BOTERO. Le relationi universali.

4to, mm. 200x145. Full vellum binding, title on morocco label at the spine.

6 parts in 1 volume. I: 32, 240, 80, 4 folded maps o.t. II: 20, 152. III: 183, 9. IV: 16, 79, 1b. V: 8, 70, 2b. VI: 8, 95, 1b. Signature of previous owner on titlepage “Candido Petrolo”. Dampstains on the first pages, final page with reinforcement and small worm hole, defects.

Beautiful edition with maps of the four continents engraved by Giuseppe Rosaccio. Beautiful edition with maps of the four continents engraved by Giuseppe Rosaccio. Of particular interest is the map of America which is derived from Giovanni Lorenzo d'Anania's 1582 map of the Americas and further based on the geography of Ortelius. Most notable is the characteristic bulge to the west coast of South America and the huge Southern Continent that attaches to Nova Guinea. Anian and Quivira appear on North America's bulbous western coast. The map of Africa extends to show the Arabian Peninsula and parts of Brazil. Giovanni Botero (1544 – 1617) was considered the best existing geographer for more than a century. Borba de Moraes I, 114: “For more than a century considered the best geographer in existence”. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, vol. 13. The work is a large collection of historical, geographical and political information from all parts of the known world, including religious aspects.