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Celestial Maps and Quotes From Early Poets

Rare early 19th Century mapping of the stars, with quotes from Manilius and von Haller.

This large map of the stars reflects the early 19th-century fascination with the heavens. This period marked a significant era in astronomy, with the discipline emerging more prominently as a field of precise scientific inquiry following the Enlightenment.

The upper portion of the map displays a double hemisphere depicting the constellations in a schematic fashion, rendered with a meticulousness that reflects the period’s commitment to combining artistic endeavor with scientific accuracy, with stars indicated by size (1 to 4).

Beneath the hemispheres, the map illustrates the movement of the stars through the sky from October to November. This feature would have been particularly useful for observers seeking to comprehend the changing positions of stars with the progression of the seasons, reflecting the increased public engagement with astronomical observations.

Accompanying the map are two quotations. The first is from the Roman poet Manilius, reflecting the age-old contemplation of the skies: “Juvat ire per altum aera, et immenso spatiantem vivere caelo, Signaque et adversos stellarum noscere cursus,” which translates to “It pleases us to travel through the high air, and to live wandering in the immense sky, and to know the signs and the opposing courses of the stars.” This quote encapsulates the human desire to understand the vast and complex motions of the heavens.

The second quote is from the Swiss poet, Albrecht von Haller, and translates to “The stars are perhaps a cluster of improved spirits, as here the chaff reigns, there the virtue masters.” This reflects the Romantic era’s inclination to imbue the natural world with spiritual and moral significance. 

Rarity

The map is very rare.

OCLC locates a single example in American institutions (Harvard) and several in German Libraries.