pp. [12], 915, (41) [Index] + Engraved frontis title page (drawn by Joseph Mulder and engraved by Willem de Broen) showing an enormous globe, the author and allegorical figures; Plus + Folding engraved map of the Old World (31 x 42 cm.) - "Orbis Terrarum Veteribus Cogniti Tabula" by Christoph CELLARIUS, showing not only Europe, Africa and Asia, but also Australia; and four woodcut decorated initial letters. Regular title printed in red and black with the Wetstein's engraved whetstone publisher's device. Latin text in roman types, with extensive passages in italic and Greek, and occasional Hebrew and fraktur. 4to. 205 mm. Old damp stain on the first few leaves. The early full leather binding is quite worn. ** The front pastedown bears an early autograph ownership - apparently that of Noel Antoine Pluche (1688-1761), noted French naturalist and writer. Full Title: Nicolai Gurtleri Origines Mundi & in eo Regnorum, Rerumpubl. Populorum; horumque Duces, Migrationes, Dii, Religio, Mores, Instituta, Res gesta, civiles, sacra, bellica. Referuntur omnia ad loca & tempora sua, & ex ipsis fontibus, fereque propriis Historicorum verbis ad modum Historiae Universalis, cum maxime Ecclesiasticae reprasentantur. Cum Indicibus necessariis, iisque locupletissimis. First and only edition of a detailed history of the ancient world, covering and comparing the cultures, religions, governments, (civil and ecclesiastical) legal systems, etc. of societies throughout the Old World. After a brief discussion of the pre-diluvian world, it covers the ancient Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe country by country or region by region, citing both biblical and classical sources. The Cellarius map appears to be based on the 1664 map of the same title by Johannes Strubius (Shirley 434, in the same projection and showing the same regions, but not including Australia), but its more accurate and up-to-date cartographic data appears to have been taken from one of the world maps in two hemispheres that were common from at least 1658 (Visscher's, Shirley 406). As in those maps, the coast of Australia shows a small break at 30 degrees south latitude. Cellarius (1638-1707) had produced a series of historical maps for his Notitia Orbis Antiqui, first published at Leipzig in 1701, and the present map may be based on one from that book. A detailed ancient history, with an attractive and unusually accurate folding map of the Old World. SCARCE. NCC (5 copies); OCLC WorldCat (7 copies); STCN (1 copy). **PRICE JUST REDUCED! W153
