Accession No

6507

Brief Description

‘Philips’ Patent Revolving Orrery’ and ‘Philips’ Planisphere’, by George Philip and Son, English / German, 1900 (c)

Origin

Germany [manufactured]; and England; London or Liverpool [published]

Maker

George Philip and Son [publisher] Parvin, John George [inventor] German maker of orrery unknown

Class

astronomy; demonstration

Earliest Date

1875

Latest Date

1925

Inscription Date

Material

paper (paper; card); leather; metal (brass)

Dimensions

[6507.1:] 265mm wide x 260mm tall x 28mm deep [6507.2:] 260mm wide x 260mm tall x 8mm deep

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Christie’s South Kensington, 85 Old Brompton Road, London, SW7 3LD. Lot 92, Christie’s Sale 4826, Travel, Science and Natural History, 25 April 2012.

Inscription

[6507.1, front (selected):] “PHILIPS' PATENT ORRERY FOR FINDING THE POSITION OF THE VARIOUS PLANETS FOR EVERY HOUR IN THE YEAR”
[6507.1, back (selected):] “PHILIPS’ PATENT REVOLVING ORRERY ... INVENTED AND PATENTED BY J. G. PARVIN ... GEORGE PHILIP & SON Ltd., GEOGRAPHICAL PUBLISHERS, 32, FLEET STREET, LONDON. Liverpool: 45 to 51, South Castle Street. (Made in Germany.)”
[6507.2, front (selected):] “PHILIPS’ PLANISPHERE SHOWING THE PRINCIPAL STARS VISIBLE FOR EVERY HOUR IN THE YEAR.”
[6507.2, back (selected):] “EXPLANATION ... GEORGE PHILIP & SON Ltd., GEOGRAPHICAL PUBLISHERS, 32, FLEET STREET, LONDON. Liverpool: Caxton Buildings, South John Street, and 45 to 51 South Castle Street.”

Description Notes

Flat card and leather ‘Philips’ Patent Revolving Orrery’ and ‘Philips’ Planisphere’, by George Philip and Son, England / Germany, c. 1900.

6507.1: A flat dial of card, leather and brass, entitled “PHILIPS' PATENT ORRERY FOR FINDING THE POSITION OF THE VARIOUS PLANETS FOR EVERY HOUR IN THE YEAR”. Circular piece of card with printed paper face, enclosed within a square holder of card and leather. Card circle has a celestial chart at centre, showing the twelve constellations that lay around the ecliptic, and printed calendrical information relating to these constelations printed around its edge. Card circle rotates within holder, around a central brass pin. Attached to top of pin in front of card and holder are two brass pointers, held in place by a brass thumb-screw, which can be loosened to allow pointers to rotate. Pointers are graduated with a scale, and one is marked “PLANET”, the other “SUN”. Both pointers have a slit running down their length, and the “SUN” pointer contains a movable brass screw/slider within its slit. The leather face of the square holder is embossed with title and 24 equally distributed hour indicators around its edge. The back of the square holder is covered with a printed paper instruction sheet, giving title, patent and manufacture details, explanations of relevant astronomical terms, and detailed instructions for use.

6507.2: A flat planisphere dial of card, leather and brass, entitled “PHILIPS’ PLANISPHERE SHOWING THE PRINCIPAL STARS VISIBLE FOR EVERY HOUR IN THE YEAR”. Circular piece of card with printed paper face, enclosed within a square holder of card and leather. Card circle has a celestial chart at centre, showing major constellations for northern half of celestial sphere, and printed calendrical information relating to these constellations printed around its edge. Card circle rotates within holder, around a central brass pin. The leather face of the square holder is embossed with title and 24 equally distributed hour indicators around its edge. The back of the square holder is covered with a printed paper instruction sheet, giving title, manufacture details, and detailed instructions for use.

References

Events