In the Spring, Prof. Phil Ethington's History class on Mapping the Past visits the Feuchtwanger Memorial Library to view materials from USC's Special Collections. The following books are discussed and examined. Leading off with Mercator's Atlas, succeeding books are in chronological order by author. Questions regarding items listed on this page may be referred to Melinda K. Hayes, Librarian in Special Collections, USC.
Mercator, Gerardus, 1512-1594.
Gérardi Mercatoris Atlas, sive, Cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mvndi et fabricati figvra, Primum à Gerardo Mercatore inchoatae, deinde à Iudoco Hondio piae memoriae ad finem perductae. Amsterodami: Sumptibus & typis Henrici Hondij, [1609?]
Physical description: 1 atlas (7 leaves, p. 19-712, 18 leaves): double maps, double col. port.; 48 cm.
Call number: 912.M553 (super-oversize)This edition of Mercator’s atlas is printed by Amsterdam map seller Jodocus Hondius, who purchased the plates from Mercator’s heirs. Hondius added thirty-seven further maps, covering the Iberian peninsula, parts of Africa, along with regional maps of Asia and the Americas. At least forty-six editions were appeared by 1659, with text in Latin, French, German, Dutch and English. This edition is in Latin.
Schedel, Hartmann, 1440-1514.
[Liber chronicarum]
Registrum huius operis libri cronicarum in figuris et ymagi[?]bus ab inicio mu[n]di: [Nuremberg]: Anthonius Koberger Nuremberge impressit ..., Comsummatu[m] autem duodecima mensis Julij. Anno salutis n[ost]r[a]e. 1493.
Physical description: [20], cclxvi, [6], cclxvii-ccxcix, [3] leaves: ill., coats of arms, maps, ports.; 45 cm. (fol.)
Leaves cclviiii-cclxi have running title and foliation but no text.
Woodcut title page. Some initial letters in red. blue and gold. Some rubrication.
" De Sarmacia reione Europe": 5 unnumb. leaves between folium cclxvi and cclxvii.
Bound in stamped pigskin over boards. Clasps missing. Back has been repaired.
Gift of Lion and Marta Feuchtwanger.
Call number: D17.S34 1493 (annex)The Nuremberg Chronicle was the most elaborately illustrated book of its day, including close to 2,000 woodcut pictures. These included maps and views of towns and cities, many identified by name, though few resembling their real appearance. The same image was used for Lyon, France and Mainz, Germany, another for Macedonia and Portugal.
Guicciardini, Lodovico, 1521-1589.
La description de tovs les paisbas, autrement appellés la Germanie inferievre, ov basse allemagne… Avec la Carte generale de tous lesdicts pauis; Et quant aux particulieres de chacune Prouince, & aux pourtraicts de plusieurs villes tirés au naturel, nous les auons imprimés en vng volume à part; pour ne charger de coust ceux qui ne voudront ou qui n'auront le moyen de les achapter… A Anvers: Impr. de Christophle Plantin, [1582]
Physical description: [18], 495, [21] p., 10 folded plates: 12 folded maps, plans (4 double, 42 folded); 33 x 21 cm.
Call number: DH33.G917 1582 (oversize)One of the earliest descriptions of Amsterdam is included in this work, first published in Italian (1581).
Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680.
Athanasii Kircheri e soc. Iesv obeliscvs pamphilivs, hoc est interpretatio noua & hucusque intentata obelisci hieroglyphici quem non ita pridem ex veteri hippodromo Antonini Caracallae Caesaris, in Agonale forum transtulit, integritati restituit, & in Vrbis Aeternae ornamentum erexit Innocentivs X. Pont. Max. In quo post varia Aegypticae, Chalaicae, Hebraicae, Graecanicae Antiquitatis, doctrinaeque, quà sacrae, quà profanae monumenta, veterum tandem theologia, hieroglyphicis inuoluta symbolis, detecta e tenebris in lucem asseritum. Romae, Typis Loudouici Grigani. Anno Iubilei MDCL. [i.e. 1650] Svperiorvm permissv.v
Physical description: t.-p., [62], 560, [29] p. illus. (part fold.) port tables, fold. map. 34 cm.
Added engraved title-page, illustrated; printer's device on t.p.
Gift of Lion and Marta Feuchtwanger.
Call number: PJ1093.K6 1650 (Feuchtwanger)Kircher, Jesuite priest and scholar, noted for his extensive activity disseminating knowledge through his writings. He is sometimes called the last Renaissance man.
Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680.
Athanasii Kircheri ... Oedipvs aegyptiacvs, hoc est vniuersalis hierolglyphicae veterum doctrinae temporum iniuria abolitae instavratio, opus ex omni orientalium doctrina & sapientia conditum, nec non viginti diuersarium linguarum authoritate stabilitum ... Romae, Ex typographia V. Mascardi, 1652-1654
Physical description: 3 v. in 4 ill., port., fold. maps, facsims. 36 cm.
PJ1093.K6 1652 (oversize)Raleigh, Walter, Sir, 1552?-1618.
The historie of the world in five bookes: Intreating of the beginning and first ages of the same, from the creation unto Abraham. 2 Of the times from the birth of Abraham to the destruction of the temple of Salomon. 3 From the destruction of Jerusalem, to the time of Philip of Macedon. 4 From the raigne of Philip of Macedon, to the establishing of that kingdome in the race of Antigonus. 5 From the settled rule of Alexanders successors in the east, untill the Romans (prevailing over all) made conquest of Asia and Macedon. London: Printed for Sam: Cartwright at ye hand & Bible in Ducke lane, R: Best at Graies Inn Gate & J. Place at Furnivalls Inn gate in Holborne, 1652.
Physical description: [68], 184, 181-555, [1], 512, 517-669, [54] p., [9] leaves of plates (most folded): ill., port., maps; 34 cm.
Numerous errors in paging and headlines. With engraved t.p. of 1614 edition (imprint and date altered) signed "Ren: Elstrack", letterpress t.p. with portrait of author signed "Sim: Pass." Woodcuts: initials, headpieces, tailpieces.
Forms part 1 of a projected 3 part work; no more published. Cf. Dic. of Nat. Biog.
Added t.-p., illustrated: The history of the world. London printed for R. R. Best Io. Place & Sam: Cartwright and are to be sold at Graies Inn and Furnivalls Inn gates in Holborne & at the hand and Bible in Duck lane. 1652.
Facing added t.-p., a poem, The Minde of the Front, in 18 verses. Bound in brown leather, corded, with label, gold on red.
" A chronologicall table": 26 p. preceding table of contents at end of book.
Call number: 930.R163H 1652 (oversize)Written while in the Tower of London, The History of the World (1614), it proceeds from Creation, ending in the second century BCE.
Heylyn, Peter, 1599-1662.
Cosmographie in four books. Containing the chorographie and historie of the whole world, and all the principal kingdoms, provinces, seas and isles thereof. With an accurate and an approved index of all the kingdoms, provinces, countries, inhabitants, people, cities, mountains, rivers, seas, islands, forts, bays, capes, forests,. &c. of any remarque in the whole world; much wanted and desired in the former, and now annexed to this last impression, revised and corrected by the author himself immediately before his death ... London, Printed for Ann Seile, M.DC.LXVI.[i.e.1666]
Physical description: [14],998p.,1l.,999-1095,[37]p. 4 double maps. 35 cm.
Added illustrated t.-p., engraved: Cosmographie ... The 3d ed. cor.& enlarged by the author. London, Printed for Ann Seile, 1665.
The 4th edition (cf.) Sabin) being the 3d edition with a new t.-p. and "an alphabetical and exact table [etc.]" added to it.
Books 1-3, the 2 parts of book 4, and the appendix have each a special t.-p., dated 1665.
Errors in paging.
Enlarged from the author's "Mikrókosmos", first published at Oxford, 1621.
Call number: G114.H62 1666Heylin’s Cosmographie includes the first published description of Australia, along with California, Terra del Fuego, and other New World locales.
Heylyn, Peter, 1599-1662.
Cosmographie in four books: containing the chorographie and historie of the whole world, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas, and isles thereof. London: Anne Seile, 1669.
Physical description: 4 pt. in 1 v.: 4 folded maps; 35 1/2 cm.
Added t.-p., engr.
Books 1-3 and the 2 parts of book 4 have each a special t.-p.; books 1-3 paged separately, book 4 paged continuously.
Call number: 909 H61
Ogilby, John, 1600-1676.
Africa: being an accurate description of the regions of AEgypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid: the land of Negroes, Guinee, AEthiopia, and the Abyssines, with all the adjacent islands... collected and translated from most authentick authors... London: Printed by T. Johnson for the author, 1670.
Physical description: 767, [1] p.: ill., plates (part double) maps (part folded) double plans, tables.; 42 cm.
Title in red and black; initials; head-pieces.
" A catalogue of the names of the general authors, both ancient and modern, besides later voyagers, consulted to the carrying on of this first volume": 7th prelim. leaf.
Call number: 916 O34A 1670 (oversize)A pioneer in the making of road atlases, most notably illustrated in his Britannia… a geographical and historical description of the principal roads thereof (1675) (available online)
Dapper, Olfert, 1639-1689.
Asia, oder, Genaue und gründliche Beschreibung des gantzen Syrien und Palestins, oder Gelobten Landes ... Auss verschiedenen alten und neuen Scribenten so wol, als dem Bericht warhafftiger Augeszeugen und Untersucher zusammen getragen. Amsterdam: Jacob von Meursen Nachgelassener Wittibe, 1681.
Physical description: 2 v. in 1, plates (part folded): ill., folded maps, plans; 32 cm.
Added t.p. engr.: Syrien und das Gelobte Land. Amsterdam, J. von Meursen nachgelassene Wittibe, Ao. 1681.
Vol. 2 has title: Genaue und gründliche Beschreibung des gantzen Palestins ... Amsterdam, J. von Meursen nachgelassener Wittibe, 1681.
Call number: DS106.D21 1681Luyts, Jan, 1655-1721.
Introductio ad geographiam novam et veterem: in qua necessaria hujus scientiae prolegomena, intermixto usu globi terrestris, nex non oceani & regionum constitutio perspicuo ordine pertractantur adjiciuntur suis locis Oceani, Terrae, & cujusque regionis tabulae, item Chartae LXV Sansonis, inter quas quaedam huc forma ante[m] ineditae Joannis Luyts, philosophiae professoris. Trajecti ad Rehenum: Francisci Halma, 1692.
Physical description: [30], 764, [24] p., [66] folded leaves of plates: ill., maps; 23 cm. (4to)
Title page in red and black. Added engraved t.p., G. Hoet, delin., J. Mulden fecit.
Bound in vellum.
Call number: G114.L978 1692Dutch cartographer Jan (Johannis) Luyts based his work mostly on engravings made by Nicolas Sanson (geographer to the king of France, and has been called the Founder of the French School of Geography) and Antoine de Winter. Francois Halma, a publisher and bookseller with a love of geography published the work in Utrecht in 1692.
Hennepin, Louis, 17th cent.
A new discovery of a vast country in America: extending above four thousand miles, between New France & New Mexico; with a description [!] of the Great lakes, cataracts, rivers, plants, and animals. Also, the manners, customs and languages of the several native Indians; and the advantage of commerce with those different nations; with a continuation giving an account of the attempts of the Sieur de la Salle upon the mines of St. Barbe, &c. The taking of Quebec by the English; with the advantages of a shorter cut to China and Japan; both illustrated with maps, and figures; and dedicated to His Majesty King William; to which are added, several new discoveries in North America, not published in [!] the French edition. London: Printed by [!] for Henry Bonwicke, 1699.
Physical description: 2 v. in 1: front, folded plates, folded maps; 20 cm.
The "continuation" has special t.p.
Translation of "Nouveau voyage...1698". First English edition appeared same year.
Call number: F352.H754 1699Hennepin, a Franciscan missionary, traveled to Illinois to the Great Lakes in 1679 with explorer La Salle (René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle), and wrote the first published description of the country. His claim to have explored to the mouth of the Mississippi River, which was later proved false.
Bergeron, Pierre, d. 1637.
Voyages faits principalement en Asie dans les XII, XIII, XIV, et XV siecles: par Benjamin de Tudele, Jean du Plan-Carpin, N. Ascelin, Guillaume de Rubruquis, Marc Paul Venitien, Haiton, Jean de Mandeville, et Ambroise Contarini: accompagne's de l'histoire des Sarasins et des Tatares, et pre'ce'dez d'une introduction concernant les voyages et les nouvelles de'couvertes des principaux voyageurs. La Haye: Chez J. Neaulme, 1735.
Physical description: 2 v. in 1: ill., folded maps; 29 cm.
Each voyage has a special half-title, unpaged, text in double columns, numbered separately in each, index paged continuously with last column of text.
A Mudd and Flewelling Collection item from the Hoose Library of Philosophy.
Call number: 915 B496V
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Created: April 18, 2007; Last updated: October 31, 2008