31 - [ΑΠΠΙΑΝΟΥ ΠΕΤΡΟΥ ΚΟΣΜΟΓΡΑΦΙΑ] APIANUS PETRUS. Cosmographiae introductiocum quibusdam geometriae ac astronomiae principis ad eam rem necesariis. Melchior Sessa Venice, 1541

[ΑΠΠΙΑΝΟΥ ΠΕΤΡΟΥ ΚΟΣΜΟΓΡΑΦΙΑ] APIANUS PETRUS. Cosmographiae introductiocum quibusdam geometriae ac astronomiae principis ad eam rem necesariis. Melchior Sessa Venice, 1541 Third Venetian edition of the famous Cosmography by Appianus. Small 8vo, contemporary full vellum slightly soiled with few wear at the top edge of spine, manuscript title on spine, title with woodcut vignette, 24 woodcut in the text, the famous woodcut printer's device at the end with a cat and a mouse, last four leaves with small damage in the lower margin, old manuscript annotation on title, text clean and bright, occasionally with very light spotting, overall in very good plus condition, a fine copy for a 500 years old book. Very rare Venetian edition of this introduction to cosmography by Apianus (1495-1552). One of the most important scientific books of the 16th century, as it transformed the complex theories of geography and astronomy into a practical experience for the reader. The introduction to Cosmography is a smaller abridged version, designed for students. Only the Venetian editions possessed the two woodcut maps of Greece (Zacharakis 156) with improved execution of the details. These maps by Appianus are the first ever printed modern maps of Greece after the Ptolemaeus earlier editions. Sessa was a prolific printer, known for his Cat and Mouse printers mark, and recognized early that the Italian students needed a local version of the Cosmographia. Most of these small format educational books perished.