Geography.- Dionysius Periegetes. De situ orbis, translated by Antonius Beccaria, first edition, collation: a-d⁸ e¹⁰, 42 ff., the last blank, 24-27 lines, Roman type, text of a1r within woodcut white vine on black border with shield within roundel at foot, woodcut white on black decorative initials, occasional later ink marginalia, outer margins trimmed, with some loss to printed side-notes in places, foxed, some staining, modern binding of ?older vellum over boards, soiled, small 4to, (200 x 140mm.), [Venice], [Bernhard Maler, Erhard Ratdolt & Peter Löslein], 1477.

⁂ Rare first edition of this compendium of geographical descriptions of the known world. Here in its first prose translation by the Veronese humanist Antonio Beccaria, who was secretary to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, himself a great patron of the humanistic arts. The final two leaves contain a list of countries and islands in Europe, Africa and Asia. As well as one of the earliest references to China ('Thina') in Western literature, we find information on the gems and minerals of various countries. Also, amongst the updated material from our translator, we read about the merits of Ireland's horses and that country's use of peat.

Literature: BMC V 244; Goff D-253; H 6226*; Bod-inc D-099; BSB-Ink D-177; GW 8426; ISTC id00253000.