Girava, Jeronimo

La Cosmographia, y Geographia. Venice: Giordano Ziletti, 1570



4to (9 ¼ x 6 5/8 in.; 235 x 168 mm). Title within a woodcut border, full-page woodcut of an astronomer using a quadrant to observe the Moon, double-page woodcut world map after Gaspar Volpell, some woodcut text illustrations of instruments, historiated woodcut initial, circular vignette on last leaf with motto "Post tenebras spero lucem"; small oval library stamp on title partially removed and repaired on verso, some light spotting in upper margin of a few quires, small (1 inch)  clean tear in upper edge of map entering image. Contemporary limp vellum with yapp edges, in a half-morocco slipcase; minor dampstain on each cover, ties gone.

Bonifazio ?Vanelli (contemporary ms. exlibris on title)

Alden-Landis 570/23; Palau 102634; Sabin 27504; L. Brown, The World Encompassed (1952) 112; R.W. Shirley, Mapping of the World (1983), pl. 87, pp. 114–115; H.R. Wagner, Northwest Coast (1937), no. 36; Gallardo 2337; Borba de Moraes (1983) 1:351; Medina, BHA 1:no. 212

4to (9 ¼ x 6 5/8 in.; 235 x 168 mm). Title within a woodcut border, full-page woodcut of an astronomer using a quadrant to observe the Moon, double-page woodcut world map after Gaspar Volpell, some woodcut text illustrations of instruments, historiated woodcut initial, circular vignette on last leaf with motto "Post tenebras spero lucem"; small oval library stamp on title partially removed and repaired on verso, some light spotting in upper margin of a few quires, small (1 inch) clean tear in upper edge of map entering image. Contemporary limp vellum with yapp edges, in a half-morocco slipcase; minor dampstain on each cover, ties gone.
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First edition, second issue of this instructional text for pilots of the Casa de Contratación in Seville, written by the cosmographer to the Emperor Charles V, Jeronimo Girava (d. 1556). First published in Milan (1556), the second issue is identical to the first, save for a new dedication by Juan de Miranda dated 12 April 1570, a new imprint positioned at the bottom margin of the title, and the errata leaf left out.

The work is divided into two books of which the first presents sufficient celestial astronomy to enable navigation, while the second, more extensive book, treats world geography with pages 186–242 devoted to the discoveries in New Spain from Columbus through the year 1555.

The world map, often lacking, is entitled "Typo de la Carta cosmographica de Gaspar Volpellio Medeburgense." It is a reduced version of the Cologne cartographer's now lost 1545 world map. Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean in 1513 is noted, and there is an interesting inscription along the edge of Antartica "Tierra meridional descubierta el ano 1499 ..." which "has given rise to considerable speculation" (Shirley).