PICCOLOMINI, Alessandro (1508-1561). La Sfera del Mondo. Venice: Giovanni Varisco, 1566.

Crisp and attractive copy of Piccolomini's famous treatise: the first atlas of the stars, later edition. These are maps of the stars, distinct from illustrations of the constellations as are found in earlier works like those of Hyginus. The first edition of this atlas was published in 1540. "Of equal importance was Piccolomini's pioneer use of letters to identify the stars - a practice adopted with some modification by Bayer and, through him, by all modern astronomers" (Warner).

The book was issued with Piccolomini's tables and his treatise on the universe, and together they formed an enduringly popular account of the heavens. Piccolomini wrote in the vernacular as he was especially concerned to spread scientific knowledge beyond the universities. At least ten early Italian editions were published, as well as French and Latin editions. The star charts are numbered up to 48, but in fact there are only 47; there was no figure 24, and this error was repeated throughout the editions (and on the title-pages), which used the same woodblocks. Not in Adams; Norman 1696 (1559 edition); see Warner, The Sky Explored, p.200.
Two parts in one volume, quarto (214 x 151mm). Mermaid device on title, woodcut diagrams and illustrations in text, 47 full-page woodcuts of constellations (occasional light dampstains, minute worming to lower margin of a few gatherings). Contemporary limp vellum, fore-edge title. Provenance: "F? A. de Gianfilippi (stamp).