Folium populi. Instrumentum hoc a Petro Apiano iam rfcens [!] inventa, et in figuram folii populi rfdactum [!] [...]. In disem newen Instrument/ das die form vnnd gestalt hat eines Blats, werden durch den Sonnen scheyn/ in der gantzen welt gefunden die gemaine stunden des Tages [...].

Folio: [12] ff. (sl. toning).

Mod. quarter vellum, marbled paper covers. Very nice well-preserved copy.

Complete copy with the almost always lacking folding plate. Very rare first edition of Apianus’s description of his newly invented sundial in the form of a poplar leaf. This instrument can be used to tell the hours of the day, the times of sunrise and sunset, and the so-called "Jewish" hours dividing the time between sunrise and sunset into 12 parts. It is one of the first works to base geography on mathematics and measurement. The stunning woodcuts were executed by Hans Brosamer (ca. 1500-1554), with his monogram on the title woodcut next to the image of a woodblock cutter’s knife. The title in the present copy is in an uncorrected state, with ‘RFCENS’ and ‘RFDACTUM’ for ‘RECENS’ and ‘REDACTUM’. Apianus (1495-1552), cartographer and professor of mathematics at the University of Ingolstadt, was a pioneer in the design of astronomical and geographical instruments. He set up a printing office in his own home in order to oversee his scientific publications. Large title woodcut (representing "ancient" and "modern" science with an instrument instead of a globe), full-page woodcut coat of arms of dedicatee, woodcut diagrams (printed twice), large folding astronomical woodcut. Title and folding leaf in red and black. Printed in gothic type. Text in Latin and German.
Ref. VD-16 A-3084. - Van Ortroy 106. - Stalla 79. - Zinner 1513. - Adams A-1289. - Ind. Aurel. 106.418. - STC German (BL) 37.