Jamieson’s Celestial Atlas First Edition

JAMIESON’S CELESTIAL ATLAS, 1822, WITH 30 HAND-COLORED ENGRAVINGS OF THE CONSTELLATIONS “THE SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC ARE INCLUDED”

JAMIESON, Alexander.

A Celestial Atlas, Comprising a Systematic Display of the Heavens.


London: G. & W.B. Whittaker, T. Cadell and N. Hailes, 1822.
Oblong quarto, modern period-style half grey paper, spine label original mounted cover label.early grey paper boards rebacked and recornered in modern brown calf.

29 cm x 38 cm

First edition of this celestial atlas, with 30 engraved plates by Neele & Son of constellations (all but two with fine original hand-coloring).

After Johann Elert Bode’s 1801 Uranometria, Jamieson’s unique star atlas combines the latest contemporary scientific knowledge with outstanding artistic craftsmanship. “The subtle hand-colored engravings… marked a transition from a celestial map style that included elaborate renderings of mythological figures to a less artistic and more scientific approach. The forms of the constellation zodiacs that had begun in ancient Greece were minimized or phased out over time in favor of more accurately detailed illustrations” (Bibliodyssey). Yet Jamieson does include the ancient stories of the origins of the constellations, “for [he] thinks it barbarous to rob Nature of that bewitching imagery with which the poets have embellished her,” and Plates XIII-XXIII delineate the signs of the Zodiac.

Preface dated “Feb. 1, 1822” and original cover label Jameson's Celestial Atlas “Coloured 2L/12M/6D, Half Bd.”

A nearly fine copy.

http://www.ianridpath.com/atlases/jamieson.html