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| Five Planetary Deities | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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| SET OF FIVE PLANETARY "VUES D¹OPTIQUE," German for the French market, third quarter 18th century, each print trimmed to 17" x 12-1/4" (43 x 31 cm) and mounted in a mat 23" x 18-1/2" (58 x 47 cm) overall. The prints are beautifully engraved, with original hand coloring, and depict each planet as a deity overseeing his attributes, with much complicated iconography in the scenes. Along the top each is labeled in French, reading backwards for viewing correctly in a zograscope (see Tesseract Catalogue 83 Item 29 for an example of this parlor viewer). Along the bottom are labels, reading forwards so one can easily identify and select the print, in four languages (Latin, French, Italian, and German). All these labels are complete, but the engraver¹s name was lost in trimming away the plain margins for mounting. Present are: -- The Moon -- the "second planet" -- the print numbered 222 -- Mars -- "third" -- 223 - -Mercury -- "fourth" -- 224 -- Jupiter -- "fifth" -- 225 -- Saturn - "seventh" -- 227 Condition is fine, the mats showing some soiling and wear, the prints exceptional in their color and design. With all their planetary and divine symbolism, they are the most interesting vues d¹optique we have seen. These prints are the work of Georg Balthasar Probst (1732 - 1801), working in Augsburg, Germany, as artist, engraver, and publisher. He was one of an extended family of printers, productive from the late 17th to the late 18th centuries. His views would have been sold individually and displayed at home or by itinerant performers using viewing boxes. The dramatic perspective of the scenes gave an enhanced three-dimensionality when viewed through the lens. (8054) $3950./the set. |
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| Early Achromatic Telescope | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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| RAY-SKIN BOUND ACHROMATIC TELESCOPE BY PYEFINCH, English, c. 1775, signed "H· PYEFINCH, LONDON." Opening from 9-5/8" - 27-1/2" (24 - 70 cm), the telescope has main tube bound in lovely green rayskin, three drawtubes bound in green vellum, clear lacquered brass fittings including twin dust slides, greenish / greyish achromatic objective stopped down to 7/8" aperture, erecting eyetube system with lignum vitae wood lens mounts, and inked focal settings on the drawtubes. The objective cell and mount are both scratch engraved "III" and "X." Condition is very fine noting light wear and one defective spot on the rayskin. |
| The maker was Henry Pyefinch of Cornhill, London, apprenticed to Francis Watkins, made free in 1763, died 1790. Pyefinch was prosecuted in 1768 by Peter Dollond, for infringement of the achromatic lens patent. Pyefinch himself seems to have been quite an innovative instrument designer and craftsman. In 1765, for example, together with a Portuguese scientist, he patented an instrument (the "Aerostathmion") to measure the effect of the weight of the atmosphere and the thermal variations. The present telescope is a fine example of the achromatic instrument, dating from the first decades of achromatic production. (7039) $4800. |  |
| An Interesting Italian Telescope | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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A REPAIRED TELESCOPE, probably Venetian, c. second-half 18th century, unsigned but with a manuscript annotation on one drawtube "Restauré par Perchereau Louis, 25 août 1847," and with the remains of perhaps similar inscriptions on the other two drawtubes. This good telescope extends from 12-1/4" to 32-1/2" (31 - 83 cm), and has main tube bound in mottled brown vellum with fine floral stamped decoration, three drawtubes bound in white vellum, horn binding rings and lens mounts, one (of two) lens covers, singlet objective lens with 7/8" diameter clear aperture, and three-element eyetube giving erect images. There are various inked focal positions on the drawtubes. Condition is fine throughout. The telescope is of the style made in Venice by Semitecolo, Olivo, Selva, etc. (see Lualdi). We have not found records of Perchereau, but are impressed that this may be the sole surviving "record" of this restorer's work. (7049) $1950. |
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| Uncommon Globes from Chicago | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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| AN AMERICAN GLOBE PAIR, c. 1910, each 10" (25 cm) diameter globe signed "Atlas School Supply Co., Chicago, Manufacturers of Globes." The terrestrial gores are color lithographed and dense with detail, and include isothermal lines, important undersea cables, and wireless communications. The celestial gores are printed in blue, with numerous stars with their astronomical letter and number identifications, and with the traditional constellation figures finely printed in pale bronze. Each globe is mounted in a bent wire semi-meridian, which is inserted into an 11-1/2" (29 cm) tall turned wood base with applied distinctive decor of winged torches (?) and sunflowers (?), gold painted throughout. Condition is good noting some browning to the paper, a couple of small scratches, and some flaking to the gold. Possibly of Masonic provenance, an interesting American globe pair. (7029) $2200. |
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| Miniature Telescope Outfit | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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English, mid-19th century, signed "Davis, Derby." The fine little telescope opens from 3-1/2" to 15" long, with six brass drawtubes. The main tube is bound in whale baleen, with a triplet objective lens and erecting eyepiece system with dust slide. Accessories include lens cover, interchangeable high-power eyepiece with solar filter on slide, and adjustable mount for screwing to post or tree. Condition is very fine, the brass cleaned. The maker was John Davis of Derby, working 1828-1873 according to Clifton. (6020) $850. |
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| Early Astronomical / Horological Quadrant | Click on any image for a larger view. Scroll to view more items. |
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| EXCEPTIONAL GUNTER'S QUADRANT, English, second half 17th century. The substantial brass plate measures 5-5/8" (14 cm) on a side, and is set with twin shaped sight vanes, and pierced with a hole for plumb line and a probably later hole for table stand mounting. The plate is hand engraved with Edmund Gunter's full layout, as described in 1623. It is laid out for a vernal equinox of 11 March, consistent with the Julian calendar still in effect in England, and for latitude just under 51° consistent with Portsmouth, Southampton, and Hastings for example. Arranged as a quarter of an astrolabe, for a fixed latitude, the quadrant shows the sky projection between equator and tropics, crossed by the ecliptic (divided with a Zodiacal scale), horizon, azimuth lines, and hour lines. There is an edge scale of solar declination, a shadow square at the apex, a calendar scale, and a quadrantal scale for observing altitudes of sun and stars. The details follow exactly the figure published by Gunter, down to the labeling and frequency of subdivision of scales. The one exception is the maker's addition of a lovely central rose. The reverse is plain but for incised edge lines, typical of 17th century work. Condition is fine noting a little old pitting and staining. (7069) $6500. |
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