17th century celestial chart of the Earth in Ptolemy's Universe

CELLARIUS, Andreas.

Scenographia systematis mundani Ptolemaici.
Amsterdam, Schenk & Valk, 1708. Original colour with additions, including gold highlights. 440 x 515mm.

A few small repairs to verdigris weaknesses.

A beautiful celestial chart showing Ptolemy's theory of the Universe. At the centre is the Earth, showing its eastern hemisphere, being circles by the sun and planets, with the Zodiac on an outer ring. The borders contain the title on banners held up by putti and angels, with astronomers, including Ptolemy surrounded by globes, cross-staffs and other navigational instruments.
This chart was published in the 'Atlas Coelestis; seu Harmonia Macrocosmica', the only celestial atlas to be produced in the Netherlands before the nineteenth century. It was a compilation of maps of the Ptolemaic universe and the more modern theories of Copernicus and Brahe, and remains the finest and most highly decorative celestial atlas ever produced.
It was originally published by Jan Jansson in 1660: this chart comes from Schenk & Valk's reissue.

KOEMAN: Cel 3.
Stock ID : 22113