In the 18th century cartographers liked to include engravings of spheres and globes in their general atlases, as astronomy and the knowledge of the planets had become fashionable and a major part of the new-found discoveries in the "Age of Enlightenment." This fine engraving shows at left a terrestrial globe centered on the eastern hemisphere, featuring the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. At right is a celestial globe featuring the constellations of Ursa Major, Perseus, Gemini, Scorpio, Taurus, Virgo and others. The globes are on ornate rococo-style bases, and the engraving is surrounded by a lovely picture-frame style border.
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Condition: A
Watermarked paper with marginal soiling. Narrow margin at top, as issued.