Map of the Stars
- London: James Wyld, 1841
London: James Wyld, 1841. Map. Engraving with hand coloring. Sheet measures 16 1/2" x 22 3/4" .
Beautiful and very scarce, this celestial chart offers a detailed view of the night sky as it was understood in 1841. The map is split into Northern and Southern Hemispheres, meeting at the First Point of Ares along the celestial equator. Each star is drawn according to its magnitude, as the key describes. Constellations are named in Latin and connected peripherally, as was the style of the time, rather than connecting stars based on brightness to resemble the constellation's namesake. Greek and Latin letters indicate each stellar designation according to the British Catalogue. English-style coloring livens this map with pops of red and yellow. Condition is very good, wear to edges of sheet and small wormholes in bottom margin. Very light scattered foxing.
This map was published by James Wyld Jr. (1812-1887), a distinguished British mapmaker and the official Geographer to Queen Victoria. He inherited his publishing business from his father, James Wyld Sr. (1790-1836), who was a founding member of the Royal Geographical Society, known for producing maps and globes, and introduced lithography techniques to his production. He also served as the official Geographer to George IV and William IV.
Beautiful and very scarce, this celestial chart offers a detailed view of the night sky as it was understood in 1841. The map is split into Northern and Southern Hemispheres, meeting at the First Point of Ares along the celestial equator. Each star is drawn according to its magnitude, as the key describes. Constellations are named in Latin and connected peripherally, as was the style of the time, rather than connecting stars based on brightness to resemble the constellation's namesake. Greek and Latin letters indicate each stellar designation according to the British Catalogue. English-style coloring livens this map with pops of red and yellow. Condition is very good, wear to edges of sheet and small wormholes in bottom margin. Very light scattered foxing.
This map was published by James Wyld Jr. (1812-1887), a distinguished British mapmaker and the official Geographer to Queen Victoria. He inherited his publishing business from his father, James Wyld Sr. (1790-1836), who was a founding member of the Royal Geographical Society, known for producing maps and globes, and introduced lithography techniques to his production. He also served as the official Geographer to George IV and William IV.