Burritt's Atlas Designed to Illustrate the Geography of the Heavens was conceived as an inexpensive, pictorial representation of the night sky. His book, based on English sources, brought European celestial cartography to the United States. This lot contains two of the four charts centered on the location of the sun during the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. They cover the sky from 50° North Declination to 50° South Declination and portray the stars that are visible to the naked eye. The maps include a scale indicating the size of stars between one and six as well as clusters and nebula.

Plate II This chart depicts the night sky during the months of January, February and March, around the time of the vernal equinox. The chart features the constellations of Orion, Gemini, Taurus, Cancer, and Perseus. Beside the stars and constellations, the Milky Way is prominently shown. Condition: Holes within map, small tear extending just into the neat line on left margin, and lower left corner missing. Also some foxing. (C)

Plate III This chart depicts the night sky during the months of October, November and December, around the time of the winter solstice. The chart features the constellations of Aries, Cetus, Capricornus, and Aquarius. Condition: Some toning and foxing with a tear entering border at right. (B)

References: Kanas, p. 277-279

Condition:

See description.