SAN MIGUEL, DON VICENTE TOFINO DE. (+) [translated and written by:] POUL DE LÖWENÖRN.

Beskrivelse over den Spanske Kyst i Middelhavet og den Deel af Kysten af Afrika beliggende lige overfor til Oplysning og Brug ved de derover efter den Kongelige Befaling i Spanien [i.e. English: "Description of the Spanish Mediterranean coast and the directly opposite part of the coast of Africa"] (+) Beskrivelse over den deel af den Spanske Kyst liggende imod det Atlantiske Ocean tillige med Beskrivelse over de Azoriske Øer [i.e. English: "Pilot's Log-book of the Coasts of Spain in the Atlantic Ocean and of the Azores"].

[No place], 1792 & 1802.

Folio. 2 volumes uniformly bound in contemporary half calf with five raised bands and with gilt lettering and gilt stamp to spine. Small paper-label pasted on to pasted down front end-papers and stamp to first front free end-paper and two stamps to title-pages. Light wear to extremities. Written of thick paper. Fine and clean. LLXIII, (1), 307, (4) pp.; 15, (6), 344, (4) pp

Danish manuscript translation of Tofino's famous description of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. "Vincente Tofiño was a rear-admiral in the Spanish navy. He was a renowned astronomer and mathematician and near the close of his career was the King’s hydrographer. Between 1783-1788, Tofiño charted the ports and coasts of Spain as well as the shore of North Africa. He eventually was elected as correspondent of the Spanish Academy of History and of the French and Portuguese Academies of Sciences."
Translator De Løwenørn (Kommandør-Kaptajn Friderich de Løwenørn) n 1784, captain lieutenant Poul de Løwenørn assisted the Danish crown in establishing the Royal Danish Nautical Chart Archive. He was appointed the institution’s first Director. At this time, only France had a similar institute.
"In the first instance, the Danish Admirality requested Løwenørn to collect all existing nautical charts and navigational details in the country, for both Danish and international waters. He was to develop accurate and reliable charts for both the Navy and Merchant Marine.
In addition to these formidable tasks, Løwenørn also took the initiative to establish a Lighthouse Authority, a Buoy Authority and a Pilot Authority as well as improve the country’s harbours." (Danish Geodata Agency).

Hansen, Sources of the History of North Africa, Asia and Oceania in Denmark, p. 459.

Order-nr.: 58880