Accession No

5796

Brief Description

a collection of astronomical diagrams associated with James Nasmyth, English, 1845 (c)

Origin

England

Maker

Class

astronomy

Earliest Date

1840

Latest Date

1850

Inscription Date

Material

paper

Dimensions

variable

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Sotheby's Auction House, 34-35 New Bond Street, London, W1A 2AA, on 21/09/2000. Lot 58, sale L00556, “Masterpieces of Science and Technology from the 16th to 20th Centuries”.

Inscription

Description Notes

a collection of astronomical diagrams associated with James Nasmyth. English, circa 1845.

There are thirty one diagrams drawn in white on black from series 1 (out of thirty eight diagrams). Series 2 Drawn on White card has 3 diagrams and Series 3, Large Format is 2 diagrams. Some retain their original overlays, though some are detached.

Series 1
1. Solar system showing orbits around the Sun in concentric circles of
i) Mercury
ii) Venus
iii) Earth with the Moon
iv) Mars
v) Ceres )
vi) Palla )
vii) juno )
viii) Vesta )
ix) Jupiter with 4 satellites
x) Saturn with its ring and 7 satellites
xi) Uranus with 6 satellites
xii) Neptune with 1 satellite
2. Planetary distances from the Sun together with a cometary orbit and a diagram of angular displacement.
4. Relative sizes of the planets compared with the Earth. Black silhouettes on a circular white ground with black surround.
5. Phases of Mercury.
6. Phases of Venus.
7. Positions of one of the inferior planets in relation to the Earth and Sun.
8. Earth and Mars or Mercury.
10. The Earth as a clock.
11. Generation of the seasons and the zodiac.
12. Illuminations of the Earth.
13. Moonlight on the Earth's surface.
14. The Moon's phases shown in relation with the Earth.
15. A lunar crater seen from above.
16. Detail of the surface of the moon.
17. The Earth and the Moon within a ring (unfinished).
18. Sunlight on the Earth and the Moon.
19. Moon in the Earth's shadow.
21. Eclipse diagram.
23. Elliptical path and shadows.
24. Asteroids.
25. Stellar planisphere.
26. Comparative dimensions, planets.
27. Sun, Earth, Jupiter.
30. Jupiter & the Earth.
31. Saturn & the Earth.
33. Planetary orbit.
35. Starry sky above a ? terrestial landscape.
36. Nebulae (torm with loss).
37. Comets.
38. Gravity.
Series 2
39. Terrestial hemisphere showing Europe, Africa, Asia & the Indian Ocean.
40. polar projection of the Earth from the North Pole.
41. An unfinished lunar map.
Series 3
42. Outline for the base card of a planisphere.
43. Planetary position in relation tot he Sun and the sphere of the “fixed” stars.

References

Events