"Poli Arctici Constitutio [on sheet with] Poli Antarctici Constitutio", Kircher, Athanasius

Interesting copper engraving showing the two poles. Several landmasses are shown surrounding the North Pole, however the South Pole is completely devoid of any land. This is from Kircher's masterpiece, Mundus Subterraneus (Subterranean World), an immense and amazing work covering all aspects of anything that dwelled or occurred within the earth's interior - from dragons, to fossils, to mountain springs, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Kircher's work was the first serious effort to describe the physical makeup of the earth, proposing theories (sometimes fantastic) in the areas of physics, geography, geology, and chemistry. He suggested the existence of a vast network of underground springs and reservoirs, as well as the theory that subterranean temperatures increase directly in proportion to depth.

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Condition: A

A nice impression with minor show-through of text on verso and faint damp stains along the edges of the sheet.