American Celestial Atlas with Hand-Colored Plates
And a Fine Stipple Engraving of the Moon
Rare early American celestial atlas, almost certainly the first American atlas with hand-colored astronomical charts. The plate of the moon is a beautiful uncolored stipple engraving by J. H. Nesmith, titled "Telescopic Appearance of the Moon" - one of the few American-printed moon maps to appear in an American atlas.
The celestial plates, which are delicately hand-colored, are based on Johann Elert Bode's Uranographia. Indeed, reference is made herein that the plates were "...faithfully reduced from those in the last edition of the magnificent Atlas of Bode, published in Germany a few years since, the extent and accuracy of which are known to every one familiar with the subject"
The text is by Jacob Green, a nearly forgotten early 19th-century American scientist from Philadelphia. His father Ashbel Green served as president of Princeton University and was Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives. Jacob Green's wide-ranging curiosity is reflected in his scientific interests and accomplishments. As a young man, he authored a treatise on electricity, an Epitome of Electricity and Galvanism (1808). He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1806, practiced law for several years, then changed careers in 1818 when he accepted an appointment at Princeton University, where he taught chemistry, experimental philosophy, and natural history. In 1822 he was made professor of chemistry at Jefferson Medical College. In addition to the present work, he wrote books on chemistry, as well as a two-volume set on trilobites, a book on the botany of the United States, and one on the diseases of the skin. Yale University awarded Dr. Green an honorary degree in 1827.
While the moon plate is by Nesmith, most plates are signed: Hamm sc. This was Phineas Eldridge Hamm, a map engraver in Philadelphia who was active up through the 1830s.
According to Stauffer (American Engravers):
The name of P. E. Hamm, “engraver,” appears in the Philadelphia directories for 1825-27, inclusive; until 1839 the same name and address are given, with “coal- dealer” as the occupation; and in 1840-45 Phineas E. Hamm was the assistant city treasurer of Philadelphia. The engraved work so signed is usually in line, though he executed a few good portraits in stipple.
The plates are as follows:
- Via Tactea. Ursa Minor. Draco.
- Ursa Major. Leo Minor.
- Lynx. Auriga.
- Perseus et Caput Medusae. Cassiopeia. Andromeda.
- Cygnus. Vultur et Lyra.
- Corona Borealis. Bootes et Mons Menalus.
- Ophiuchus et Serpens. Taurus Poniatovii.
- Delphinus. Equuleus. Pegasus.
- Pisces Borealis et Australis. Aries.
- Taurus. Orion. Gemini. Canis Minor.
- Cancer. Leo. Sextans Urania.
- Virgo. Libra.
- Scorpio. Sagittarius. Lupus. Ara.
- Capricornus. Aquarius. Piscis Notus.
- Cetus. Eridanus.
- Sceptrum Brandenbergium. Monoceros. Caput Hydrae.
- Hydra. Crater. Corvus. Centaurus.
- A View of the Principal Stars in the Northern Hemisphere [not colored]
- Telescopic Appearance of the Moon. [uncolored stipple engraving]
Interestingly, Samuel M'Cullough reissued Hamm's celestial atlas plates (in slightly modified form, uncolored) in his own Picture of the Heavens, published in 1840 at Lexington, Kentucky (however the work was printed in Cincinnati by J. B. & R. P. Donogh). Though M'Cullough acknowledged Bode as the ultimate source for the plates, he failed to credit Finley, though Hamm's name still appears.
Rarity
Quite rare in the market. Only three examples on RBH in the last forty years. Not in Rink, Technical Americana. Not in Bennett, American Nineteenth Century Colorplate Books.
Anthony Finley (1784-1836) was an American map publisher. Little is known about his life. He is presumed to have been born in Philadelphia, where he also died. A publisher, Finley was also involved in several Philadelphia civic and professional societies such as the Philadelphia Apprentices’ Library. He may have been in business as early as 1809 and his first publication dates from ca. 1811.
His first maps also date from this year, with two maps in Daniel Edward Clarke’s Travels in Various Countries of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The first atlas published by Finley appeared in 1818, the Atlas classica, or, Select maps of ancient geography, both sacred and profane, for the use of colleges and schools in the United States. He is best known for his A New General Atlas Comprising a Complete Set of Maps (1824), which was a bestseller. There were two editions in 1824, with annual editions until 1834.
Finley was part of the first generation of American publishers who produced high quality, precise maps on American soil. He was in competition with other Philadelphia publishers, for example Henry S. Tanner. Finley’s A New American Atlas Designed Principally to Illustrate the Geography of the United States of America (1826) closely mirrors Tanner’s A New American Atlas Containing Maps of the Several States of the North American Union, with similar groupings of maps; the main difference is the smaller scale of Finley’s maps. Finley printed two editions of this atlas.