Lote - Dictionnaire de Marine à voiles et à vapeur (1858)

Dictionnaire de Marine à voiles et à vapeur (1858)

Par P. M. J., Baron de Bonnefoux

Seconde Edition Accompagnée de 17 grandes planches gravées et de figures dans le texe.
Paris, Arthus Bertrand editeur. 1958
In-4°, 2 vols. com 776 e 738 págs. Ilust. E.
“important marine dictionary composed of two volumes by Bonnefoux. Pierre-Marie-
Joseph de Bonnefoux (1782 - 1855) is a French sailor and lexicographer. He had a brilliant
career in the Navy and participated in the Napoleonic Wars before becoming an instructor
in the Navy. While he was a maneuvering officer aboard the Belle Poule, he was taken
prisoner by the English and discovered the new English sea telegraphy. He deciphers this
new mode of communication by signals and sends his study to the French Navy which will
introduce it on its ships a few years later. He was then condemned to the pontoon, from
which he escaped four times and during this twenty-month captivity he completed an
English grammar of naval terms that he would use to write his Dictionary of Sailing and
Steam Navigation. Upon his return to France, his health greatly deteriorated by his stay on
the pontoons, he devoted himself to advising the Navy until his retirement and then to the
study and revision of his works. He passed away while correcting the proofs of the 2nd
edition of his dictionary(...) Bonnefoux's dictionary presents two very complete volumes:
the first deals with terms relating to the sailing navy while the second is devoted to the
steam navy. Like any old dictionary, this work is of historical interest because it provides
information on naval terms that are no longer used today. Each word of vocabulary used is
translated into English and the definitions in French are very precise. The illustration
consists of a table "Compositions of the Staff and Crews of Steamships of all Ranks and in
all Positions" [translated from French] and 17 engraved fold-out plates giving precise
details of many sail and steam vessels, their respective modes of operation and equipment
as well as navigational instruments. A reference work on 19th century naval terms in its
period binding” In JF Leenneur livres rares.

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