Beschreibung:

CELLARIUS, Andreas (fl.1656-1702) Harmonia Macrocosmica seu atlas universalis et novus. Amsterdam: J. Jansson, 1661. One of the greatest celestial atlases ever published, finely coloured throughout by a contemporary hand, and heightened with gold. It is the only celestial atlas published in the Netherlands, and one of the highlights from the golden age of Dutch cartography. The 29 double-page maps depict the planetary systems of Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Brahe, the motions of the sun, the moon, and the planets, and delineates the constellations in the form of classical and biblical figures, animals and instruments. This 1661 edition is a variant of the first edition of 1660, identical except for the change of date on the title. Koeman IV, Cel I & 2; cf. Brown Astronomical Atlases, pp. 40-41. Folio (485 x 319mm). Letterpress title with woodcut printer's device, engraved allegorical frontispiece and 29 double-page engraved celestial charts, all coloured extremely finely by a contemporary hand and with most heightened with gold, all on guards (pl. 24 with 100mm split without loss along centrefold and extremity of bottom margin fractionally browned, pls 18 and 25 lightly creased along gutter). Publisher’s original vellum panelled in gilt, the sides centred with a large arabesque enclosing an armillary sphere, gilt corner tools, flat spine gilt in compartments, gilt edges (covers lightly soiled, silk ties lacking, very small puncture hole to spine, extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance: Frank Graham (20th-century bookplate).