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
A terrestrial globe dated 1622, and a celestial clearly intended as its
companion but dated 1616 and signed “Guilielmus Janssonius,” belong to
the Biblioteca Barbarini of Rome. If correctly dated it is evident that
Blaeu completed his work on this globe of large size in the same year
that he completed his work on the smallest of all his globes, to which
attention has been called above. These examples are in a fair state of
preservation, having each a base consisting of a single column supported
on the backs of two satyrs who are seated with hands upraised.
A pair of these globes of 1622 may be found in the Museo Civico of
Venice with dedication differing from those which have been previously
noted. On these globes we read, “Serenissimo Potentissimo Gustavo II
ejus nomine Suedorum Gothorum, Vandalorum Regi et Principi hereditario,
Magno Duci Finlandiae, Estmanniae, Westmanniaeque Domino Suo
Clementissimo, Suos hosce coelestem et Ordis Terrarum Globos accuratius
pleniusque quam hactenus descriptos L. M. D. C. Q. Humillimus Cliens
Guiljelmus Caesius.” “To the Most Serene and Most Powerful Gustavus II,
King and Hereditary Prince of the Swedes, Goths, and Vandals, the
Mighty Ruler of Finland, Eastmania and Westmania, his Most Clement Lord,
these his celestial and terrestrial globes more accurately and fully
depicted and edited than previously, Willem Caesius, his humble client
dedicates and consecrates.”
A copy of the 1622 celestial globe, signed “Guilielmus Caesius,” belongs
to the Stadtbibliothek of Nürnberg, and a copy of the same, dedicated to
Gustavus II of Sweden, is in the possession of Reichsgraf Hans von
Oppersdorf in Oberglogau.
Eleven additional pairs of Blaeu’s globes, reprints, and reissues, not
all agreeing in details, but alike in their main features, have been
located. These belong to the years 1622-1640, having only an occasional
record or date in legend to indicate, though indefinitely, the year of
construction. A very brief reference to these editions here follows.
A pair may be found in the Osservatorio Astronomico of Bologna, somewhat
damaged by neglect and careless handling. It seems probable, though the
records are imperfect, that these are the globes referred to in an old
catalogue of the Specola Library, and that they have been in the
observatory since its founding in the year 1724.[45]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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