SEBASTIAN MÜNSTER (1489-1552) La Cosmographie Universelle Basel: Heinrich Petri, 1556.

33.2 x 22 x 10 cm. Over 1400 pages. A significant French edition of Münster’s Cosmographia Universalis, one of the most influential geographical and cartographical works of the 16th century. This encyclopedic survey of the known world was widely translated and published in multiple editions, each varying in content, with some texts expanded and others altered or omitted. Richly illustrated with numerous maps, including several double-page and in-text views. Contemporary full brown calf, spine with raised bands and gilt decoration. Wear consistent with age, including rubbed corners, scratches, and losses to the spine and boards. Some restorations, staining, and foxing throughout, with handwritten annotations. Upper corner of one leaf (following p.1693) restored with white paper, affecting text. Final section lacks folding maps except for the first leaf. Pagination errors and missing pages present. A foundational work in Renaissance cartography, blending history, astronomy, and ethnography, reflecting Münster’s role as a humanist scholar, mathematician, and professor of Hebrew. Sebastian Münster Humanist scholar, chronicler and cartographer from southern Germany. A versatile scholar: cartographer, historian, astronomer, mathematician and teacher of Hebrew. The Universal Cosmography (Cosmographiae Universalis) was a huge success and was published in numerous editions, including versions in various languages (Latin, French, Italian, English, and Czech). All these editions vary greatly in terms of content. Some texts have been expanded, while others have had plates removed.