Introductio in Universam Geographiam tam Veterem, quam Novam...(1672 small quarto edition)
Braunschweig; Brunsvigae: Contradi Bunonius, 1672. Hardcover. 7.5 x 6.5 inches; (19 x 16.5 cm) old vellum, good copy, lacking three maps, lacking flyleaves, engraved title page worn with substantial loss, vellum good and solid but with soil, darkening and stains, with 39 of the 42 engraved folding maps, plus 2 folding tables and 3 single-page plates or charts. Lacking "Typis Orbis Terrarum" at p. 59, Chersonesus, seu Natolia at p. 567 and Africa, p. 621; full map of Italy has triangular chip at bottom edge that goes into the image a little (chip is about 2.2 x 1 inch). Some of the maps show old (likely 17th-18th century) hand-coloring and some with names of principal towns underlined in red or blue. This is the larger edition and should not be confused with the pocket edition of a similar title. With a number of pages on the Americas and early descriptions of North America, Virginia, etc. The map of America shows California as an island. "Introductio" was published first in 1624, two years after Cluver's death; it is considered the first modern geography and was a standard geographical textbook for many decades. Cluver himself is said to be the founder of the field of historical geography, in that he did not simply rely on ancient sources, but traveled widely and personally inspected countries and sites. Good. Item #H33264
Price: $650.00