Speculum Mundi: or, A Glasse Representing the Face of the World. Whereunto is added a Discourse of the Creation; together with a Consideration of such Things as are pertinent to each Dayes Work, by John Swan
Publication: London 1635, printed in Cambridge by T. Buck and R. Daniel
Collated complete
Rare first edition of Swan’s early English “mirror of the world” compendium with the desired front piece woodcut engraving still present. John Swan presents the work as a broad survey of the natural world and human life arranged according to the six days of Creation. The volume is divided into sections corresponding with the six days of the Creation, with discussions of Earth's origin, astronomy, meteorology, earthquakes, minerals, precious stones, fossils, and metals, herbs and plants (including tobacco), animal life, and medical matters.
Condition: collated complete, contemporary original 17th-century binding, leather boards heavily worn with scuffing and staining, edges and corners exposed, joints strengthened with Japanese paper, inner hinges strengthened, early ownership inscription in pen to front free endpaper, a few leaves in the table of contents with closed tears, one leaf with small puncture (no loss to text), final contents leaf with contemporary paper repair (no loss), one leaf with closed tear to outer margin (pp. 439–440), text block complete and unmarked, moderate foxing throughout, overall very good