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First edition
of Sebastian Münster’s Geographia Universalis
 MÜNSTER, Sebastian. Geographia universalis, vetus et nova, complectens.. (Basle, Heinrich Petri, 1540) Folio. Modern calf binding. 195pp. Letterpress title, 48
woodcutmaps.
The rare FIRST
EDITION of Sebastian Münster’s Geographia Universalis, published in
1540. The Geographia was landmark work which contained, along with
the Ptolemaic maps, several of the most significant modern maps in
the history of cartography.
The first separate maps of the four continents appear here, and
include the earliest maps of the Western Hemisphere and Africa,
also the first separately printed map of England, and the oldest
obtainable woodcut of Scandinavia.
Münster dominated geographical publishing during the middle years
of the 16th century. “Munster, Mercator and Ortelius, three of the
greatest cartographers of a great age” wrote Edward Lyman of the
16th century triumvirate of mapmakers.
(5731)
Burden, The Mapping of North America,
#12, 1st state; Shirley, The Mapping of the World, #77, 1st state;
Alden, Vol. I, p. 52, #542/22; Stevens (Ptolemy) 49; Karrow,
Mapmakers of the Sixteenth Century, p. 422.
An (unrecorded) important sea
atlas.
 GOOS, P. Le Grand & Nouveau Miroir ou
Flambeau de la Mer… (Amsterdam, 1676)
Folio. 3 parts in 1 volume. Contemp. brown calf, gilt spine
(separating), ribbed, title on gilt red morocco label. Good copy of
an (unrecorded) important sea atlas.
Unrecorded French text edition. Engraved
title-page, 32 double-page charts, 1 engraved text-chart of
St.MALO, numerous woodcuts of astronomical diagrams, compass,
geometrical instruments and coastal lines, as well as 2 volvelles
in text. With an Almanak from 1670-1680. Errors in paging: 57
instead of 61 and 217-224 instead of 117-124.
Pieter Goos's sea-atlas "reflects a high professional standard"
(Koeman IV, p. 192). The De Nieuwe Groote Zee-Spiegel follows the
prototype of pilot guides, opening with an introduction into
navigation, followed charts of the coasts west and south from the
Netherlands. A chapter with sailing directions is devoted to each
section of coastline. It is accompanied by a chart, engraved on one
side of a folded leaf, and woodcut coastal profiles are
interspersed throughout the text.
Contents A2-K2 Instruction en l'art de Navigation. Table. 1-34 Le
premier Livre. Le deuxiesme Livre. 77-114 Le troiziéme Livre.
115-224 Le quatriéme Livre.
The composition of the French edition is entirely different from
the Dutch and English editions. It contains the Western Navigation
with charts and descriptions of Great Britain, The Netherlands,
Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, Coast of Marocco with Canary
Islands, and 3 charts on a sheet, and full- page chart of Canary
Islands. The translation into French is by Paul Yvounet.
Very decorative engraved frontispiece with printed title. In lower
part three large vessels in the foreground and two smaller ones in
the distance.
One of the most
spectacular cartographical works ever produced.
 MORTIER, P./
VIANEN, J./ DE HOOGHE, R.- Le Neptune
François ou recueil des cartes maritimes. (Amsterdam,
1693)
In original colours. Large folio, contemp. brown calf, blind
stamped.
The first edition of Mortier's Atlas Maritime,
"Neptune François", one of the most spectacular cartographical
works ever produced. According to Koeman: "...the most expensive
sea-atlas ever published in Amsterdam ... Its charts are larger and
more lavishly decorated than those of any preceding book of this
kind. For the engraving and etching Mortier had recruited the most
qualified artists. This magnificent work was intended more as a
show piece than something to be used by pilots at sea." The most
beautiful charts in the atlas were those in part two, by the
celebrated artist, Romeyn de Hooghe.
These charts were judged by Koeman to be "the most spectacular type
of maritime cartography ever produced". Part one: Engraved
frontispiece by Jan van Vianen, printed title, 3 ships and distance
table in Dutch, French and English, 29 charts in unusual large
format covering the coasts of Europe minus the Mediterranean (first
editions, with only imprint 'A Paris 1693'.
Part two: engraved frontispiece and 9 charts by Romein de
Hooghe, who was at that time in the service of King William III
of England. (9405)
Koeman, Atlantes Neerlandici, IV, M.Mor 1A; M.Mor 5,E.
First edition of one of the great achievements
of the French Enlightenment
 ROBERT DE VAUGONDY,
Gilles & Didier [Paris, 1757] Atlas Universel Par M. Robert
Geographe ordinaire du Roy, Par M. Robert De Vaugondy son fils
Geographe ord. du Roy,. .. 1757. A Paris Chez Les Auteurs Quay de
I'Horloge du Palaia Boudet Libraire Imprimeur du Roll rue St.
Jacques. Large folio (520x385mm.); full contemporary calf,
attractively gilted and tooled, relatively modest wear; engraved
allegorical frontispiece, 2pp.advertisement, 33pp. "preface
historice" with description of different regions, 1p. index; 5pp of
subscribers to large and small paper copies; 1p. pricelist. 108
maps with original outline color, stong impressions; paper fresh
and bright; a very attractive copy.
First edition of one of the most
important 18th century atlases and one of the great achievements of
the French Enlightenment. The Atlas Universel is the prime exemplar
of the authors' geographic ideal- bel et utile- beautiful and
useful. According to Pledley "The corpus of their maps displays the
finest of eighteenth-century French engraving on copperplate with
fine linework and lettering and cleverly designed cartouches which
often represent the areas portrayed on the map." The Atlas
Universel was published in two paper sizes: grand papier (21 x 30
inches) for 120 livres and petit papier (19 x 26 inches) for 96
livres..
The Vaugondys employed strict
standards for including maps in this atlas and in many cases
subjected them to astronomically derived readings for latitude and
longitude. Moreover, 'their frequent use of eighteenthcentury
sources, often from the 1740s, provided their atlas with up-to-date
information. While their preference was for maps that bad been
surveyed in the field and maps published in the region itself, they
did not hesitate to turn to older sources when more recent maps
were found to be lacking." (Pedley, p. 61) For their maps of Canada
and South America, the Vaugondys had access to sources held by the
Depot de la Marine, the official French repository for
maritime-related information. Like Ortelius and Mercator before
them, the Vaugondys listed the sources of their maps, which is of
incalculable benefit to anyone seeking to understand not only their
maps but those of the period.
"A feature of the maps of the
Atlas Universel which attracted unanimous praise from critics was
the cartouches." (Pedley, p. 64) A number of artisans worked on
their design and engraving; several cartouches were engraved and
signed by the Haussard sisters. Among the most pictorial cartouches
are the four found on maps showing the postal routes of Great
Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal. They depict postal
carriers en route in richly detailed settings.
Gilles and Didier Robert De
Vaugondy were father and son, respectively, and produced this atlas
and others in concert. In many cases they did not use the initials
of their first names when signing their maps, so it can be unclear
at times who made a given map. On some maps fils or filto follows
the name, designating its author as the son. In other instances,
the authorship can be determined by the distinctive way each signed
his maps: the father normally used "M. Robert," leaving off the
last name, and the son, "Robert de Vaugondy.' (Pedley, p. 1
1).
Pedley, Mary S. Bel Et Utile, 7be
Works of the Robert De Vaugondy Family of map makers, Phillips,
Atlases 619; Catalogue of the National Maritime Museum,
266.
The first Plantin- edition of the first and most popular
guide of the Netherlands.
 GUICCIARDINI,L. Descrittione di M.L.G.di tutti i
Paesi Bassi.. Antwerp, 1581.
In original colours. Folio, 19th century gilt vellum. Engraved
frontispiece, engraved title, 2 engraved full-page dedications, 56
double page maps, plans and birds-eye-views. (18), 558,
(17).
The first edition with copper plates, the first
Italian Plantin- edition of the first and most popular guide to and
description of the Netherlands. The first edition, in Italian, was
published at Antwerp in 1567, with the maps and plans in
woodcut.
Plantin then published this first edition with all the maps and
plans in copper engravings in 1581. Ludovico Guicciardini was a
nobleman from Florence, who lived and worked in the Low Countries,
and died at Antwerp in 1589.
His present work was translated into French, Dutch, Latin, -and
even into German and English all through the sixteenth and part of
the 17th century, and all editions were in folio. The illustrations
in the numerous editions vary greatly, and were often renewed or
replaced.
The plans of Doornik and Kamerijk left blank, with note on these
pages "Per causa della guerra no s'eancor potuto havare il ritratto
di questa citta el naturale". Plantin ordered in 1581 entirely new
plates, especially engraved for his editions mostly by the brothers
Hogenberg, the famous engravers of Ortelius's atlas. Many new and
updated city plans are included. The illustrations of this most
important work were used by Braun and Hogenberg in their 'Civitates
Orbis Terrarum'. The book is divided into sections, each devoted to
a particular, with emphasis on the topography of the various
regions and the region. It really is a sophisticated traveller's
guide, with emphasis on the topography of the various regions and
the major cities, and beautifully illustrated by plans and views.
Including a fine print of the Antwerp Exchange.
The book fully covers all aspects of contemporary life in each area
as well, including an extensive treatment of the fine arts, trade
and the commercial concerns of each region.
Exceptional fine, uncut copy, in very fine
contemporary colouring. Paper has the usual mild browning
throughout. (5776)
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