Allgemeine historische Weltbeschreibung, Ioannis Boteri, deß Benesers. In vier Bücher abgetheilt: Im ersten wirdt Europa, Asia, Affrica, und die Sitten, Reichthumb, Gewerb und embsigkeiten aller Nationen und Völcker, deßgleichen die beschaffenheit der Newen Welt. . . und gantzen Inseln beschriben. Im andern wirdt die Macht und gelegenheit der aller fürnembsten Potentaten der Welt entdeckt. Im dritten wirdt gehandlet von dem Standt deß Glaubens, aller und jeder Völcker. Im vierten von den Aberglauben der Völcker der Newen Welt, und durch was beschwerliche mittel die wahre Christliche Religion daselbst eingeführet worden. Durch Ægidium Albertinum. . . vbersetzt. Mit künstlichen Kupfferstücken und eygentlichen Landtaflen geziert
Allgemeine historische Weltbeschreibung, Ioannis Boteri, deß Benesers. In vier Bücher abgetheilt: Im ersten wirdt Europa, Asia, Affrica, und die Sitten, Reichthumb, Gewerb und embsigkeiten aller Nationen und Völcker, deßgleichen die beschaffenheit der Newen Welt, und biß dato erfundenen halb: und gantzen Inseln beschriben. Im andern wirdt die Macht und gelegenheit der aller fürnembsten Potentaten der Welt entdeckt. Im dritten wirdt gehandlet von dem Standt deß Glaubens, aller und jeder Völcker. Im vierten von den Aberglauben der Völcker der Newen Welt, und durch was beschwerliche mittel die wahre Christliche Religion daselbst eingeführet worden. Durch Ægidium Albertinum, Der Fürstl. Durchl. Hertzog Maximilians in Bayrn, &c. Hof-Raths Secretarium, Auß dem Italianischen in die Hochteutsche Sprach vbersetzt. Mit künstlichen Kupfferstücken und eygentlichen Landtaflen geziert. Munich: Nicolaus Heinrich for Anton Hierat, 1611.
Pot folio in 6s (11 7/8” x 7 5/8”, 303mm x 194mm): ):(6 ):():(4 A-Pp6 Qq8 [$4 signed; –):():(4; +Qq5; Ll2 as “L 2”]. 246 leaves, pp. [20] (title-page in red and black, blank, 5pp. dedication, verses, 11pp. index, blank) 1-471 [1] (blank). With five folding engraved maps after Matthias Quad.
Bound in contemporary German blind-stamped pigskin (after Matthias Radmann?) over beveled boards with brass clasps (all contemporary, including the thongs?). On the front board, Judith above the motto “voluntatem timentium es/ faciet dominus” within a border of portrait medallions within two further rolls. On the rear board, Jael above the motto “sic pereant omnes/ inimici tui domine” within borders as for the front. On the spine, five raised bands. All edges of the text-block stained deep blue-grey.
Soiled and rubbed, with some darkening at the fore. The lower brass plate to the rear board lacking. Warping to the wooden boards. Some wormholes at the head and tail, as well single tracks to the boards. Mildly and evenly tanned, with some instances of soiling and the occasional spot of foxing. Text-block split at Ii6-Kk1. Worming at the lower margin O1-S5 and at the upper gutter Mms-Oo6, in both instances essentially avoiding the text. The lower fore-corner of S6 excised. Ink underlining throughout, with a marginalium to p. 283. Ink ownership signature of “Albrecht Heinrich Everhardt v(on) Mildenburg. A(nn)o. 1645.” to the title-page.
Giovanni Botero (1547–1617) was an Italian Jesuit who, on account of his Relationi Universali (Universal Relations, first published 1591–1598) — of which the present volume is the German translation — is considered the father of demography. Having taught in France during their wars of religion following the death of Henri II, Botero was brought into close contact with the temporal and religious hierarchy of France and later of Italy, where he served as secretary to (now Saint) Carlo Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan. The Universali in four books (a posthumous fifth volume was published in 1894) projects the universal (Catholic) church on the expanding European portrait of the world. Thus the present work, translated into German by Aegidius Albertinus (1560–1620), one of the leading lights of the Counter-Reformation, has been illustrated by five maps after Matthias Quad: a world map plus maps of Europe, Asia, Africa and North America (of which Burden notes a very early depiction of the Mississippi Delta).
The binding depicts in its central panels two Old-Testament heroines: Judith (front) and Jael (rear). Ironically, bindings of this sort are intimately tied to the Protestant Reformation; versions (or antecedents?) of these blocks were used in the binding of a 1585 work of Michael Neander’s on physical science, where the block of Jael is signed “M R,” which has been connected to Michael Radmann. Radmann became a master binder in Leipzig in 1546, and so the present binding is likely the work of a pupil of his.
The ownership signature, dated 1645, is that of Albrecht Heinrich Everhardt (Everhard, Everhart, Eberhard etc.) of Mildenburg in Bavaria, about halfway between Mannheim and Würzburg. His name (as “Eberhard”) appears in the 1659 will of Johann Albrecht von und zu Haimhausen, but he is otherwise shadowy.
Alden-Landis 611/6; Borba de Moraes I:100; JCB3 II:74; Sabin 6808; VD17 23:233078R.
Item #JLR0850
Price: $21,000