The Book of Michael of Rhodes

In the fifteenth century, a Venetian mariner, Michael of Rhodes, wrote andillustrated a text describing his experiences in the Venetian merchant and military fleets. Heincluded a treatise on commercial mathematics and treatments of contemporary shipbuilding practices,navigation, calendrical systems, and astrological ideas. This manuscript, "lost," or atleast in unknown hands for over 400 years, has never been published or translated in its entiretyuntil now. Volume 1 is a facsimile of the manuscript, reproduced in full color. The text is writtenout by hand and beautifully illustrated (probably at least in part by Michael himself), featuringcolor diagrams and illustrations of naval architecture, original drawings of astrological signs,calendrical charts, and a coat of arms Michael devised for himself.

David McGee, formerly Research Associate and Head of Secondary Acquisitions at the Dibner Institute's Burndy Library, is an independent scholar, working recently with the Canadian Science and Technology Museum.