Product Description

This collection of celestial maps by Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (c. 1566 - 1665) brings back to life a masterpiece from the Golden Age of celestial cartography. First published in 1660 in the Harmonia Macrocosmica, the complete 29 double-folio maps and dozens of unusual details reproduced here depict the world systems of Claudius Ptolemy, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Tycho Brahe, the motions of the sun, the moon, and the planets, and the delineation of the constellations in various views. "Cellarius' Atlas", superbly embellished with richly decorated borders depicting cherubs, astronomers, and astronomical instruments, features some of the most spectacular illustration in the history of astronomy. This reprint, made from the beautifully hand-colored and complete copy of the first edition in the Library of the Universiteit van Amsterdam, includes a copiously illustrated introduction by Robert van Gent, one of the leading Cellarius experts, summarizing the history of celestial cartography from antiquity to late 17th/early 18th century and illuminating the life and work of Andreas Cellarius. Van Gent also discusses the historical and cultural context and significance of the atlas and provides detailed descriptions of the astronomical and iconographical content of the plates, allowing modern readers to fully appreciate the masterwork of Andreas Cellarius and his publisher, Johannes Janssonius. The book's detailed appendix includes a list of constellation figures with short descriptions of their origin and mythology, a list of star names found on the plates, a glossary of technical words, and a bibliography. Though these beautiful maps have become famous by being depicted on postcards, calendars, portfolios, and even mouse pads, they have rarely been reproduced in book form and never with such comprehensive descriptions and details as this Taschen edition. Cellarius's exquisite renditions of the constellations will excite the astronomer in anyone.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #263112 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-19
• Original language: French, German, English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

About the Author
Robert van Gent is a collaborator on the Explokart Research Program for the History of Cartography at the University of Utrecht's Faculty of Geosciences. After obtaining his PhD in astronomy at the University of Utrecht, he worked from 1989 to 1999 as curator of astronomy at the Museum Boerhaave in Leiden. He has published on the history of astronomy, celestial cartography, and astronomical instruments. Since 2005 he has been working on a carto-bibliography of celestial atlases, planispheres, and related items published in the Low Countries.

Customer Reviews

Absolutely jaw-droppingly astounding!
No, I did not have the money to buy this extremely large and heavy tome, but I did have the opportunity to spend a good 15 minutes browsing through it at a bookshop recently. What can I say, the colours are beautiful, the diagrams are esoteric and exotic, the illustrations are wonderful. Even if you're not a fan of astronomy or astrology, if you are the least bit moved by wonderful art and illustrations, you will be blown away by this magic book. If you can afford it, buy it!

Splendid source texts
That I have the good fortune to actually own a copy of my own is a source of daunting joy: public librerians, take note: this is both a direct source on changing universes of the Baroque & a milestone in the history of craftmanship. A wonder both astronomical & sensual.

Amazing book
This book IS quite expensive and large which is why I've deducted 1 star...but otherwise the book is a wonderful publication - the size is needed to show the details in some of the prints, I just personally find it a little hard to hold as I'm quite small. The quality of reproduction is lovely. This is a book that will be in the family for a few generation! I highly recommend this book if you're interested in very high quality books on Mediaeval astronomy.