Henricus Glareanus - De geographia liber unus - 1549

Magnificent and beautiful copy, printed in Venice in 1549, of one of the most important treatises on geography and astronomy published during the Renaissance.

His author, the Swiss Henricus Glareanus (born Heinrich Loriti), exemplifies the prototype of the humanist of his time, with extensive knowledge across multiple disciplines: mathematician, music theorist, geographer, philosopher, poet… A friend of Erasmus, Glareanus strongly opposed the Protestant Reformation. Despite this, several of his works were at one time included in the index of forbidden books by the Catholic Church.

Although today his most well-known work is the 'Dodekachordon,' a musical treatise published in Basel in 1547, the work that brought him the greatest fame during his lifetime was 'De geographia liber unus,' whose first edition also appeared in Basel in 1527. In it, he offers a representation of the universe based on Ptolemy, with the Earth (spherical) at the center and concentric circular orbits around it supporting the celestial bodies. Eclipses are depicted in diagrams, altitude and latitude are defined, and the use of the astrolabe is described…

The copy we offer is based on the third revision of the text carried out by the author himself, and features numerous wood engravings. Its condition is excellent.

----------

Glareanus, Henricus (1488-1563)

Henrici Glareani Helvetii poet laureate's Book on Geography, one volume, now recognized by the author himself for the third time. Venice: at Petrus and Io. Maria brothers, and Cornelius Nepote de Nicolinis de Sabio: at the urging of Melchior Sessa, 1549. — 39, [1] pages; 8°.

Collation: A-E8 (reviewed and complete).

Text in italics.

Beautiful typographic style of the printers on the front cover and last page, engraved in wood. Two initials also woodcut and numerous diagrams throughout the text. A double-page table on folios 14v-15r.

----------

Semi-rigid binding from the 20th-21st century, made of aged parchment (or perhaps reused ancient parchment).

Item in a condition that is practically perfect, both the binding and the interior. Very clean paper, without tears or annotations except for three erasures next to the engraving on the last page, as well as signatures and notes from previous owners on the initial flyleaf. Very professional restoration on the inner lower corner of the cover, barely noticeable.