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From The First American Celestial Atlas
This celestial map by Anthony Finley is a plate from the first American celestial atlas, published in 1824. The map is a detailed depiction of a section of the night sky, featuring various constellations as they were understood and illustrated in the early 19th century.
Constellations and Figures: The map prominently features several constellations, each illustrated with classical mythological figures that represent them. Notable constellations include:
- Hydra: Depicted as a long, winding serpent that traverses the map.
- Crater: Illustrated as a cup, positioned on the back of Hydra.
- Corvus: Shown as a crow perched near the Hydra.
- Centaurus: Depicted as a centaur, holding a lance and located in the lower left quadrant.
- Antlia Penomatica: Represented as an air pump, reflecting more modern constellations introduced in the 18th century.
- Argo Navis: Illustrated as a large ship, referencing the mythological ship Argo.
The map includes the celestial equator and the ecliptic, marked with dotted lines, providing a framework for locating the constellations. It also shows the positions of several prominent stars, labeled with their Bayer designations (Greek letters) and names. The grid overlaying the map indicates degrees of declination and right ascension, essential for precise astronomical observations.
Rarity
Finley's Celestial Atlas is very rare on the market.
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.
![Globi Coelestis In Tabulas Planas Redacti Pars I. . . [ Ursa Major, Camelopardius, Lynx S. Tigris, Cassiopea, Cepheus, Draco, and Ursa Minor ]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/71118.jpg)
![(Orbits of the Planets) Phaenomena in Planetis Primariis. Que facies diverfas, ex illorum phafibus, maculis et fafciis feu zonis ortas, fistunt, exhibita [The Phenomena in the Primary Planets, which present various appearances arising from their phases, spots, and bands or zones, are displayed.]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/95506.jpg)
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