COLLECTION NAME:
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Record
Author:
Flamsteed, John
Date:
1753
Short Title:
15. Cassiopea Cepheus Ursa Minor Draco Atlas Coelestis
Publisher:
John Crosthwait
Publisher Location:
London
Type:
Celestial Map
Obj Height cm:
54
Obj Width cm:
63
Subject:
Celestial
Full Title:
15. Cassiopea Cepheus Ursa Minor Draco Atlas Coelestis
List No:
16160.025
Series No:
25
Publication Author:
Flamsteed, John
Pub Date:
1753
Pub Title:
Atlas Coelestis
Pub Reference:
Shirley C.FLAM-1a; Warner pp 80-82
Pub Note:
"This is the most celebrated, important, and influential star atlas of the eighteenth century, superior to all its predecessors. This is the first star atlas based upon telescopic determinations of star positions and magnitudes. ‘Appointed in 1675 to the newly created post of Astronomer Royal, Flamsteed took up residence at Greenwich and there compiled the first telescopic catalogue of the positions and magnitudes of the northern stars. The resultant “StellarumInerrantium Catalogus Britannicus”, still unfinished at his death, along with his other observations, was edited and published in 1725... in the Historia CoelestisBritannicae. Accompanying the catalogue Flamsteed prepared a set of celestial maps that, in his own words, were to be “the glory of the work, and, next the catalogue, the usefullest part of it”. These also were published posthumously by his loyal friends’ (Warner, The sky explored). As early as 1692 Flamsteed had developed his own system of projection, known as the Sanson-Flamsteed sinusoidal projection, and had plotted the stars of ten constellations. The charts were prepared under his direction by Thomas Weston (who appears in the list of subscribers). Flamsteed argued with Newton over the order of publication of his star catalogue, observations, and the star maps. ‘Flamsteed, a great observer who understood the usefulness of the maps, “chiefly urged that the maps of the constellations should be first of all set upon: that, being carried on apart, they might be finished by the time the observations were printed off”. Newton, however, primarily interested in star positions for calculations, omitted all mention of the charts in his publication proposals and reports. In 1705 Flamsteedwas writing that “Sir I. Newton would have the great catalogue printed without the maps. I cannot consent to so sneaking a proposition”. Newton’s will prevailed. The Historia Coelestis of 1712 contained neither the observations nor the charts, but only the star catalogue, as amended by Halley. Although Flamsteed was able to destroy almost all copies of the spurious volume in 1714, a few copies remained at large’ (Ibid). In 1715 Flamsteed began preparing the maps for publication. Abraham Sharp drew the coordinates and positioned the stars. Sir James Thornhill and other artists drew the figures, based upon Weston’s work, and various engravers transferred them to copper. Flamsteed himself died in 1719, and it took another ten years for the work to be published. About 110 copies were subscribed for, including one by Isaac Newton. Thornhill’s elegant Rococo figures are described by Warner as constituting the last important celestial atlas style. The fine portrait is engraved by Vertue after Gibson. The title vignette and headpiece are by L.B. Catenaro, engraved by L. du Guernier. A few of the plates are signed by the engraver J. Mynde. Evidently undistributed stock remained; the work was reissued in 1753, and again in 1781. " (Bruce Marshall, 2024)
Pub List No:
16160.000
Pub Type:
Celestial Atlas
Pub Maps:
28
Pub Height cm:
54
Pub Width cm:
38
Image No:
16160025.jp2
Authors:
Flamsteed, John
