Descripción
4to., (9 x 6 4/8 inches). Title-page with large woodcut of a globe (fore-edge strengthened with archival tissue). Woodcut geographical and astronomical diagrams throughout, including four with fine volvelles on C2v, D1r (lacking 3 volvelles, but with thread pointer), I1r (3 volvelles), P3 (one volvelle), C3v with thread pointer, and with a fine double-page world map, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and initials (some pale dampstaining, some fore-edges strengthened with archival tissue). Contemporary calf (recased preserving most of the original panels, new endpapers). Later edition in Spanish, first published in 1545, but the FIRST EDITION TO INCLUDE MATERIAL BY LE DOCTEUR FRANCISQUE LOPEZ DE GOMARA CONCERINGIN AMERICA ("El sitio descripcion delas Indias y Mundo nuevo" leaves T3v-Y2v). THE RARE WORLD MAP WITH SPANISH TITLES, and including "Climata Australia" in the woodcut on Folio 7 and in the left-hand margin of the map. The publication of the "Cosmographia" in Spanish was a significant consequence of the Spanish influence in the Netherlands. The two-page anonymous dedication to Francisco Duarte, purveyor of arms for Charles V, discusses the necessity and timeliness of a translation from Latin into Spanish of the "Cosmographia." for those who are ignorant of Latin. Among this group, of course, were explorers and soldiers sailing to the New World. Apianus's "Cosmographia" was first published in 1524, and so popular that it was published in twenty-nine editions before 1600. It contains a reduced version of Apianius s celebrated cordiform world map "Charta Cosmographica." after Waldseemuller s map of 1507, which was first included in the edition of 1545. Apianus was professor of mathematics, holding chairs at Ingolstadt and Innsbruck, and a great astronomer. These skills combined with his interest in geography led to the establishment of his own printing press in Landshut. North America is depicted as a narrow stretch of land extending almost eastwards. Cuba and Hispaniola are shown as huge islands and the Mountains of the Moon considered the source of the River Nile. A 'truncated' cordiform projection is used which prevents the south polar regions being represented. The map is bordered by signs of the zodiac and the Ptolemaic climatic zones. Zeus and Mars, wearing the coats of arms of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, are shown atop the map while wind-heads at the south represent the traditional believed plague-bearing nature of those winds. The map is highly decorative but also an important milestone in the history of cartography as it is one of the earliest maps to show a representation of America, or the name itself. This edition of the "Cosmographia" has been enlarged by Apianus s student Frisius Gemma and was first published in 1529. Gemma was a gifted mathematician, cartographer, maker of fine scientific instruments as well as Apianus s student. His edition of Apianus s "Cosmographia" "was one of the most popular texts of the time and was translated into all major European languages" (DSB). It includes Gemma s description of how triangulation is used in surveying and mapping first published in 1533: "the first to propose - and illustrate - the principle of triangulation as a means of carefully locating places and accurately mapping areas" (DSB). Catalogued by Kate Hunter. N° de ref. del artículo 72lib311
Contactar al vendedor
Denunciar este artículo
