Paullo Merula - ITALIAE SPECIALIS - 1636

Full title

Italiae specialis membrum primum, in quo priscae seu propriae descriptio, auctore Paullo G.F.P.N. Merula

[4], 293-815, [1]
Leather cover with decorated spine and label with title in gold. Condition of the inner pages: very good, with no traces of moisture or dampness; book very fresh.

«First part of the particular description of Italy, containing the description of ancient or properly called Italy». The term membrum indicates a section of the work.

Merula’s Cosmographia, published initially in 1605, combines a general treatment of the world with the geographical description of individual territories. The project remained unfinished: the particular part covers Europe, Spain, France, and Italy.

In the Italian section there are distinguished a De Italia, this membrum primum, dedicated to ancient Italy, and a membrum alterum, entitled the description of Italy as «new or accessory».

The historical interest of the book lies in the way the geographic culture of the time pairs territory and past: the description of Italy is read also through its classical heritage. It is therefore a work relevant to a collection of ancient geography, Italian history, and cartography.

The author

Paulus Merula (1558–1607) was a Dutch historian and geographer, born in Dordrecht and died in Rostock. After study travels in Italy, France, Germany, and England, he settled in the Netherlands. In 1592 he succeeded Giusto Lipsio in the chair of history at the University of Leiden; in 1598 he became librarian.

He also dealt with Classical philology, publishing Ennius’ fragments with commentary and an edition of Eutropius with the continuation of Paulus Diaconus. The Cosmographia is considered his main work.