Cosmographia, sive De situ orbis.

One of the earliest printed works on geography. Rare fourth edition of the earliest surviving Latin work on geography and the only treatise devoted exclusively to that subject in classical Latin. A handsome edition published in Venice.

This work exerted a considerable influence on later authors, partly through the extensive citations in Pliny's Historia naturalis where Mela is cited as an important authority. The publications of Mela and Claudius Ptolemy were incentives for further exploration, and in particular Mela's descriptions of Africa were used by the Portuguese navigators who were venturing far out into the Atlantic for the first time.

'Despite his general inferiority as a geographer, Pomponius knew more than Strabo about the positions of Britain, Ireland, and the coasts of Gaul and north Germany; he was also the first to mention the Orkney Islands' (DSB).

Fourth edition; 4to, (20 x 15.3 cm); headings printed in red, white-on-black woodcut initials, text printed on 26 lines, printed marginalia, occasional light dampstaining, some foxing; later full vellum over boards, light wear and soiling to boards, otherwise a good firm copy of a scarce work; collation: a-f8 (a1r author's preface, text, f8v colophon), 48 leaves total.

ISTC im00450000; Goff M450; HC 11017*; Klebs 675.4; Pell Ms 7814 (7755); CIBN M-282; Neveu 424.