The astronomical rotula : shewing the change and age of the moon, the motions of the sun moon and nodes, with the solar and lunar eclipses / J. Ferguson inv. et delin. ; J. Mynde sculp.

Format:

3D object

Author/Creator:

Ferguson, James, 1710-1776, designer.

Contributor:

Mynde, James, 1702-1771, engraver.

Jonathan A. Hill Endowed Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Astronomical instruments--Specimens--Early works to 1800.

Astronomical instruments.

Genre:

Astronomical instruments.

Mechanical works.

Volvelles.

Penn Provenance:

Kislak Center copy purchased for the Penn Libraries in 2022 at auction from Bonhams (London, 22-23 June 2022 sale, lot 10).

Physical Description:

1 item ; engravings ; sheet 320 x 320 mm

Place of Publication:

[London?], [approximately 1752?]

Summary:

Astronomical instrument designed by James Ferguson to show the motions and positions of the sun and moon, the dates of the moon’s "nodes" (i.e. when its path crosses the ecliptic), and the dates of solar and lunar eclipses, consisting of "5 sheets engraved by J. Mynde after Ferguson, comprising 4 volvelles over a circular scale"--Bookseller's description.

Notes:

Title and statement of responsibilty from innermost volvelle.

Imprint place conjectured from location of engraver's workshop; imprint date from earliest date shown on innermost volvelle.

James Ferguson conceived the astronomical rotula in 1739; its first edition was engraved by Richard Cooper of Edinburgh in 1741. See Life of James Ferguson, F.R.S. (Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & Co., 1867), pages 38ff. "The rotula eventually went through several impressions until the year 1752, when the reform of the calendar made it useless. He later produced a new edition of the rotula in 1760 which had no provision for showing the moon’s nodes and could therefore not be used for predicting eclipses."--P. Rothman, "'By the light of his own mind,'" Notes and records of the Royal Society of London 54 (2000), page 38.

Diameter of circular scale: 310 mm (plate mark 320 mm). Diameter of volvelles (outermost to innermost): 276 mm, 182 mm, 177 mm, 158 mm. The three innermost volvelles each has a protruding tab with caption (outermost to innermost): "ASCENDING NODE", "Sun's Place", "Moon's Place".

Local Notes:

Kislak Center copy acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Jonathan A. Hill Endowed Fund.

Kislak Center copy: "working with central thread intact, cut square to size of scale sheet (just within plate mark on sides, not touching printed area), slightly frayed at margins."--Bookseller's description.

OCLC:

1415809046