Title-page from "PINELO, EPITOME DE LA BIBLIOTECA ORIENTAL Y OCCIDENTAL." First Edition of the First American Bibliography.

Madrid, 1629.

See Item No. 69.

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[1] POMPONIUS MELA. Cosmographia sive De situ Orbis. Unacum Prisciani ex Dionysio Thessalonicensi de situ Orbis interpretatione.

Black Letter, long lines, 30 to a full page. Rubric on first leaf of text printed in red. With very interesting woodcut map of the World on verso of first leaf and with two large and five smaller woodcut ornamental capitals. 4to, half morocco, g.e.

Venice, Erhard Ratdolt, 18th July, 1482.

Church No. 1. Hain *11019.

£52 10s

On the verso of leaf A 1 is a modified Ptolemaic Map of the World engraved on wood, which shows Europe, Asia, and the northern portion of Africa. On the latter we find the Nile, with its sources in two lakes, one directly on the equator, and the other just south of it. These lakes correspond in place with those now called the Albert and Victoria Nyanza, showing that their location was surmised, if not actually known to geographers, at least four certuries before their late re-discovery. At the south, streams rising in mountains flow into these lakes. The Niger in western Africa is also laid down.

This map is a very early example of true chiaroscuro printing.

Of Pomponius Mela nothing whatever is known, but he is believed to have lived in the time of the Emperor Claudius. This is one of the earliest geographical works, the editio princeps of which appeared in 1471. It is written in a clear and simple style and notwithstanding its conciseness is enlivened with interesting descriptions of manners and customs.

In the Church Catalogue only five other copies are mentioned (British Museum; Bodleian; University Library, Cambridge, England; John Carter Brown; and Lenox Libraries).

1497 A.D.

[2] BRANT (Sebastian). Stultifera Navis. [The Ship of Fools].
Roman letter.

With numerous large woodcuts.

Small 4to, Citron morocco, Greek fillet border on sides, inside dentelles, g.e., by Bozerian.

Basel, Johannis Bergman de Olpe, 1st August, 1497.

Harrisse B.A.V. Additions No. 5. Church No. 13. Hain *3750.

£31 10s

Sebastian Brant, a German satirical poet, wrote the "Ship of Fools," a poem which enjoyed considerable popularity in its time, and was translated into Latin and the principal European languages. The popularity of this work is attested by the fact that four different editions of the Latin edition were published in 1497.

The following passage is of interest for its early allusion to the New World.
Prestita cosmographi lustrat documenta Strabonis

Intactu tota nil sinit orbe quidem.

Quid geometer enim tantas in pectore curas
Concipis incassum circulus ista terit.
Plinius erravit: quamvis spectabilis auctor:
Errores varios & Ptolomeus habet.

Invanum siquide multorum corda laborant:
Rebus in incertis quos ita sudor agit.
Antea que fuerat priscis incognita tellus:
Exposita est oculis & manifesta patet.
Hesperie occidue rex Ferdinandus in alto

Aequore nunc gentes repperit innumeras.

Brant here repudiates the errors of Pliny and Ptolemy for stating that there was no land beyond the sea to the West, and gives a full page engraving of Pliny as a "Fool."