|
The Largest & Finest Celestial Globe Gores of the 17th Century On Uncut Sheets Intended for the Construction of a Globe
Celestial Globe Gores.
CORONELLI, Vincenzo/ NOLIN, Jean Baptiste/ DEUVEZ, Arnoldus. [Paris, 1693]
Orbis Coelestis Typus Opus a P. Coronelli Min. Convent. Serenissimaeque Reipub. Venetae Cosmographo Inchoatum Societatis. Gallicae Sumptibus absolutum Lutetiae Parisiorum. Anno R.S. MDCXCIII [1693]... Sculp. I. B. Nolin Reg. Chr. Calcographus.
. 24 globe gores, each printed on a single large folio sheet with deckled edges, housed in two, linen-covered, clamshell boxes with blue morocco labels; sheets with watermarks of a maltese cross encircled by a chain from which is suspended smaller cross; each gore measures 11 inches at base & 25 inches in height; lacking calottes. Manuscript annotations in an early hand, in Italian, indicating placement of gores when mounted on globe; fine condition with firm impression.
A complete set of 24 separately issued gores for the superior Nolin-Deuvez edition of Coronelli's 3 ½ foot-in-diameter celestial globe, the largest and finest celestial globe to its time, larger and more accurate even than the globes of Blaeu and Hondius that preceded it. The quality of the engraving of the constellation symbols here is of the highest order, surpassing even that of its Dutch predecessors mentioned above. In fact, the vitality and beauty of the engraving, most apparent in the supple grace of the human and animal figures, is well beyond what is found in cartographic engraving generally.
The first 3 ½ foot diameter celestial globe of Coronelli was engraved by Nolin in Paris after drawings provided by Coronelli; it was printed in 1688. At the same time, its terrestrial counterpart was engraved and printed in Venice under Coronelli's direction. These globes were produced as a replica of the gigantic, manuscript 15-foot diameter pair of globes, which Coronelli presented to Louis XIV, the King of France, in 1683. In 1693, soon after Coronelli engraved and printed the first Venetian edition of the 3 ½ foot celestial globe, Nolin engraved at Paris a new edition made from entirely re-engraved plates, which is the edition offered here. It is regarded as the finest edition both in terms of the quality of its engraving and its much expanded contents. "The shading of the constellations is denser than in the Venetian edition of 1692-93, and many more names and figures are inscribed." -- Wallis p. x.
Coronelli's 3 ½ foot globes were to be marketed on a subscription basis to members of his Accademia Cosmografica, a group of patrons whom he assembled worldwide. The Accademia is now considered the first geographical society by historians. Subscribers were to pay 15 louis of gold or 11 livres 10 sols to the Secretary of the Venetian Ambassador residing in Paris. As this sum was quite large, arrangements to pay in installments while the globes were being produced was also possible. Nolin, the engraver, was to receive 9 mounted copies of each globe for his labors. The Paris associates of the Accademia Cosmografica, calling themselves the Societa Gallica, provided the money to finance Nolin for this particular edition.
Our particular example of Nolin's celestial globe gores is highly unusual. First, to the best of our knowledge, it is the only seventeenth-century example of Nolin's entirely new edition to have appeared on the market in recent times. Since its sole intended use was to produce globes, and none of its gores were ever published in bound form, its great rarity is understandable. Also noteworthy is that each of the 24 gores is printed on a single large, uncut sheet. This takes on considerable importance when compared to Coronelli's Venetian edition that appears his Libro dei Globi, which was printed on 48 sheets, with each gore "dismembered" into two parts and with each part printed on a separate sheet of paper so as to fit into the format of a book.
The 3 ½ ft. celestial globe that would have been produced by these gores was the largest printed globe Coronelli ever produced. It was the crowning glory of his work in celestial cartography, and arguably the most beautiful work of its kind ever produced. Moreover, it was only by sheer historical accident that this set of celestial gores survived, since they were never intended to circulate in unmounted form. More richly engraved and updated with considerably more textual and figurative detail than either Coronelli's or Nolin's earlier models, these gores made a virtually new globe of the highest order. Extremely rare in any state, they are possibly unique in unmounted sheets as here.
Armao, Ermanno. Vincenzo Coronelli Cenni sull'uomo e la sua Vita Catalogo... Bibliopolis, Florence, 1944. pp.130-134; Coronelli, V. Libro dei Globi. Venice 1694 (1701). Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Series of Facsimiles Atlases, see Bibliographical Note by Helen Wallis, pp. v-xxii. |
