1550 FIRST EDITION ON SACROBOSCO'S SPHERE OF THE WORLD, ASTRONOMY, ASTROLOGY, MATHEMATICS, NAVIGATION, ALTIMETRY, COSMOGRAPHY, GEOGRAPHY, SOLID GEOMETRY, MEDICINE by Mauro Fiorentino or Fra Mauro of Florence or Mauro Mattei (c. 1493-1556), was a theologian friar expert in mathematics, astrology, and cosmology. In this second and first edition (because it is new and different from the first of 1537), he takes the historic treatise by Johannes de Sacrobosco (John of Holywood), written in 1230, dissects it, expands it, and adds other sections. This book is richly illustrated with 108 engravings and is a faithful translation of De Sphaera Mundi (The Sphere of the World), but Mauro Fiorentino added new sections such as the Spera Theologica Divina and Spera Platonica. The author attempted to harmonize Sacrobosco's mathematics and Ptolemaic astronomy with Christian theology and Renaissance Neoplatonism. The author also introduces a new invention and practical astronomical instrument that could be assembled and centered on a volvelle/wheel chart. This rotating wheel allowed users to quickly calculate the 12 celestial houses for astronomical and astrological birth charts without the need for complex calculations or reference tables. Astrology at that time was part of astronomy and was very important and helped doctors and barber surgeons to treat people using their zodiac sign as a reference, and for sailors to understand the phases of the moon and the movements of the stars for safe travel. Another useful thing illustrated in this book is the use of the hand and shadows to know the time of day, as shown in the photo. Dedication to Cosimo de' Medici, Duke of Florence. Original antique rigid parchment binding in good condition. COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED FIRST EDITION. For Mauro Fiorentino ​​and the scientists of the time, astronomy was based on the notion of the Earth at the center of a series of crystal spheres, as per first photo. In the 16th century, Italian scientists demonstrated a desire to democratize science, making it popular even for those who did not know latin or had attended university. Thus, the author makes mathematical and astronomical concepts accessible in Italian to navigators, merchants, artisans, and educated laypeople who had no access to these notions. This volume discusses and updates theories of the geocentric cosmos; it analyzes eccentricities, epicycles, eclipses, the motions and sizes of the planets, and climatic zones. Past errors are highlighted, principles are corrected, the author adds treatises on navigation and cosmography, teaching sailors how to use the stars to cross the oceans. He explores concepts of stereometry with geometric calculations for measuring solid bodies and volumes. He expands on altimetry and all the mathematics needed to measure altitude and height. The astrological volvelle or wheel chart invented by Mauro Fiorentino works like an app or a medieval computer. It allows users to bypass endless mathematical, geometric, and astronomical calculations simply by turning paper wheels. For a Middle Ages doctor or sailor, it was important to understand the lunar phase on a certain date for a medical operation or a voyage. Without the volvelle, all this would have been difficult. By physically aligning two known variables (the date and the celestial body), the mechanical alignment of the paper discs automatically calculates the unknown variables, such as the dates of the next solar and lunar eclipses, the time at which high tide would reach a certain port, and the position of certain planets in the night sky. The correct day and time to perform medical procedures (such as bloodletting), which doctors believed were strictly regulated by the position of the stars and the moon, were also calculated. Since diseases were believed to be caused by an imbalance of the body's four "humors" (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile), bloodletting (phlebotomy) was the most common treatment to drain excess fluids and restore balance. But performing it at the wrong time was considered fatal. For example, doctors never cut into a body part when the Moon was in the zodiac sign that governed that part. Beautiful book with 108 of detailed enravings that illustrate the concepts very well. TITLE : Annotationi sopra la lettione della Spera del Sacro Bosco dove si dichiarano tutti e principii mathematici et naturali, che in quella si possan' desiderare. Con alcune quistioni notabili a detta Spera necessarie, et altri notandi et rari segreti, che in quella son ascosti...(Annotations on the reading of the Sacrobosco's Sphere, where all the mathematical and natural principles that could be desired are explained. With some notable questions necessary for the said Sphere, and other notable and rare secrets that are hidden therein...). AUTHORS: Mauro Fiorentino or Fra Mauro of Florence or Mauro Mattei (c. 1493-1556), AFTER "De Sphaera Mundi" of Johannes de Sacrobosco or John of Holywood (c. 1195–c. 1256), was a scholar, Catholic monk, and astronomer who taught at the University of Paris. PUBLISHER: Lorenzo Torrentino DATE: March 6th, MDL (1550), printed in Florence, italian and sometimes latin text DESCRIPTION: In 4to size, height 215 x width 148 mm or 8.5 by 6.0 inches. Pages 219, [1], complete book. Antique, full-vellum binding from the period, with stains, signs of use, and creases. The four small holes on the covers were once used for the laces that closed them, but are now missing. The binding is solid, with no cuts or cracks, and is in perfect working order and in good condition, as shown in the photos. Title with large engraving representing geocentric cosmography and zodiac houses, pubblication date on page 218. Pages generally in good condition, several ornamental initials and 108 woodcuts in the text depicting globes, stars, planets, scientific instruments, diagrams, projections (slight damp stain on the white margins of a few leaves.). Text and illustrations are intact as per photo. COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED FIRST EDITION. LITERATURE/REFERENCES; World Cat OCLC n°; USTC n°841602; Moreni, Torrentino, 85-87; Riccardi II, 138; BM STC, Italian, p.427; Shaaber 374 ; Jacques-Charles Brunet, Manuel de libraire et de l’amateur de livres (Paris: Firmin-Didot, 1860-1865) n°V:22; EDIT 16th Century Italian Editions n°34575; Alden, J.E. European Americana, 550/34; Yale University, Rare Book Room, QB41 / S3 / M3; United States, Library of Congress, QB41.S4M3; London, United Kingdom, British Library Shelfmark: 60.b.23; Paris, France, Bibliothèque nationale de France Shelfmark: Tolbiac - Rez-de-jardin FB- 22022 (2); New York, United States, New York Public Library Shelfmark: *KB 1550; Augsburg, Germany, Universitätsbibliothek Shelfmark: 02/VIII.3.4.10-1angeb.; Vancouver, Canada, University of British Columbia Shelfmark: QB41.S4 M3 1550; Thorndike, L., The Sphere of Sacrobosco and its Commentators (Chicago, 1949); Hamel, J., Studien zur 'Sphaera' des Johannes de Sacrobosco (Leipzig, 2014); Maclean, 'Sacrobosco at the Book Fairs', in Publishing Sacrobosco's De Sphaera (2022); SHIPPING: via UPS, DHL, National Postal Services, protected, INSURED and fully tracked package. Estimated time for Europe 3-5 working days. 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