Third edition of one of the first scientific works of the greatest French mathematician of the 16th century, François Viète (1540-1603). Viète graduated in 1560 from the University of Poitiers with a law degree. "In 1564, Viète accepted a position in the household of the prominent family of Jean de Parthenay and his wife, Antoinette d'Aubeterre. In fulfilment of his responsibilities as tutor for their daughter Catherine, he wrote a collection of essays on various scientific subjects." (Bradley). The present compilation of three of these works first appeared posthumously in 1637, based on Viètes manuscript, under the title Principes de cosmographie ..., the three essays forming the three divisions of the book, on the geocentric universe, geography, and astronomy..
It includes a section covering the geography of the Arabian peninsula (pp. 96-97), naming: Bahrain, Mecca, Aden, Ormuz etc.
With owners' inscriptions (one dated 1657) and library stamps. Browned and with mostly marginal, water stains throughout. A reasonable copy. Binding still good. Cf. DSB XIV, pp. 18-25; M.J. Bradley, Pioneers in Mathematics: the age of genius, p. 16.