[12], 1098, [4], 1089-1093, 1 blank, [20] pp. Illustrated with 4 engraved folding maps. (Folio) 33.4x23.4 cm (13¼x9") full contemporary leather with red morocco spine label, gilt titles to spine, five raised bands, rubricated edges; additional engraved title as frontispiece, four double-page folding maps adorned with monsters of the deep, sailing vessels, quaint animals. Second Edition.
Second edition revised by Heylyn shortly before his death and generally considered the best edition. The first edition was published in 1652, also by Seile.
With the bookplate of Sir Richard Beddingfeld and the autograph of John Bedingfeld (sic) and likely with the markings from that library’s collection. In four parts, each with its map: Italy, the Alpine provinces, France,Spain, and Britain; Belgium, Germanie, Denmark, Swethland, Muscovie, Poland, Hungarie, etc.; Lesser and Greater Asia; Africa; America (with the map showing insular California); and, as an appendix, Terra Incognita and Terra Australis (the Southern Continent). Peter Heylyn (Heylin), 1599- 1662, sought to describe ‘in meticulous detail every aspect of the known world in 1652, the geography, climate, customs, achievements, politics, and belief systems. It appears to have been the first description in print of Australia, and perhaps of California, Terra del Fuego, and other territories in the New World’ and includes descriptions of the Arctic, Antarctica and the fabled North West Passage. The text describes exploration by Martin Frobisher, Drake and other early explorers.
Condition:
Markings to spine, some wear to binding; some offsetting, toning, and foxing to pages, some tears and chips to pages, marginal notations throughout, large tears to America map; overall very good.