GÓIS, Damião de (1502–74). Urbis olisiponis descriptio. Evora: André de Burgos, 1554.

First edition of this description of Lisbon by famed Portuguese Renaissance polymath Damião de Góis. Acquaintance of Erasmus’ and Martin Luther’s, Góis enjoyed a career at the court of Manuel I and then John III before enrolling at Leuven where became close with many Protestant luminaries. He wrote the present description of Lisbon after his return to Portugal and amidst his persecution by the Inquisition. Góis includes Brazil as one of Portugal’s many dominions (“[…] quae ex nostris universae Indiae, Persiae, Arabiae, Aethiopiae, Brasiliae, Africaeque ditionibus […]”). Adams G 821; Anselmo 384.

Quarto (153 × 102mm). Title within an aedicular woodcut border featuring the arms of Portugal (repairs in first two leaves, trimmed, light toning). Green crushed morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, spine lettered in gold, edges gilt (hinges rubbed). Provenance: José Mindlin, 1914–2010 (bookplate).