Pomponius Mela. Iulius Solinus. Itinerarium Antonini Aug. Vibius Sequester. P. Victor de regionibus urbis Romae. Dionysius Afer de situ orbi, Prisciano Interpret

Colophon on G2r: [Venice: In Aedibus Aldi, Et Andreae Soceri, October 1518]., 1518. 8vo. ff. 233, [3]. complete with the 2 blanks, B8 & G3. Aldine woodcut device on title & verso of last leaf. 19th century paneled calf. armorial bookplate of Henry Richard Vassall Fox, Third Baron Holland [1773-1840]. First Aldine Edition of this collection of ancient geographical texts. Mela’s was "the first extant geographical work in Latin and the only Roman treatise of the classical period devoted exclusively to that subject." (DSB) His descriptive survey of the habitable world (Europe, Africa, and Asia) includes remarks on manners and customs, details on spectacular phenomena, and speculation on the causes of tides. "Despite his general inferiority as a geographer, Pomponius knew more than Strabo about the positions of Britain, Ireland, and the coasts of Gaul and north Germany; he was also the first to mention the Orkney Islands. Pomponius exerted a considerable influence on early medieval authors, both on his own account, and because Pliny used and cited his work." (Ibid.) Solinus’s description of the classical world was based on Pliny’s Natural History and Mela’s geography. The Itinerarium compiled by Antoninus provides a brief survey of the whole of the Roman Empire. Vibius Sequester lists the names of the principal rivers, mountains, etc. known to the Romans. Victor’s work on the topography of ancient Rome, which appears here for the first time, is an important source for the identification of Roman ruins. The last text is Dionysius Afer’s treatise on cosmography. Renouard I 198.9. Adams M1053. BM STC Italian p. 432. JCB I p. 71.. 1st Edition.