ZACUTO, Abraham ben Samuel (1452-c.1515). Almanach perpetuum. [Venice: Peter Liechtenstein, 15 July 1502.]

Second edition, in Latin, of Zacuto's solar tables, a critical navigational reference used by both Christopher Columbus and Vasco de Gama. A lovely, fresh copy. Instead of constantly depending on the Pole Star to correct for compass error at sea, navigators could now use the reliable tables in Zacuto's perpetual almanac, particularly those on the sun, to position themselves anywhere around the globe. "Zacuto's importance lies in the fact that the solar declination tables, essential for the calculation of geographical coordinates, were based on his tables. His Almanach perpetuum allowed a competent skipper to do the necessary calculations and to prepare the solar declination tables, using both single tables and, later, quadrennial tables" (The Christopher Columbus Encyclopaedia). Zacuto removed to Portugal after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 and became astronomer to King John II of Portugal. Zacuto was personally consulted for da Gama's first voyage to India, and "his Almanach Perpetuum was vital in establishing Portugal's role in the Age of Exploration (Goldstein, "The Medieval Hebrew Tradition in Astronomy"). When Manuel I began persecuting the Jews, Zacuto was able to flee, this time to North Africa and thence to Jerusalem. EDIT16 CNCE 35569.

Quarto (210 x 154mm). (Without blank D12, in this copy the manicule gathering is bound to follow d2, mild soiling to title, a few leaves near middle with minute wormholes.) 19th century quarter red morocco and marbled boards, red morocco spine label.