Kircher, Athanasius.

2 volumes, folio (374 x 245mm.), 2 engraved title-pages (that in volume 1 in addition to the printed title-page), engraved device on printed title-page, 6 engraved maps, 13 engraved plates, 2 slips each containing 2 uncut engraved volvelles, woodcut and engraved illustrations, woodcut initials and tail-pieces, 4 (of 5) letterpress tables (2 double-page, one folding), contemporary vellum, one red morocco gilt lettering-piece, lacking both portraits and one letterpress table, several gatherings browned, light dampstain running through vol.2, occasional other spotting, short tear along one fold of the world map, lacking lettering-piece to vol.2 (that to vol.1 chipped)

Sommervogel iv, 1060; Dünnhaupt/Kircher 16b; Caillet 5783; JCB 678/76; Sabin 37967

Third edition of Kircher's lengthy work on subterranean earth, covering subjects as diverse as volcanoes and fanciful monsters, first published in 1665. His observations on volcanoes were based on a visit to Sicily where he saw the eruptions of Etna and Stromboli in 1637-1638. The world map is one of the earliest to show the currents of the oceans. The other maps are of South-East Asia, South Africa, America, South America and the Mediterranean.