Africae descriptio IX. lib. absoluta.

2 parts in 1 vol., 24mo: 800-[16] pp.

Contemp. overl. vellum with coat of arms, flat spine. Good copy.

Later latin trsl. (1st Antwerp 1556) of an early attempt to educate readers about Africa written by Leo Africanus. The book is a detailed study, based on Africanus’ travels, of the geography of Africa and describes civilizations, medicine, astronomy and literature. Ill. with engr. title. Africanus, born as Al Hassan ibn Mohammed al Wazzan al Fassi (ca. 1494-1554), grew up in a privileged family in Spain. He studied at the University of Al-Karaouine in Fes, Morocco and spent his early years travelling extensively through Africa and the Near East. He went across the Sahara Desert to Timbuktu, and he visited the native states on the Upper Niger to Cairo, Houssa, Bornou and Lake Chad. In 1517 however he was caught by Christian pirates and taken to Rome. He was there presented to Pope Leo X whose name "Leo" he adopted. The Pope persuaded him to translate his Arabic manuscript account of his travels into Italian, which was first published in 1550.
Ref. Gay 258. - Kinsey Collection. - Sabin 40047. - STCN. - Willems 371.
Prov. Supralibros. - Stamp on engr. title.