BOTERO, Giovanni (c.1544–1617). Relaciones Universales del Mundo. Valladolid: Heirs of Diego Fernandez, [1599]-1603.

Rare Spanish edition of Botero’s global survey of politics and religion, complete with five large maps of the world and of the continents. Botero's work was an important reference for missionaries, diplomats, and administrators. It was originally published in Italian as Le relationi universali (1591–98), and then widely translated and reissued across Europe.
The Spanish edition is particularly rare and unusual. It was produced at a time when printed maps in Spain were still very limited due to the monarchy’s culture of secrecy surrounding geographic knowledge. These maps are notably attractive and large compared to other quarto-format maps engraved in Spain in this period. The Americas and the world map are credited to Hernando de Solis and the former is dated 1598. Palau 33656; Sabin 6809; Alden & Landis 646/20.

Quarto (292 x 203mm). Five engraved folding maps, woodcut initials and headpieces, typographic ornaments (scattered small stains, maps with some reinforcements on versos, Americas and world maps with some splitting near central fold intersection). 17th century limp vellum, remnants of ties, red sprinkled edges (vellum a little cockled and rubbed, pen trials to lower cover). Provenance: Geronimo Meto (early ownership inscription at errata and colophon recording purchase in 1700) – Pinello (ownership inscription on title) – José M. Rodriguez (ex libris dated 1938).