Cosmography. MAUROLICO. Cosmographia. Lot n° 46

MAUROLICO, Francis. Cosmographia Francisci Maurolyci Messanensis Siculi, in tres dialogos distincta: in quibus de forma, situ, numeroque tam coelorum quam elementorum, alijsque rebus ad astronomica rudimenta spectantibus satis disseritur.Venezia, apud haeredes Lucae'antonij Iuntae Florentini, mense Ianuario 1543 In-4to; 220x160 mm. Antique full vellum binding, manuscript title on spine. Endpapers 4, 4, 104, last blank; Numerous wood-engraved astronomical and instrument figures in text. Traces of private collection stamps in the Title Page. Good condition. First edition of the most important work on pre-Copernican cosmography, in which the voyages of Columbus and Vespucci to America are mentioned in several passages. Maurolico addresses the question of the rotation of the earth. Dreyer: "In this book, which is in the form of a dialogue, the teacher says that he has now finished what he has to say about earth, unless human perversity should go so far that someone believed the earth to revolve on its axis. On the pupil replying that so strange an opinion could scarcely enter anyone's head, the teacher remarks that many people teach even greater absurdities, and it may therefore be well to prove that the earth cannot possibly move. The preface to this book is dated February 1540, but the year of publication is 1543, so that it must remain an open question whether Maurolico alludes to Calcagnini or to Copernicus." Riccardi I, 2, 140 ""beautiful ediz., rare"; Harrisse (Additions) 142; Houzeau/Lancaster 2411 "rare"; DSB IX, 190f. Sabin 46957, "very rare volume." Stillwell 79. J.L. Dreyer, A History of Astronomy from Thales to Kepler, p. 295. In-4to; 220x160 mm. Binding in all antique parchment, handwritten title on the spine. Leaves 4, 4, 104, last blank. Numerous astronomical figures and instruments engraved in wood in the text. Traces of stamps from private collections in the Titlepage. Good condition. Very rare First edition of the most important pre-Copernican cosmography work, in which the voyages of Columbus and Vespucci to America are mentioned in several passages. Dreyer: "In this book, which is in the form of a dialogue, the teacher says that he has now finished what he has to say about earth, unless human perversity should go so far that someone believed the earth to revolve on its axis. On the pupil replying that so strange an opinion could scarcely enter anyone's head, the teacher remarks that many people teach even greater absurdities, and it may therefore be well to prove that the earth cannot possibly move. The preface to this book is dated February 1540, but the year of publication is 1543, so that it must remain an open question whether Maurolico alludes to Calcagnini or to Copernicus."