( ? - - 1783 )
In folio (390x277 mm). Contemporary half vellum binding. 3rd volume with worn spine, corners bumped on all four volumes. Vol. I: p. [2 titlepage] and 57 double-folio leaves, all engraved including engraved ornamental title in rococo-style (leaves numb. 1-57). - Vol. II: 72 double-folio leaves, all engraved including double-page engraved title (different from the title in vol. 1) + Table des Matieres. - Vol. III: 62 double-folio leaves, all engraved including double-page engraved title (the same as in vol. II) + Table des Matieres (numb. 71-130). Vol. IV: 78 double-folio leaves, all engraved including double-page engraved title (the same as in vol. II) + Table des Matieres (numb. 131-206). With in all 269 plates mostly handcoloured with engraved maps and astronomical plates and b/w plates with tables, text etc. All maps and illustrations having engraved text on both sides. On good thick paper. A few brownspots, some dampstains mainly marginal. First edition of this atlas, which could be called an Atlas-series, as the different part were sold separately, thus the first volume, having its own title, deals with the historical development of cosmography, geology, astronomy, oceanography, winds, streams etc. and illustrates this in a series of impressive pictures with globes, spheres, continents, world-systems etc.etc. Having many maps of the continents, globe- projections etc. - Volume 2-3 deals mainly with historical geography and mapping, having 84 handcoloured maps. Another volume was issued dealing with contemporary geography, this is not present here. A fitth volume was announced, but is unknown to the bibliographies. - Phillips No. 628.
