# Jacques de Vaulx

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**Jacques de Vaulx** or **Devaulx**, sometimes spelled *de Vaux* ([Le Havre](/source/Le_Havre) ca. 1557–1597), was a [cosmographer](/source/Cosmography) and deep-sea [pilot](/source/Maritime_pilot), and the author of a handwritten navigation manual entitled *Premières Œuvres de Jacques de Vaulx*, conceived during his voyage to the Americas.

## Works

*Premières Œuvres* is a manuscript treatise on navigation, [hydrography](/source/Hydrography), and [cartography](/source/Cartography) for sailors.[1] A first version, dated 1583, is dedicated to [Admiral de Joyeuse](/source/Anne_de_Joyeuse). It consists of 31 richly-illustrated and annotated folios. A slightly improved second version dates from 1584. The illustrations depict the determination of longitude using the micrometry of a [magnet](/source/Magnet), the measurement of [magnetic declination](/source/Magnetic_declination) on land with a [compass](/source/Compass) and an [alidade](/source/Alidade) aimed at [Polaris](/source/Polaris), and the observation of the angular altitude of a celestial body with [Jacob's staff](/source/Jacob's_staff). One folio also shows three navigators on land using compasses and an [astrolabe](/source/Astrolabe) to try to determine their longitude. The method of arranging compass roses is illustrated.

Jacques de Vaulx is also the author of a map of [America](/source/Americas) dated 1584, a large parchment (0.58m x 0.81m) in the shape of a half planisphere, which takes into account previous explorations and presents itself as “a true political map of the American continent” in its time.[2]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Jacques de Devaulx, « Les premieres Oeuvres de Jacques de Vaulx Pilote pour le Roy en la Marine Contenantz Plusieurs Reigles Praticques Segrez Et Enseignementz très necessaires pour bien et seurement naviguer par le monde… — En la ville françoise de Grâce, l'an M.D.L.XXXIIII] », 1501-1600. Read online at [Gallica](https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b550024840).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Charles de la Roncière, « Une carte française encore inconnue du Nouveau Monde (1584) », *Revue de la bibliothèque de [l'Ecole des Chartes](/source/%C3%89cole_Nationale_des_Chartes)* n° 71, 1910, p. 588 ([access online](https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k12447d/f592.image.r=ronci%C3%A8re))

## External links

- [Manuscript at Gallica](https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b550024840), [Bibliothèque nationale de France](/source/Biblioth%C3%A8que_nationale_de_France).

- [Author entry](https://www.sensesatlas.com/jacques-de-vaulx-navigation-manual/) at Senses Atlas.

Authority control databases International VIAF National United States France BnF data Artists Scientific illustrators Other IdRef Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jacques de Vaulx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_de_Vaulx) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_de_Vaulx?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.