September 2020 Auction Ends Thursday, September 24th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/24/2020
Scarce 1685 first edition of ''A New Systeme of Geography'' by John Seller, hydrographer to the King, one of the first and most accurate world atlases produced by the United Kingdom, just as the English were eclipsing the Dutch as the preeminent colonial superpower. London: Sold at his shop on the West-side of the Royal Exchange, 1685. John Seller produced these atlases by custom-order, with clients able to choose which maps they wanted in their book. As a result, virtually no book contains all the maps and text that were available, with the maximum being 110 pages (numbered 1-30 and 33-112) of text, and 51 maps in the first edition. This edition contains pages 1-80 of the engraved letterpress text, and 30 of the hand-colored double-page engraved maps. It also includes the fully intact page of the volvelle (or wheel chart) giving the ''hour of the Day (at all times) in any part of ye World'', 28 (of 29) pages of information to complement the maps, the title page, and lastly the pictorial title page which has been cut to the plate edge and laid down. Book measures 3.75'' x 5.75'', bound in contemporary rebacked mottled calf with ribbed spine. Interestingly, notations on the front pastedown includes the cost of ''30 Mapps'', plus binding for the book, etc. The interior pages are well-preserved with no tears or writing within. A handsome and important world atlas, with less than 10 copies of the first edition still extant.
''A New Systeme of Geography'' First Edition From 1685 by John Seller, the Hydrographer to the King -- Very Rare as a First Edition With Few Copies Still Extant
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