Le Pere Ignace-Gaston Pardies was a Jesuit philosopher, scientist, and mathematician. Pardies was born in France on the northern edge of the Pyrenees, and published numerous works during his lifetime on topics such as sundials, the undulatory theory of light, and even a refutation on Galileo's theory. Pardies' celestial atlas was first published one year after his death in 1674, with a second edition in 1693. The atlas comprised of six charts engraved by G. Vallet. Pardies was influenced by Bayer and Blaeu in his depictions of the constellations, which are shown as figures according to classical mythology and the zodiac as derived from Hevelius. Of particular interest on the charts is the depiction of the paths of historically important comets, which may have been influenced by Stanislaw Lubieniecki's important work on comets. Pardies' charts served as the basis for numerous others for more than a century, including Jonas Moore, Doppelmayer, and even the SDUK.

This large chart depicts the sky on a gnomonic projection with a geocentric orientation centered on the winter solstice. The constellations include Hercules, Aquila, Serpentarius, and Sagittarius. Several comets are traced following a pattern established by Pardies, including one viewed by Kepler in 1607, which later came to be known as Halley's comet. The chart is flanked by a column of Latin text at left with a French translation at right. Measures 30.0 x 20.5" with the text.

References: Kanas (2nd Edition) #6.2.3.3; Shirley (BL Atlases) C.PARD-1a #5; Warner, pp. 196-98.

Condition: B

On watermarked paper with toning, some small stains, two tiny worm holes in blank areas of image, and small chips and tears in blank margins not affecting image.