Mela (pomponius) - Pomponii Melae De Orbis Situ Libre Tres, Accuratissime Emendati. Basel, 1522

MELA (Pomponius) - Pomponii Melae de orbis situ libri tres, accuratissime emendati, un à cu Commetariis Ioachimi Vadiani Heluetii castigatioribus, & multis in locis auctioribus factis: id quod ca[n]didus lector obiter, & in transcursu facile deprehendet. Adiecta sunt præterea loca aliquot ex Vadiani commentarijs summatim reperita, & obiter explicata: in quibus æstimandis censendisq[ue] doctissimo uiro Ioanni Camerti ordinis Minorum Theologo, cum Ioachimo Vadiano non admodum conuenit. Rursum, Epistola Vadiani, ab eo penè adulescente ad Rudolphum Agricolam iuniorem scripta, non indigna lectu, nec inutili ea capienda, quæ aliubi in Commentarijs suis libare magis, quam lingius explicare uoluit. Basle, Chez Andréas Cratander, 1522; folio, period full calfskin binding, modern spine with 4 raised bands (French restoration), stamped covers. Unfortunately incomplete from the map drawn up by Petrus Apianus. Original edition. The De Situ Orbis, written by Mela, originally from Roman Spain, around the year 43, constitutes the only geographical treatise from classical Antiquity that has come down to us. The rediscovery and publication of this work, Pliny's essential source, were key factors in the Renaissance revival of geographical studies and contributed greatly to awakening interest in world exploration. The Basel edition of 1522 provides us with the first in-depth study of Mela's geography, the Vadianus commentary. This commentary takes a critical look at the classical work, correcting the ancient author's errors with updated knowledge and arguing for new research and study. In particular, he chooses to use the term "America" to refer to recent discoveries, which he considers proof of Mela's error in his description of the world's habitable zones. This work was printed and published without a map, although several separately printed maps are included in some copies.