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
There is a third armillary sphere belonging to the Settàla collection,
which is of silver and which probably was constructed near the middle of
the seventeenth century, although it is neither signed nor dated. It is
40 cm. in height, having a circle representing the ecliptic 15 cm. in
diameter, which is graduated, having on its upper surface engraved
figures representing the twelve zodiacal constellations. The meridian
circle has a diameter of 16 cm., the horizon a diameter of 16 cm. and a
breadth of 3 cm., on the upper surface of which have been engraved the
names of the months, and the signs of the zodiac. In addition to the
parts mentioned it has two small polar circles, and at the common center
a small silver ball 1 cm. in diameter representing the earth.
Attention has been previously called to the transfer of the business of
Jodocus Hondius into the hands of the son-in-law, Johan Janssonius, and
of Abraham Goos, by whom it was carried on after the year 1640. This
firm continued to issue the Hondius globes, modifying them from issue to
issue with the addition of some of the latest geographical information
obtainable. In the year 1648, with Johan Janssonius as editor and
Abraham Goos as author and engraver, there was issued a pair of these
revised Hondius globes, each having a diameter of 87 cm. On the
terrestrial globe we read “Amstelodami Edebat Joannes Jansonius
Sculpebat magnoque studio componebat Abrahamus Goos Amstelodamensis.”
“Amsterdam. Edited by Johan Jansonius. Composed with much study and
engraved by Abraham Goos a native of Amsterdam.” Further details
concerning this globe have not been obtainable, but it is very certain,
although differing in size, it contains practically all the features
common to the earlier editions of the Hondius terrestrial globes, and
especially of the later ones.
The celestial globes have the following inscription: “Sphaera nova summo
studio summaque diligentia atque industria Clarissimi viri D. Adriani
Metii Watheseos apud Frunequeranos Professoris Ordinarii ad abacos
Nobilissimi viri Thiconis Brahe configurata observationibus quamplurimis
tum circa polum arcticum a discipulo suo Houtmanno adhibitis aucta et in
annum 1620 reducta. Edente Joanne Jansonio 1648.” “A new globe
constructed with the greatest industry, zeal and diligence accommodated
to the tables of the most noble Tycho Brahe, enlarged by very many
observations, those around the Arctic pole being made by myself, and
those around the Antarctic by his disciple Houtmann. All, accommodated
to the year 1630. Constructed by Johan Jansonius, 1648.” A pair of these
globes may be found in the library of the Marquis Borromeo of Milan.
NOTES
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account