Ptolemy, Claudius; Michaele Villanovano (Michael Servetus)

Claudii Ptolemaei Alexandrini Geographicae Enarrationis Libri Octo Ex Bilibaldi Pirckeymheri Tralatione, Sed Ad Graeca & Prisca Exemplaria a Michaele Villanovano (Serveto) Iam Primum Recogniti. Adjecta Insuper Ab Eodem Scholia Quibus Exoleta Urbium Nomina

      Melchioris et Gasparis Trechsel, 1535. 4to bound in early blind-tooled, panelled calf over boards, small gilt devices to panels, nine compartments at the spine with a gilt fleur-de-lis in each. Clasp-mounts present, but clasps gone. 50 woodcut engraved maps, all double-aged save for the single-paged map of Lotharingia. (Some skillful, professional repairs and remargining throughout; cracking and rubbing to the leather). A celebrated and notorious edition of Ptolemy, the first edited by Michael Servetus. His description of the barren soil of Palestine in this volume, as opposed to the popular conception of it being a land of milk and honey, was one of the charges that led to him being burned at the stake in 1553, though the statement was not original to Servetus; he copied it from the 1525 edition of his predecessor, Pirckeymher. Copies of the present edition were immolated along with their editor, by order of Calvin, making surviving copies rare. The woodcut ornaments and borders are thought to be the work of Hans Holbein and Urs Graf. A beautiful example of this rare and significant edition of Ptolemy. Harrisse 210. Sabin 66483. Phillips 364.