Catalog Archive
Auction 98, Lot 48
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"Systema Mundi Aegyptiacum", Thomas, Corbinianus

Subject: Celestial

Period: 1730-31 (published)

Publication: Mercurii philosophici firmamentum firmianum

Color: Hand Color

Size:
5 x 4.5 inches
12.7 x 11.4 cm
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Little is known about Corbinianus Thomas, a Benedictine monk at Salzburg, but his Firmamentum is one of the unsung treasures of celestial cartography. It contained 54 small charts of individual constellations. Thomas used an interesting nomenclature system: Bayer Greek letter, Roman numeral for magnitude, and Arabic numeral for reference to a star catalog. This system originated on the large globes of Coronelli, as did many of Thomas's figures.

Unusual miniature chart of the Egyptian solar and celestial system.

References: Warner, p. 251.

Condition: B

Light stain in lower right.

Estimate: $200 - $240

Sold for: $230

Closed on 3/6/2002

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