With the map of the world and the movable parts – Apian, P. – Cosmographie, ou Description des quatre parties du monde, contenant la Situation, Diusion, & Estedue du chascune Region Province d’icelles…Corrigée & augmentée par Gemma Frison

Third, enlarged french edition of the famous, firstly published in latin in1524, Cosmography Apian’s in the adaption of Frisius. With the famous map of the world. “Apianus was a pioneer in astronomical and geographical instrumentation…his Cosmographia was one of the mostpopular texts of the sixtheens century” (Kenney 6). The German Peter Bienewitz, better known by his Latinized name Peterus Apianus, supplied the European audience, thirsty for knowledge about the New World and the methods of navigation propelling the Age of Exploration, with what they wanted. The work became so popular it was translated, originally, into three vernacular languages (Spanish, French, and Dutch) and later into a total of 14 languages with 45 editions produced. Why was the work so popular? A powerful combination of details about the New World and the ability to put the tools of exploration into the hands of the reader. Originally published in 1524 (and in the scientific language of Latin), Apianus’ first masterwork, “Cosmographicus Liber,” provided readers with an understanding of cosmography (that which concerns the heavens) and geography (that which concerns the earth). The work provides theoretical explanations of longitude, latitude, the Zodiac, the movement of planets and stars, and time. It also provides the means to practically solve these problems by way of calculations and use of the moving paper instruments based on Ptolemaic principals- the famous volvelles, also called Apian Wheels. While Ptolemy’s works had been used since the Medieval period by way of Arabic translation and preservation of the text during a time when Greek literacy was uncommon in the West (see here for an example of 13th century Ptolemy text), Peter Apian’s wheels made the theoretical practical. – Title-page with two small entries; newly bound in the style of the time. Biblioteca Belga I, p.91; BM STC, Dutch Books S. 12; Houzeau/Lanc. 2392; Leclerc II 40; Sabin 1752; FRBNF 30023608.