Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume 2: Their History and Construction Including a Consideration of their Value as Aids in the Study of Geography and AstronomyStevenson, Edward Luther
History
Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume 2: Their History and Construction Including a Consideration of their Value as Aids in the Study of Geography and Astronomy
Stevenson, Edward Luther
Geography -- History; Globes
have called Hollandia Nova, another Zelandia Nova, another Anthoni van
Diemans Land; and divers others; some whereof lie near our Antipodes; as
you may see by my terrestrial Globes. Again, Far to the Northwards there
are some New Discoveries, even within six degrees of the Pole: The
Drafts to the North Eastwards I have laid down even as they were
described by the Searchers of those parts for a passage into the East
Indies. And also the Discoveries of Baffin, Captain James, and Capt. Fox
(our own Country-men) that attempted the finding a passage that way into
the South Sea.
“I also told you what difference there is in several Authors about
placing the first Meridian, which is the beginning of Longitude; that
Ptolemy placed it at the Fortunate Islands, which Mr. Hues pag. 4. chap.
1. in his Treatise of Globes proves to be the Islands of Cabo Verde, and
not those now called the Canary Islands; because in his Time they were
the farthest place of the Discovered World towards the setting of the
Sun; Others placed it at Pico in Teneriffa; Others at Corvus and Flora;
because under that Meridian the Compass had no Variation, but did then
duly respect the North and South; Others for the same Reason begin their
Longitude at St. Michaels; and Others between the Islands of Flores and
Fayal: And the Spaniards of late by reason of their great Negotiation in
the West Indies, have begun their Longitude at Toledo there, and
contrary to all others account it Westwards.
“Therefore I, seeing such diversity among all Nations, and as yet an
Uniformity at home, chose with our own Country-men to place my First
Meridian at the Ile Gratiosa, one of the Iles of Azores.
“By the different placing of this first Meridian it comes to pass that
the Longitude of Places are diversely set down in different Tables; For
those Globes or Maps that have their first Meridian placed to the
Eastwards of Gratiosa, have all places counted Eastwards from the
Meridian of Gratiosa, and their first Meridian in a greater number of
degrees of Longitude, and that according as the Arch of Difference is.”
At the conclusion of this work we find printed a catalogue of his books,
maps, and instruments, including globes celestial and terrestrial of all
sizes, and, what is of considerable interest and value, the price of
each given.[114]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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