This early geography book contains maps of the continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. The maps were engraved by Girolamo Porro and published by Andrea Muschio in Venice. 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. The rivers of central and north Africa feature prominently including the Ptolemaic concept of the origin of the Nile in two lakes south of the Equator. The largest of these lakes also has a river flowing southeast. The maps first appeared in d' Anania's L' Universale Fabrica del Mondo in 1582. 402 pages. Hardbound in full contemporary vellum.

References: Burden #54; Betz #20.

Condition: B+

The maps are strong dark impressions on mostly clean sheets. The map of Europe has a 1" fold separation at bottom that has been repaired on verso with paper. Text is clean and bright with numerous ink notations on the rear pastedown. Covers have nearly separated and are moderately worn.