Charpentier

1625 · D14119 — Oxford: Printed by John Lichfield and William Turner. for Henry Cripps 1625. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Full contemporary calf gilt-stamped lettering in second spine compartment 4 raised bands; two parts bound in one volume 8vo 185x142mm; pp. 14 274; 14 286; with separate title-page to second book 3 folding tables and numerous woodcut illustrations in text including mariner's compasses diagrams showing moon eclipses terrestrial spheres the solar system and more. Table at p. 229 appears to be a high-quality facsimile. Spine chipped and tips perished; some scuffing to boards. Light dampstaining to second book but overall internally nice and clean. <br/><br/>First edition of "the most important early geography written by an Englishman" Carpenter was the first to write on theoretical geography as distinuished from mathematical treatises on navigation or the repetition of narratives of travel. "The great merit of the treatise is Carpenter's blending of the solid part of the work of Aristotle and Ptolemy with that of the explorers and investigators of his own generation. He mentions the magnetical observation of Gilbert Wright Ridley and Norman and the cartographical improvements of Mercator and Wright" Rosenbach 19:110. California is mentioned as an island -- a fifth continent. "California heretofore supposed to be a parte of the Westerne Continent is since by a Spanish chart taken by the Hollanders found to be a great Iland" II:130. Printed by John Lichfield and William Turner... for Henry Cripps hardcover books