STRABO (63 B.C.-19 A.D.)

En tibi lector studiose Strabonis geographicorum co[m]me[n]tarios, olim a ...

STRABO (63 B.C.-19 A.D.)

En tibi lector studiose Strabonis geographicorum co[m]me[n]tarios, olim a Guarino Veronese, & Gregorio Trifernate latinitate donatus, iam vero denuo a Conrado Heresbachio ad fidem graeci exemplaris [...] recognitos. Basileae, (Valentinus Curio), (March) 1523.

§ Folio (330 X 210). [(36), 566, (2) pp]. With woodcut title border by J. Faber after Hans Holbein the Younger, two additional borders with floral motifs, fascinating large-size woodcut inizial letters, roman type, a couple of pages duststained but perfectly readable, a fine and crisp copy, bound in a fascinating contemporary blindstamped dark calf on wooden boards with five raised bands
The amazing title border shows King Solomon among the philosophers and poets of Greco-Roman antiquity; at the bottom, the Nine Muses lay a wreath on the head of Homer. The second leaf and page 1 are decorated by two complex architectural borders inlaid with plant compositions and animated by human faces and figures; numerous large initials (50x50 mm.) with scenes of games, cherubs, friezes with columns, grotesque figures and fantastic animals.
One of the most renowned edition printed in XVIth century of the largest and most valuable treatise on geography of Greek antiquity, divided into 17 books. Strabo's intentions were to compose a work which, leaving aside the more scientific aspects, described the present state of the inhabited earth, so that it would be of use above all to politicians. The first two books are a sort of general introduction; books III-X deal with Europe; X-XVI with Asia; XVII with Egypt and North Africa. It can be considered the first treatise on political and ethnic geography, with mythological and historical digressions..