Scarce Pair of Celestial Charts Depicting Habrecht's "Rhombus"

"[Lot of 2] Figura I. Latus B [and] Figura II. Latus A",

These fascinating star charts, engraved on unique octagonal copper plates, are based on the work of Isaac Habrecht II. Based in Strasbourg, Germany, the Habrecht family were famous throughout Europe for their clocks and instruments. Isaac Habrecht II, who became an astronomer and professor, used his skills to create celestial globes and several celestial planispheres. He derived the majority of the information on his globes from Plancius, and also invented the constellation "Rhombus," which is depicted near the center of the southern hemisphere, just below Argo Navis. The constellation Rhombus was renamed by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1763 as Reticulum, although it has been argued that Reticulum did not contain the same four stars as Rhombus. Habrecht II published his work in Planiglobium Coeleste, et Terrestre, sive, Globus Coelestis in 1628. Habrecht II's student, J.C. Sturm, expanded Habrecht's text and added several folding plates, publishing the work in 1666 as Planiglobium Coeleste ac Terestre.

References: Warner, pp. 104-5.

Condition: A

Dark impressions on watermarked paper, issued folding and now flattened with archival repairs to several short fold separations. There is one small rust spot on the northern hemisphere. Binding trims have been professionally replaced with old paper.