This beautiful and elaborate introduction page is filled with classical elements. Raised on a theatrical stage, the four women in center represent the continents (Asia, Europe, America and Africa from left to right). At the top center is a large armillary sphere flanked by Apollo with his lyre, Juno with the Milky Way flowing from her breasts, and geographers with their students perusing celestial and terrestrial globes. Around them are representations of the four elements: air, fire, earth and water. The title was printed onto a separate sheet and pasted onto the page.

References: Shirley (TP) #46; Van der Krogt (Vol. II) #2:01.

Condition: B+

Nice impression with full contemporary color on a lightly toned sheet with an abrasion beside the alligator and light soiling that is mostly confined to the margins. There are additional abrasions in the bottom margin as a result of a previous owner trying to erase some old manuscript ink notations.