Claudius Ptolomaeus, d. after AD161. Cosmographia. Vicenza, Hermannus
Liechtenstein, September 13, 1475. First edition. Translated by Joannes
Angelus; edited by Angelus Vadianus and Barnabus Picardus. Roman type, 39
lines, 143 leaves, 3 woodcut diagrams of map projections, spaces for
initials. Bound in brown morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. The
Cosmographia lists 8000 places, with latitude and longitude. The earth (a
perfect sphere) and man were the center of the universe, with planets in
orderly orbits and systems around the earth. In spite of Copernicus'
discovery, Ptolemy's conception of the universe was not discarded until
the Reformation and had tremendous impact on man's thinking and writing.
This is the first dated book from Liechtenstein's press.
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