Bayer - Constellation or Star Chart of Ursa Major (Big Bear)

Bayer - Constellation or Star Chart of Ursa Major (Big Bear)
Perhaps the most influential book in celestial maps, Johann Bayer's Uranometria set long-lasting standards in the world of astronomy. Most importantly, this was not just a book of pictures of the skies, but a map of them, an atlas. The engravings for the work were completed by Alexander Mair. This engraving is from the second edition, published in Ulm in 1639.

Bayer included a carefully engraved grid so that the maps could be read and followed to a fraction of a degree. Also, Bayer was the first to us Greek letters to designate stars, commonly in order of magnitude. From that, he named the stars using the Greek letter he had given it coupled with the constellation name, i.e. alpha Tauri.

Bayer's work opened a new age in the history of celestial cartography. It was also the first work to represent the stars around the South Pole. The work represented the stars and their positions as presented in Tycho Brahe's catalogue. Bayer also included a plate depicting 12 new southern constellations discovered by Dutch navigators, Peter Dirckszoon de Keyser and Frederick De Houtmann.


Paper Size: ~ 16 3/4" by 12 1/4" (Fold Out)


Paper Type or Special Features: Engraving with Professional Hand-coloring in Gouache and Watercolor and Stars in Gold

The work is in very good condition overall. The paper has been archivally reinforced with period paper. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint fox marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.