STRABONIS RERUM GEOGRAPHICARUM LIBRI XVII. ISAACUS CASAUBONUS RECENSUIT, SUMMÓQUE STUDIO & DILIGENTIA, OPE ETIAM VETERUM CODICUM, EMENDAUIT, AC ACMMENTARIIS ILLUSTRAUIT

Book Description

Geneva: Eustathius Vignon, 1587.. Two parts bound in one volume. [8],602,[2],[8],223pp., printed in Greek and Latin in double-columns, plus double-page engraved map, Mercator, Rumold: ORBIS TERRAE COMPENDIOSA DESCRIPTIO. Geneva, 1587. 13 x 21 inches. Titles on titlepage and section-page for second part within historiated woodcut border. Folio. 17th-century green-stained vellum over paste- boards, boards gilt with floral roll within two triple-fillets of unstained vellum and central oval gilt coat-of-arms of "Ferdinand Hoffman Freyher Herr auf Grevenstein"; spine gilt with floral rolls within triple- fillers of unstained vellum, title inscribed by hand in unstained vellum of top compartment with later number "26" [library mark?] written over title, lacking silk ties, edges sprinkled with red bands. Slight wear to boards and spine, gilt. Large (10 x 6 1/2-inch) engraved allegorical bookplate of Ferdinand Hofmann, Freiherr von Grevenstein, designed by M. Göndelach and engraved by L. Kilian. Light worming in right margin of bookplate, front free endpaper, titlepage, and first two leaves of text (affecting small printed portions). Light age- toning. A very good copy. The first edition of Strabo's GEOGRAPHIA edited by Isaac Casaubon, with the excessively rare double-hemispherical world map by Rumold Mercator based on his father Gerald's renowned 1569 world map. One of the earliest and most important scientific treatises on historical geography, and Strabo's only surviving work, the GEOGRAPHIA represents an initial attempt to compile geographical knowledge in a unified manner. The work provides a survey of the topographical, historical, and political characteristics of the principal regions of the Roman world, also including information concerning philosophy, political theory, geology, mathematics, science, and history. Causabon's famous edition is based on four manuscripts which were in the library of his father-in-law, Henri Estienne, the esteemed Geneva printer and humanist. The first appearance of Mercator's only obtainable world map, the two-page double- hemispherical world map is handsomely decorated with elaborate strap-work borders, an armillary sphere, and a compass rose. "Gerald Mercator's great world map of 1569 was condensed into double-hemispherical form by his son Rumold...Later Rumold's map was incorporated into editions of Mercator's long- lived and influential ATLAS from 1595 onwards...The engraving is a model of clarity and neatness, with typical cursive flourishes to the lettering of the sea names" - Shirley. An important 16th-century edition of Strabo with the first appearance of Mercator's only obtainable world map. Strabo: ADAMS S- 1908. Mercator: SHIRLEY 157. WAGNER NORTHWEST COAST 146. KOEMAN Me12.

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