[Astronomy] Cosmographia

Petrus Apianus. Antwerp, Bontio, 1553. (2), 64, (2) fol. Large woodcut of the globe on title, profusely ills. with beautiful woodcuts in the text depicting diagrams of the solar system and the globe, 1 folding woodcut mappa mundi, and complete with the 4 four fully constructed and functioning volvelles. Rebound in later overlapping vellum with 20th-century pressed title on spine, renewed endpapers, large 4to.

Very rare and important treatise on astronomy, navigation and the earth and its position in the universe by the German humanist Petrus Apianus (1495-1552), first published in 1524. It was largely based on Ptolemy's Geography. Title page and last page sl. browned, probably for serving as original wrappers, some early repairs to corners of a few pp., a few cont. ann. in margin. Very fine copy.