A spectacular celestial chart from the most decorative star atlas ever made. It depicts the globe centered on the East Indies and encircled by a zodiacal band, the horizon and smaller bands representing the equator, tropics, etc. California is shown as an island, and the south pole is covered by a huge southern continent. The surrounding cosmos is filled with billowing clouds and a host of putti, wind heads and celestial maidens (likely Urania and Diana) with various navigational instruments.

Andreas Cellarius ( 1596-1665) was the Rector of the Latin College in Hoorn, Northern Holland. The Harmonia Macrocosmica was published as Volume XI of Jansson's Atlas Major sive Cosmographia in 1658, 1661, 1666. Schenck and Valk published editions of the maps after 1700. This piece is from the earlier editions.

References: McLaughlin, Celestial #3.

Condition: A+

Exquisite in every way with superb color, highlighted in gold.