Finely constructed map of the Celestial heavens, published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.
The map shows an array of constellations, including complete or nearly complete images of Ursa Major, Cassiopea, Persius, Lynx, Camelopardus, Hydra, Cepheus, Cygnus and Lacerta. Each star that comprises the constellations is marked with a symbol showing the relative size of the star.
Ursa Major, or the Great Bear, is a detailed figure of a bear, positioned as if it were eternally chasing its prey across the star-filled sky.
Cassiopeia, a constellation named after the vain queen in Greek mythology, is presented with a regal bearing. Perseus, the hero who beheaded Medusa, is rendered near Cassiopeia, armed and vigilant, ready for battle against the unseen cosmic creatures.
Near Perseus, the lesser-known constellations of Lynx and Camelopardus, the celestial feline and the giraffe, have been depicted with a whimsical touch. Hydra, the largest of all the constellations, slithers its way across a significant section of the map. This celestial water serpent has been depicted in its full sinuous majesty, its stars forming a beautiful sequence across the parchment.
Cepheus, the King, stands firm, near his queen, Cassiopeia. Its stars are as clearly marked as the crown that adorns the king's head in the illustration. Not far from Cepheus is Cygnus, the celestial swan, shown in full flight across the starry sky, its wings spread wide in a beautiful arc of stars.
Lastly, the constellation Lacerta, often overlooked due to its smaller size, occupies a small section of the map. Portrayed as a tiny lizard, it serves as a reminder of the diversity of constellations and the richness of the stories they represent.