This is a fascinating exploration of one of the most important works of medieval European scholarship, the Speculum Majus of Vincent de Beauvais. Author John Ferguson provides a detailed description of a rare copy of the first edition of the work, examining its textual and bibliographic features in close detail. From its origins in the 13th century to its impact on later generations of scholars, this book offers a wealth of insights into the history of European intellectual life. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.