Subject: Solar System
Period: 1860 (published)
Publication: Two Systems of Astronomy
Color: Printed Color
Size:
11 x 7.7 inches
27.9 x 19.6 cm
A great set of charts depicting the solar system, from the view of the Holy Scriptures and the opposing view of Newton. Three of the lot depict the "Newtonian System" with the earth circling the sun. The others depicts the "System According to the Holy Scriptures", or earth-centered solar system. The Muggletonians were a small English religious sect that objected to "modern" science, particularly heliocentric astronomy and Newtonian physics. These charts are authentic Baxter prints, made for the Muggletonians and meant to be circulated only among sect members. They have been stored in Muggletonian archives since 1860 and were only recently discovered. Baxter prints were printed in color by a patented process using oil pigments. The process produced beautiful gradations of color, but proved too expensive for commercial success. These are among the scarcest of known Baxter prints. In addition to the scarcity, they are important documents in the history of the relationship between religion and science.
References:
Condition: A
A bit of minor faint foxing mostly in margins.