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]
Cover in leather with decorated spine and inlay with gold title. Condition of the inner pages: very good, no traces of gore or dampness; the book is very fresh.

«Prima parte della descrizione particolare dell’Italia, contenente la descrizione dell’Italia antica o propriamente detta». The term membrum indicates a section of the work.

The Cosmographia by Merula, initially published in 1605, combines a general treatment of the world with the geographical description of individual territories. The project remained incomplete: the particular part includes 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 to the description of Italy «new or accessory».

The historical interest of the book lies in the way the geographic culture of the time juxtaposes 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 Justus Lipsius in the chair of history at the University of Leiden; in 1598 he became librarian there.

He also worked on 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.