Catalog Archive
Auction 136, Lot 53

One of the finest celestial charts from the golden age of Dutch cartography

"Haemisphaerium Stellatum Australe Antiquum", Cellarius, Andreas

Subject: Celestial

Period: 1660 (circa)

Publication: Harmonia Macroscosmica siu Atlas Universalis et Novus…

Color: Hand Color

Size:
20.5 x 17.5 inches
52.1 x 44.5 cm
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The Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius is best known for his spectacular celestial atlas, the Harmonia Macrocosmica. His atlas contained a description of ancient and contemporary astronomy including the theories of Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Tycho Brahe. The atlas was illustrated with twenty-nine engraved plates that are among the most beautiful celestial charts ever made. The charts include illustrations of the heavens and diagrams of the orbits of the Sun, Moon, and planets according to the different cosmological theories. They were richly adorned with elaborate cartouches and baroque elements such as putti in clouds, shells, garlands, as well as portraits of famous astronomers and astronomical instruments. The Harmonia Macrocosmica was published in 1660, and reissued in 1661 by the Amsterdam publisher Johannes Jansson as a supplement to his Atlas Novus. The plates were reissued again in 1708 by the Amsterdam publishers Gerard Valk and Petrus Schenk.

This fabulous map presents the ancient Greek constellations of the southern sky in traditional classical mythological form based on those of Petrus Plancius. The chart is centered on the ecliptic pole down to about 20 degrees in the northern hemisphere and is presented on a stereographic projection. It is richly engraved in the baroque style with an elaborate cloud background filled with putti.

References: Kanas 7.1; Warner p. 54, 1B.

Condition: A+

Fine example with splendid old color and impression. There is a minor professional repair on the bottom centerfold.

Estimate: $4,000 - $5,000

Sold for: $3,000

Closed on 6/1/2011

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