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
In addition to this example the British Museum kindly sends the
information that in its collection there is a copy of Blaeu’s
terrestrial globe of the year 1606, agreeing in its dimensions with the
copy in the collection of The Hispanic Society of America, also of a
celestial globe of the same date which appears to be a unique copy.
The Hispanic Society of America also possesses a terrestrial and a
celestial globe, the work of Blaeu, globes clearly issued as companion
pieces (Fig. 94), which appear to be the only copies known, the latter
dated 1616, the former undated.[38] The spheres have each a diameter of
about 10 cm., a substantial and artistic mounting of brass, including
meridian and horizon circles, four twisted support columns, and a
circular base plate. Though small in size, probably the smallest
constructed by Blaeu, in their geographical and astronomical details
they are remarkably full.
[Illustration: Fig. 94. Terrestrial and Celestial Globes of Willem
Jansz. Blaeu, 1616.]
The terrestrial globe, in an artistic cartouch near the south pole, is
referred to as “Nova Orbis Terrarum Descriptio Auctor Guilielmo Blaeu.”
“A new description of the world by Willem Blaeu author.” Unlike that of
the year 1606, noted above, it contains no reference to the expedition
of Van Schouten and Le Maire, and records only the Strait of Magellan at
the southern extremity of South America. Continental contours, even that
of “Magallanica” and of the New World, agree in practically all details
with his earlier globes and general world maps. He has retained certain
geographical names which appear more or less conspicuously on some of
the earlier maps, as “Estotiland” north of Labrador, “Frisland” and
“Island” in the north Atlantic and “Norembega” applied to the coast of
Maine. The north Pacific is entirely too narrow and the island of
“Japan” is located not far from the west coast of North America. Bering
Strait is well represented but is unnamed. The map is not well
preserved, the chief injury to it being in the western part of North
America and in the central and eastern Pacific.
The celestial globe, which is the companion of the former, has a similar
brass mounting. It is remarkably well preserved and all inscriptions
on the surface of the ball are easily legible. It is made to revolve
about the axis of the ecliptic. The figures representing the several
constellations have been artistically engraved, and stars up to the
sixth magnitude have appropriate and distinct representation. A legend
near the south pole reads “Sphaera stellata in qua ceu speculo Stellae
fixae ex accuratis Nobilis viri D. Tychonis Brahe observationibus ad
annum 1600 accommodatae conspicuae sito ponuntur.” “The starry sphere in
which as in a mirror the fixed stars are placed by the accurate
observations of the Noble D. Tycho Brahe, accommodated to the year
1600.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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