Catalog Archive
Auction 145, Lot 53

"Planisphere Celeste Comprenant les Principales Etoiles des Constellations Visibles sur Notre Horizon", Anon.

Subject: Celestial

Period: 1820 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
17.5 x 21.2 inches
44.5 x 53.8 cm
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This attractive celestial chart depicts the constellations in the northern sky. The constellations are shown as figures according to classical mythology, including Hercules, Andromeda, Pegasus, Orion, and Sagittarius. A ring surrounding the chart lists the months of the year, and a key at bottom left identifies the brightness of each star. A French note at bottom right explains that the projection of the chart has caused an "inevitable irregularity" in which some of the constellations are shown larger than their real dimensions.

References:

Condition: B

Issued folding, now pressed, with light foxing primarily confined to blank margins. The paper is a little cockled, causing some shadows (dark areas) on the scanned image which do not appear in person - the paper is actually quite bright.

Estimate: $140 - $180

Sold for: $230

Closed on 6/12/2013

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