Beschreibung:

PTOLEMAEUS, Claudius (c.100-c.178). Geographia universalis . Translated from Greek into Latin by Willibald Pirckheimer (1470-1530), edited by Sebastian Münster (1488-1552) . Basel: Heinrich Petri, 1546. Third edition, the rare issue dated 1546 in title and colophon (instead of 1545, but dedicatory epistle dated 1545, and setting otherwise identical to the issue dated 1545) of Münster's Ptolemy. ‘It includes all of the Ptolemaic maps, all the modern double-page maps from the 1544 Cosmographia, and five completely new maps’ (Karrow). At the same time as bringing Ptolemy up to date by adding text (here printed in the last section of the book) and new maps to the ancient recension, Münster was working on his own Cosmographia , which he entrusted to the same publisher (1544 with 24 maps, 1545 with 28 maps). This copy has the distinction of an illustrious provenance. First owned by the poet Pontus de Tyard, whom Ronsard invited to become a member of La Pléiade and who, beside poetry, in his maturity cultivated scientific and philosophical prose which has been described as superior to his verse, it then passed by gift to Pontus de Tyard’s protégé and friend Étienne Tabourot, seigneur des Accords (1549-1590, who devised the motto also inscribed in the book). Étienne was the main contributor to his family’s remarkable book collection, which included books on science and cosmography as well as the more obvious works of literature and philosophy: a testament to the man’s polymathic talents and endeavours. Ortelius refers to Tabourot’s specific interest in geography in the Catalogus auctorum included in the Theatrum orbis terrarum (1584) by crediting him with devising a map of Burgundy which Ortelius used. Adams P-2228; Alden & Landis 545/22; Phillips Atlases 368; Shirley BL T.PTOL-8d; Karrow 58/T; Sabin 66487. Folio (303 x 203 mm). 54 double-page woodcut maps, half of which are Ptolemaean, the rest modern (world, the American continent, the East Indies and regions in Europe, Asia and Africa), letterpress within woodcut borders on recto of the first leaf of each bifolium, printed in Roman and italic types, double column, woodcut of Ptolemy observing the stars, woodcut diagrams (some full-page) and initials (title a little soiled, several plates discreetly strengthened at inner margin, minor tear affecting 2 letters (no loss) in plate Africa 2, minute hole (2mm) in plate Asia 3, one or two tears and a small wormhole to the lower margin far from text, some marginal waterstaining to the first 3 and last 3 quires (not affecting the plates). Contemporary mottled calf, sides panelled in blind with gilt fleurons corner-pieces and gilt centre-piece, panelled spine with gilt floral tools (foot of spine, upper joint and a portion of the upper side restored, corners bumped and worn, some surface abrasions). Provenance: Pontus de Tyard (or Thyard, Thiard) (c.1521-1605), French poet and priest (inscription on title; contemporary marginalia, particularly around the Münster addition; a distich from Virgil on the front free-endpaper, and a verse from Ovid on the rear free end-paper both extolling knowledge as a source of happiness) – ‘Tabourot’, i.e. Étienne Tabourot, seigneur des Accords (1549-1590) (inscription at foot of title-page describing this book as a gift from Pontus de Tyard, and family motto inscribed under the title) – ? Guillet 1625 (inscription on title partly written over, and thus obscuring, the previous one) – Tremet, canon at the Church of St Urbain, Troyes, 1793 (inscription on title).