Alessandro Piccolomini - La Sfera del Mondo - 1579

RARE ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THE FIRST MODERN STAR ATLAS

A rare and highly important illustrated edition of Alessandro Piccolomini's *La Sfera del Mondo*, one of the landmark works in the history of astronomy and the first printed star atlas to depict the positions of individual stars rather than merely illustrating mythological constellations.

Piccolomini (1508–1579), the distinguished Italian humanist, philosopher, poet, and astronomer, fundamentally transformed the visual representation of the heavens. Departing from the traditional anthropomorphic woodcut illustrations found in earlier editions of Hyginus, he introduced accurate celestial maps in which the stars themselves became the primary subject. This innovation permanently changed the way astronomical knowledge was recorded and transmitted.

The work is particularly celebrated for introducing a systematic method of identifying stars within each constellation by means of lowercase letters—a pioneering nomenclature later refined and expanded by Johann Bayer in his famous *Uranometria* (1603). Bayer's system remains the foundation of stellar designation still employed by astronomers today.

The volume is illustrated with numerous astronomical figures, celestial diagrams, and an impressive series of full-page woodcut constellation maps representing the Ptolemaic constellations, accompanied by detailed celestial calendars and zodiacal tables. It stands as one of the most influential astronomical publications of the Renaissance and enjoyed exceptional popularity, appearing in numerous Italian and Latin editions throughout the sixteenth century.

### Contents

The work opens with Piccolomini's cosmological treatise, in which he explains his astronomical principles and presents a learned defense of the Ptolemaic system. The atlas comprises detailed constellation charts, each devoted to a separate constellation, followed by extensive tables recording the positions and apparent magnitudes of the individual stars.

Piccolomini's innovative star catalogue introduced a practical method for identifying stars by letter within each constellation, while accompanying tables classify stellar magnitudes from first to fourth. This method represented a decisive step toward the standardized stellar nomenclature later perfected by Bayer and has secured Piccolomini's lasting place in the history of observational astronomy.

### Condition

Contemporary limp vellum binding with later vellum spine restoration; original exposed ties preserved.

A complete copy with the full suite of constellation plates and their accompanying celestial calendars bound at the end of the volume. The final free endpaper and rear pastedown are entirely covered with contemporary manuscript annotations.

Collation: pp. [12], 252, 48, with 47 numbered full-page woodcut constellation plates (I–XLVIII), together with leaves 25–93 containing the corresponding celestial calendars. Illustrated throughout with numerous woodcut diagrams of the celestial and terrestrial spheres, astronomical schemes, and additional scientific illustrations.

Woodcut printer's device on the title page depicting a double-tailed mermaid holding a medallion, flanked by allegorical female figures. Large historiated woodcut initials introduce each book. Several attractive woodcut illustrations appear throughout the text. Some expected staining, foxing, and watermarks consistent with the age of the volume.

### Bibliographical References

Houzeau & Lancaster, *Bibliographie Générale de l'Astronomie*, I, 249.

D. Cozzoli, "L'œuvre astronomique d'Alessandro Piccolomini," in *Alessandro Piccolomini (1508–1579): Un Siennois à la croisée des genres et des savoirs*, CIRRI, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, 2012, pp. 235–244.

### Full Title

La Sfera del Mondo di M. Alessandro Piccolomini. Di nuovo da lui ripolita, accresciuta, & fino à sei libri, di quattro che erano ampliata, & quasi per ogni parte rinovata, & riformata.

Venice: Giovanni Varisco & Compagni, 1579.

### Author

**Alessandro Piccolomini (1508–1579)**
Italian humanist, philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer whose pioneering work in celestial cartography laid the foundations for the modern printed star atlas.