"[Lot of 2] Atlas Coelestis; seu Harmonia Macrocosmica [and] Harmonia Macrocosmica seu Atlas Universalis et Novus…", Valck and Schenk

This set includes the frontispiece, title page, and index of maps for Valck and Schenk's edition of Andreas Cellarius' Harmonia Macrocosmica or Atlas Coelestis, first published in 1660 by Joannes Jansson.

A. [Frontispiece]. The same frontispiece, designed by Frederik Hendrik van den Hoven, was used for all three editions of Atlas Coelestis. It features a group of astronomers and their instruments huddled around Urania, the muse of Astronomy. The astronomers are believed to be Tycho Brahe and Nicholaus Copernicus (both seated in front) and Claudius Ptolemaeus, Arabian al-Battani, Alphonso V of Portugal, and Philip Lansberg (all standing in the back). In the skies above are four putti, two of whom hold a disc, with the other two holding sighting cross-staffs. Condition: Lovely original color with some minor bleeding in image and soiling in blank margins. Three short tears have been professionally repaired, two of which are in blank margins and one of which enters map image 1/4" on right-hand side. Backed with light gauze-like material, evidently from a previous binder.

B. [Title Page and Index]. The title page is printed in black and red and is still attached to the index page, which lists 29 maps in the atlas. Condition: The title page has a large stain in center and light soiling on edges. The index page has very minor soiling on corners and along centerfold, else near fine. Backed with light gauze-like material, evidently from a previous binder.

References: Shirley (TP), #51.

Condition:

See description.