1708 Origines Mundi (History of the World), Nicolai Gurtleri (Nicolaus Gurtler). Fold-out map, and beautiful title page.

Nicolaus Gurtler's 1708 (first edition) Origines Mundi (History of the World) with a wonderful foldout-map from Europe to Japan, showing both hemispheres; Australia does appear as a mostly ghost-like continent at the bottom.

Gurtler was a reformed theologian and university professor who taught throughout Germany in the late 17th century. His Origines Mundi, is a lengthy offering, breaking down the history by subject, not chronologically. Chapter titles include (among many others): De Regione & Regno Babyloniae atque Assyrie, De Institutis Africanorum Divinis et Humanis, De Regnis Eropae in Craecia Finitimisque Insulis per hanc Epocham... etc. (just three examples of fifty-seven chapters). In two books (both included here, with continued page numbering between the two).

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 21 x 16 x 6 cm., quarto. Calf binding with blind fillet borders around boards. Spine with four raised bands; four compartments with central gilt floret surrounded by gilt decoration and triple gilt fillet, and one compartment with the author and title in gilt within fillet borders. Sprinkled edges. Woodcut frontis/title page.

Pages - 6 leaves (title pages, introductory etc.) or xii, 915 numbered pages, verso of 915 and 20 leaves of Index at rear (not numbered) or [41].

Illustrated title-page, and fold-out map. Title page in red and black.

OCLC #43057836

Condition -

See pictures. Binding well worn, but handsome with antiquity; some surface cracking, corner wear, two rubs near bottom of front board, chipping at top of spine (head-band still in place), 2" crack from top front joint, a little loss to gilt. Endpapers toned, with ghost of inserted (?). Some bookseller notes on paste-down.

Spot at gutter margin at title page, slightest chip at top right corner. Title page quire lightly shaken at bottom edge, extends a little farther out at fore-edge. Repair on second title page where ex-libris was removed, ex-libris stamp on back has bled through and appears in the middle of the printer's mark. Thumb on back of *3. Map has a little damage and creasing right at the gutter, else bright white and looks very impressive. Text block has a little toning, an occasional fox spot throughout, , occasional page wrinkle, and an occasional thumb. Good margins, not overly trimmed by binding. Candle ember spot on 519 (less than 1 cm). Chip at bottom of 687.