Geographical and astronomical chart showing four views of equatorial, ecliptic, tropical, and polar circles among the lines of longitude and latitude.  Two small charts demonstrate solar positions with respect to the earth and the refraction of light.  The corners are decorated with four types of globes and armillary spheres, on Baroque stands, on fabric draped or fabric covered ledges:  Ptolemaic armillary sphere, Copernican armillary sphere, celestial globe, terrestrial globe. According to scholar Robert Harry van Gent, this chart was originally engraved between 1716 and 1724.  This example is presumed from Atlas Coelestis in quo Mundus Spectabilis, Nuremberg: 1742, or its revised edition, 1748, for which van Gent lists it as Plate 1.  This example has a manuscript Plate Number 10. 

Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr and Johann Baptist Homann were frequent collaborators in producing celestial and astronomical charts for atlases published by Homann and issued under various titles.   The major two compilations of Dopplemayr’s works were published by Homann Heirs: Atlas Coelestis in quo Mundus Spectabilis et in Eodem Stellarum Omnium Phoenomena Notabilia, issued as 30 plates in 1742, and the revised edition of this work Atlas Novus Coelestis, in quo Mundus Spectabilis, et in Eodem tam Errantium quam Inerrantium Stellarum Phoenomena Notabilia, issued in 1748 (with an additional plate depicting the solar eclipse of 1748).   

Nonetheless, these charts have a complicated publishing history that is not fully known at present.  Some of these charts had appeared in earlier Homann editions such as his first atlas, the Neuer Atlas (Nuremberg: 1707), Atlas von Hundert Charten (Nuremberg: 1712), Grossen Atlas (Nuremberg: 1716), and Atlas Portatilis Coelestis (Nuremberg: 1723).   Homann also issued geographical maps in various atlases which may have included celestial plates (particularly composite atlases), and Homann and his heirs presumably sold separately issued maps.  Further, three additional celestial and astronomy plates have been located in at least one Homann celestial compilation atlas (1742, 1748, or later?), though not among the 30 maps of the standard issue of Atlas Coelestis in quo Mundus Spectabilis, namely Sphaerarum Artificialium Typica Repraesentatio (globes and armillary sphere), Neu invertirte Geographische Universal (clock), and Planisphærium Cæleste (double hemisphere celestial chart). 

Doppelmayr, a professor of mathematics at the Aegidien Gymnasium at Nuremberg, was an acclaimed German geographer and astronomer who wrote on astronomy, geography, cartography, trigonometry, sundials and mathematical instruments.  He was also involved in the production of globes as part of a larger goal to bring the scientific ideas of the Enlightenment to a broader public.  In service of that idea, Doppelmayr translated several works into German including Nicholas Bion’s 1699 work L’usage des globes célestes et terrestes, et des sphères [The Usage of Celestial and Terrestrial Globes and of Spheres].  Doppelmayr was elected to several scientific societies, including the Berlin Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society and the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. 

Johann Baptist Homann, a former Dominican monk, became a celebrated cartographer of 18th century Nuremburg, Germany, producing maps and celestial charts (generally in atlases), and globes of high quality both in their geographic accuracy and aesthetic appeal.  According to map expert R.V. Tooley: "The most important and prolific map-makers in Germany in the 18th century were the Homann family (1702-1813). The founder and principal member was Johann Baptist Homann. He set up his headquarters in Nuremberg and quickly dominated the German market. Nor did he confine his efforts to his homeland, but produced general atlases covering the whole world."  

After settling in Nuremburg in 1688, Johann Baptist Homann was employed as a map engraver before founding his own firm in 1702.  Homann’s geographical, celestial, and astronomical maps were published in a variety of states throughout the 18th century, which are generally difficult to distinguish from one another.   Most of his geographical maps first appeared in Atlas Novus [New Atlas] (1714) and his celestial maps, produced in collaboration with Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr, were issued as part of various publications before being published as a collection posthumously by his heirs, most notably as Atlas Coelestis in quo Mundus Spectabilis et in Eodem Stellarum Omnium Phoenomena Notabilia, issued as 30 plates in 1742. 

Homann’s geographical maps were frequently republished by the Homann heirs throughout the 18th century, most notably in Atlas Geographicus Maior (c. 1780) and Atlas Homannianus, (Amsterdam, 1731-1796).  Homann was initially succeeded by his son, Johann Christoph Homann (1703-1730), then by his friend Johann Michael Franz (1700-1761) and stepsister’s husband Johann Georg Ebersberger (1695-1760).  The company continued operations under different names until 1848.   

Condition:  Generally very good with the usual light overall toning, wear, soft creases.  Center fold as issued, now flattened.   Original color enhanced with later color.   

References: 

Dekker, Elly, et al. Globes at Greenwich: A Catalogue of the Globes and Armillary Spheres in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. London: Oxford University Press and the National Maritime Museum, 1999.  p. 327. 

Tooley, R.V., Maps and Map-Makers.  New York: Bonanza Books, 1949.  p. 27. 

van Gent, Robert Harry.  “The Atlas Coelestis (1742) of Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr.”  23 April 2003.  http://www.phys.uu.nl/~vgent/doppelmayr/doppelmayr.htm (15 September 2004).