NavList:

Dave O., you wrote:
"Perhaps the presentation of the book was merely a consideration from one professional in the field to another. "

I think that's the 'obvious' explanation. Of course, obvious explanations are frequently wrong :). In this case, the brevity and formulaic nature of the inscription suggests ordinary professional courtesy. Thank you, by the way, for posting the image of the inscription. Ageton's tables were in the same general family of solutions to the navigational triangle that Aquino had extensively explored. Aquino may even have presented this book to Ageton as a "friendly reminder" of who did it all first.

Just searching around a bit, here's a summary from an article in the Journal of Navigation in 1954:
"Vice-Admiral Radler de Aquino
[by] D. H. Sadler
Francisco Radler de Aquino, one of the first of the Institute's few Honorary Members, died on 8 October 1953 in his seventy-fifth year, but his death was not officially notified to the Institute for some months. He had been in failing health for some years, but had made sufficient recovery from a serious illness to prepare, and practically see through the press, still another volume of tables. He had retired from the Brazilian Navy in 1935 at the age of 57 with the rank of Captain; and it was not until sixteen years later, on 24 March 1951, that he was given the belated promotion to Vice-Admiral: the reasons for the delay were obscure but apparently political. By his death the science of navigation will lose one of its most stalwart champions and one of its most prolific writers. The field of tables for astronomical navigation will hardly seem the same without his colourful personality and his constant additions to his many publications. Many, including those who did not always agree with his views, will miss him as a friend, even though that friendship had largely been carried on by correspondence."

I am intrigued by the little comment about "those who did not always agree with his views". In a memorial piece like this, that can be a kind way of glossing over something rather more complex.

Finally, you mentioned that the book you found appears to be a compilation of Aquino's works. Is there a table of contents that lists them separately? Or are they just bound together?

-FER

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