Gigues - La Sfera Geografico-celeste  - 1700

The Geographical-Celestial Sphere by Marc'Antonio Guigues, a French ecclesiastic, dedicated to the incomparable merit of the Very Rev. Father Gio. Ambrogio Centurione of the Society of Jesus, rector of the College of the Penitentiaries of the Holy House of Loreto. In Rome: for Gio. Giacomo Komarek, Bohemian, at the Trevi Fountain, 1700. Pp. (40), 353, (3); cm. 21 x 15.5. The copy is lacking the calcographic frontispiece; otherwise, complete in every part. Contemporary half-leather binding with a title-label applied to the spine. Paper not very clear, as in the original, but sheets intact and without flaws. Initials and woodcut ornaments. Numerous illustrations in the text, with graphs, diagrams, coins, stars, etc. This is the first Italian edition and it treats the astronomical world, the constellations, the stars, etc., from the historical and mythological point of view, according to the scientific beliefs of the era. Very easy to read, with a lively language.

The author is the French religious Marc-Antoine-Guiges, a somewhat controversial figure in his beliefs, who, for example on page 50 wrote: “That the fixed stars are as many suns created by God to illuminate the worlds, which some suppose have separated and somewhat different from ours, one would have to, to believe it, have the spirit of Giordano Bruno, who for insisting on maintaining such impudence, was burned in Rome by the judgment of the Holy Inquisition.”