Details
APIANUS, Petrus (1495-1552). Cosmographia. Edited by Reiner Gemma Frisius (1508-1555). Antwerp: Giles Coppenius for A. Berckmann, 1540.
4o (238 x 160 mm). Title with large woodcut globe, numerous astronomical and geographical woodcuts, 4 (of 5) with volvelles, woodcut initials, printer's woodcut device on verso of last leaf. (Occasional faint foxing, a few leaves slightly darkened, the printed stub on D1r for the volvelle on verso obscuring a few letters). Contemporary vellum, title lettered on spine; modern morocco two-part pull-off case with chemise.
In the Cosmographia, Peter Apian's first major work, he distinguishes between cosmography, geography and chorography, defines terrestrial grids using a simple diagram, describes the use of maps and simple surveying, defines weather and climate, and provides thumbnail sketches of the continent. Apian's student Gemma Frisius modified the work slightly, and his version, first published in 1529, became one of the most popular texts of the time and was widely reprinted and translated into the major European languages. Alden and Landis 540/2; BM/STC Dutch, p. 12; Church 78; Fairfax Murray German 40; Harrisse 230; Nijhoff and Kronenberg 126; Sabin 1745.
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In the Cosmographia, Peter Apian's first major work, he distinguishes between cosmography, geography and chorography, defines terrestrial grids using a simple diagram, describes the use of maps and simple surveying, defines weather and climate, and provides thumbnail sketches of the continent. Apian's student Gemma Frisius modified the work slightly, and his version, first published in 1529, became one of the most popular texts of the time and was widely reprinted and translated into the major European languages. Alden and Landis 540/2; BM/STC Dutch, p. 12; Church 78; Fairfax Murray German 40; Harrisse 230; Nijhoff and Kronenberg 126; Sabin 1745.