APIANUS, Petrus.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Cosmographicus liber mathematico studiose collectus. First edition, including four well-preserved volvelles, of this influential hybrid of text and instrument, among the final developments of the pre-Copernican universe and one of the earliest books to print a world map including the Americas. Petrus Apianus (1495-1552) was among the most prominent practitioners of cosmography - a discipline attempting to provide mathematical descriptions of the earth and the Ptolemaic cosmos as a unified whole. The Cosmographicus is both a theoretical text and a practical device: Apianus applies his studies in a series of paper instruments for the reader. This copy includes volvelles at pages 17, 24, 63, and page 2 of the appendix. That at page 24 retains the extremely scarce plumb line, not mentioned in any previous copies in commerce. The example at page 17 is used to illustrate the concept of terrestrial latitude, with a moveable horizon bar. The second is an elaborate instrument for measuring astronomical data, including the altitude, rising and setting of the sun. The instrument at page 63 is a paper astrolabe, complete with moving rule, rete, and plate, which allows the user to determine their position on earth and to plot the course of celestial bodies. The final example determines the time at night, using the lunar hour and the shape of the moon. All four volvelles appear to be complete as issued, although one part of the example at page 24 has been subsequently glued in place. Some

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.