaper has some staining to its top section. The rest of the inner pages are in remarkably nice condition, perhaps an age spot or two, and some edgewear and corner creasing here and there, but for the most part the pages are tight, bright,  clean and unmarked. All the fold-open maps are very solid and clean, a small edge chip or two to a couple of the maps, but all-in-all they are lovely. The illustrations are likewise very nice and bright. A solid, handsome copy of this scarce book.