This is a work on natural history in general, in eight books, with pictorial illustrations. The title-page describing the author, etc., is as follows: ‘Gia Sylva hor giardino cosmografico cultivato da Bartholo Sylva cittadino di Turino medico phisico et chyrugico; per quelli, che non hanno tempo di far longo studio; opera non meno utile, che molto necessaria per cognoscere il Mondo, e le co se continenti in quello; perche chi non conosce il mondo non merita star nel mondo’. Here follows a figure, drawn and coloured, of a man, probably Nebuchadnezzar in the days of his punishment, standing on thorns, and holding a serpent, which is biting his body, looking up at the sun. The picture is surrounded with a border, containing the words of Ps. cxx. 2, in Hebrew. There is also a portrait, coloured, on a copper engraving, of the author, in his 30th year. Among other illustrations is one representing Chaos, and views or maps of Temistitan, Metropolitana Chiesa della Spagna Nova; and Cusco Metropole del Peru. The work is preceded by a number of sets of complimentary verses addressed to the author, in Greek, Latin, Italian and French, by various personages of rank (Edward Dering; Elizabeth, Lady Hoby; Mildred, Lady Burghley; Anne Dering; Pietro Bizarri; Carolus Rogerius; Scipion Trotto di Alessandria; Diego Ximenz Ayllon; George Stanley; Anne, Lady Bacon; Katherine, Lady Killigrew; Pierre Penna), and is dedicated to the earl of Leicester. Begins: ‘L’omnipotente dio creò un gran corpo ...’. At the end is a table of chapters, signed Wlhiamo Haguins. The scribe’s name is given as follows: ‘A questi e ill piu eselente livro escrito di mano D. M. Pettruccho Fiorentino’.