MARINER'S DICTIONARY, OR AMERICAN SEAMAN'S VOCABULARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS, AND SEA PHRASES, USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT, MANAGEMENT, AND MILITARY OPERATIONS, OF SHIPS AND VESSELS OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS by (Moore, J. J.) - 1805

Washington, 1805. b/w engravings. 12mo. (vi), 256 pp. First American edition. This is the earliest dictionary of naval and nautical terms published in the United States. Based on J. J. Moore’s “The British Mariner’s Vocabulary,” first published in London in 1801, this dictionary is adapted to the United States Navy (in details of flag procedures, for example). This edition features 8 copperplate engravings with 119 illustrations. “Its publisher, William Duane, one of the pioneer printers of Washington, made no attempt to hide the fact that his 1805 Dictionary was ‘improved from an English work,’... and dedicated to Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith. Nevertheless, the secretary discontinued its distribution, perhaps due to the depletion of copies, in April, 1808... No other similar instructional book was provided gratis to young officers for years to come.” - Skallerup, Books Afloat and Ashore, p. 111. Moebs 13. Craig pp. 24-35. Sabin 44590. Bound in original calf with spine label. Hinges weak, but a very clean copy internally with the 1812 ownership inscription of W.H. Pilsbury of Newburyport.