(ASTRONOMY) APIANUS, PETRUS. Cosmographia. Cologne, 1574. With 5 plates, 4 with volvelles.
Cosmographia ... per Gemmam Frisium apud Lovanienses et mathematicm insignem ... Additis eiusdem argumenti libellus Gemmae Frisii. Coloniae Agrippinae [Cologne]: apud Haeredes Arnoldi Birckmanni, 1574.[2], 64, [2] ff. 4to, contemporary roll-tooled vellum, manuscript title to spine, folding wood-engraved map, five full-page wood-engraved plates, four with volvelles (complete), title page vignette, numerous in-text illustrations and historiated initials, custom linen clamshell case with gilt-lettered spine. This is an exceptionally good copy of the first work to suggest the use of lunar distances to measure longitude and the basis for all mathematical geography for 100 years following its first publishing in 1574. The volvelles demonstrate how to measure altitude or latitude of the poles; longitude; the meridian; and the time of day according to the seasons. The cordiform map, which appeared in the Cosmographia beginning in 1529, was by Regnier Gemma Frisius (1508-1555), mathematician to the Emperor Charles V and founder of the Belgian school of geography. A few small creases; purple ink (over stamped ex-libri) to title page and leaves 32-34; small split to map at fold.
