MARITIME LAW – Ley de como ham de hir armados os Navios que destes Reynos navegaren. Lisbon: João de Barreira for João de Espanha, 1574.

Regulation book for the use of Portuguese sea captains, stipulating requirements for navigational equipment and defensive arms, port protocol, etc. for voyages to Brazil and elsewhere. Following the "Ley dos Navios" are printed two other laws for the use of ship's captains: "Ley sobre o peccado de Sodomia" and "Ley sobre os livros de hereges e defesos." The former outlined punishments and process not dissimilar to those for heresy. The latter forbad the importation of books by Martin Luther and other reformers under punishment of temporary or permanent banishment. Very rare, no copies in the auction records of RBH or ABSA for this or any other 16th century edition of these regulations; as a small rule book intended for use at sea, it is inherently ephemeral. Anselmo 211.

12mo (130 x 85mm). Woodcut arms on title, woodcut initial. Morocco by Riviere, all edges gilt (upper cover detached). Provenance: with Maggs Bros., Bibliotheca Americana Part VIII, catalogue 502, 1928, illustrated – José Mindlin, 1914-2010 (bookplate).