APIAN (Petrus) - GEMMA FRISIUS. - Lot 12

APIAN (Petrus) - GEMMA FRISIUS. Cosmographia Petri Apiani... Paris: Vivant Gaultherot, 1551. - In-4, 237x162: (2 ff.), 22 ff., (1 f.), ff. 23-70 ill-foliated 74, 1 plate. Soft parchment, smooth spine (modern imitation binding). Penrose Boies, Travel and Discovery in the Renaissance. - Sabin 1749. - Houzeau and Lancaster, 2392. A rare new edition, the first in Paris, of one of the most important astronomical and geographical texts of the Renaissance, which formed one of the foundations of cosmographic teaching in the 16th century. It was the first major work published by the German astronomer and mathematician Petrus Apian (1495-1552). First published in 1524, it became a best-seller, and went through dozens of editions and translations. His work was revised and expanded by the mathematician, astronomer and cartographer Gemma Frisius (1508-1555). The first edition with Frisius' augmentations appeared in Antwerp in 1529. "During the first half of the 16th century, Germany was the main center of mathematical and descriptive geography... [The] German school of geographers had its greatest representatives in Peter Appian (1501-52) and Sebastian Münster (1489-1552). Apian was an astronomer and mathematician; in his Cosmographicus Liber ... later edited by the great Flemish mathematician Gemma Phrysius [Frisius] under the simpler title of Cosmographia, he based the whole science on mathematics and measurements, following Ptolemy in making a distinction between geography (the study of the earth as a whole) and chorography (the study of specific areas). His work can best be described as a theoretical textbook; for a hundred years, it was a standard source..." (Penrose, pp. 308-9). This is the first work to suggest the use of lunar distance to calculate longitude. Frisius contributed the first printed description of the use of triangulation to obtain accurate cartography without calculation. He also added a rotating ring dial to the compass, creating a kind of "variation" compass that could measure the sun's position by its noon shadow or by equal altitudes, an important innovation for determining weather at sea. The edition is illustrated with over forty woodcuts in the text and on full pages, including 4 with volvelles (leaves 8 verso, 11 verso, 30 recto and 57 recto), i.e. with movable elements for solving astronomical calculation problems. Only the string is missing from the figure on folio 9 verso. This edition also features a fold-out world map by Gemma Frisius, first published in the 1544 edition. It shows a representation of the New World, with South America called "America" and North America represented only by a long strip of land called "Baccalearum", i.e. "Land of Cod". Copy in modern imitation binding. The scrolls are the original ones. Restoration to the inner corner of the upper part of the leaves, from leaf 25 onwards, as well as to the map. A few traces of light dampening, mainly on the last few leaves and on the map. Small perforation restored to title and last leaf. The fold-out map is badly torn but not missing. The bottom of the latter has been cut, with damage to the legend. Provenance: Stamp of a cardinal and old signature crossed out on the title.