Cosmography, in Four Books. Containing the Chorography and History of the Whole World, and all the Principal Kingdoms, Provinces, Seas, and Isles thereof...,

London: Henry Seile, 1652, Folio, Contemporary Panelled Calf, old reback, an attractive crisp copy. with Engraved Allegorical and Printed Titles, Four Folding Engraved Maps of the Continents: America; Asia; Africa and Europe, maps are trimmed close to the borders as usual.

FIRST EDITION of Heylyn’s”Cosmographie”, an attempt to describe in meticulous detail every aspect of the known world in 1652. The geography, climate, customs, achievements, politics, and belief systems. It is the first work to describe in print Australia, and California, Terra del Fuego, and other territories in the New World and includes descriptions of the Arctic, Antarctica and the fabled North West Passage. The text describes exploration by Martin Frobisher, Drake and other early explorers.

He objected to the name “America” as it placed undue glory on Amerigo Vespucci, and recommended “Columbana” or “Cabotia” as more indicative of the true discoverers, Columbus and Cabot.

Peter Heylyn (1599 –1662) was an English ecclesiastic and author of many polemical, historical, political and theological tracts. He incorporated his political concepts into his geographical books, Microcosmus in 1621 and the most important, Cosmographie (1657).

Heylyn was born in Burford, Oxfordshire, the son of Henry Heylyn and Elizabeth Clampard. He entered Merchant Taylor’s School in March 1612. At 14 he was sent to Hart Hall, Oxford and, matriculated from Magdalen College, Oxford on 19 January 1616, aged 15. He was awarded BA on 17 October 1617 and was elected a fellow in 1618.He lectured on historical geography at Magdalen.Heylyn was awarded MA on 1 July 1620. He presented his lecture to Prince Charles, at Theobalds. He was incorporated at Cambridge University in 1621 and his lectures were published as Microcosmos: A Little Description of the Great World.

In 1633 he was licenced to preach and was awarded D.D. on 13 April,1633. He became a chaplain to Charles I and 1639 he became rector South Warnborough, Hampshire. He suffered for his loyalty to the king when, under the Commonwealth, he was deprived of his preferments. He subsequently settled at Abingdon, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire) and at the Restoration, he was made sub-Dean of Westminster, but poor health prevented further advancement.He married Letitia Highgate and had a large family. His monument is in Westminster Abbey.

He was a prolific writer, and a keen and acrimonious controversialist against the Puritans. Among his works are a History of the Reformation, and a Life of Archbishop William Laud (Cyprianus Anglicanus) (1668). His Greek titles included Κειμηλιαέκκληδιαδτικα (Historical and miscellaneous tracts a 1662 (1681) and Ἡρωολογια Anglorum; or, a help to English history 1641.

Provenance: Viscount Gage