An Imposing Astronomical Map of the Universe
Decorative astronomical map of the Universe, prepared by Etienne Laporte.
The map is surrounded with 25 black and white astronomical vignettes, with explanatory text below the map, entitled "Basic Principles of Astronomy".
Includes a striking depiction of the solar system with star map and comets, printed in blue, black and white in the upper half of the chart.
In the lower part of the image, the descriptive text, printed in eight columns, describes each of the planets, along with a section describing comets.
The outer decorative panels include 16 illustrations describing natural phenomenon, including icebergs at the poles, the Cotopaxi Volcano, eclipses, a cross section of the earth, orbits of the comets, the phases of the moon, and faces of the moon and Jupiter, a large telescope, and the Aurore Borealis.
The map was issued with minor variations in the second half of the 1870s.