Catalog Archive
Auction 106, Lot 61

"Typus Corporis Lunaris Panselini, Una cum Maculis, Faculis, Montibus…", Kircher, Athanasius

Subject: Moon

Period: 1664 (circa)

Publication: Mundus subterraneus

Color: Hand Color

Size:
13 x 14.2 inches
33 x 36.1 cm
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This marvelous engraving is an early view of the moon graphically depicting its craters based on the observations of Kircher and Christoph Scheiner in 1636 and 1650. In 1664 Kircher published his masterpiece, titled "Mundus subterraneus" (The Underground World). It 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. Putti hold aloft the banner-style title.

References:

Condition: A

Estimate: $900 - $1,100

Sold for: $650

Closed on 3/3/2004

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