Mela's Cosmographia - photo 1
Mela's Cosmographia - photo 2

Mela's Cosmographia

Lot 77
05.02.2026 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1540325
Lot 77 | Mela's Cosmographia
Estimate value
$ 8 000 – 12 000
MELA, Pomponious (fl. 43-50). Cosmographia siue de situ orbis. Venice: Franciscus Renner de Heilbronn, 1478.

The fourth edition of the earliest extant geography in Latin and the only Roman work devoted solely to the subject; the Broxbourne Library copy. Mela elaborated his description of the world with details—many fantastic—of the habits and customs of nations around the world. His knowledge of the positions of Britain, Ireland, and the coasts of Gaul and north Germany were superior to Strabo, and he was the first to mention the Orkney Islands (cf. E.H. Bunbury, A History of Ancient Geography, III, 1). This edition is "a very close reprint, in great part letter-for-letter, of Maler and Ratdolt’s edition of 1478" (BMC). HC 11017*; GW M34879; Klebs 675.4; Bod-inc M-178; Sheppard 3350, 3351; Pr 4174; BMC V 195; ISTC im00450000; BSB-Ink P-686; Goff M-450.

Quarto (205 x 140mm). 48 leaves. Woodcut white-on-black initials, headings printed in red on first page, c1v, and e2v (first leaf with repairs at gutter and corner, last leaf repaired at upper corner, occasional minor soiling). Modern brown morocco, gilt spine (some wear along joints). Provenance: Albert Ehrman, 1890-1969 (armorial bookplate) – John Patrick William Ehrman, 1920-2011 (presentation bookplate from his parents, "Bibliotheca Broxbourniana J.P.W.E. / 17 March 1949 / Ex Dono A[lbert] & R[ina] E[hrman]) – George Abrams (bookplate).
Place of origin:Italy
Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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22.01.2026 – 05.02.2026
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