Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume 2 / Their History and Construction Including a Consideration of their Value as Aids in the Study of Geography and Astronomy

by Edward Luther Stevenson

Fig. 96. Section of Jodocus Hondius World Map, 1611.

This representation is of particular interest in connection with a grant to the London Company, as expressed in its charter of the year 1609 wherein the jurisdiction of the company is defined as extending “In that part of America called Virginia, from the point of land called Cape or Point Comfort, all along the sea coast, to the northward two hundred miles, and from the said point of Cape Comfort, all along the sea coast to the southward, two hundred miles, and all that space and circuit of land, lying from the sea coast of the precinct aforesaid up into the land, throughout from sea to sea, west and northwest.”[44] It is of further interest to note that on this globe of Blaeu there appears for the first time on a dated map the representation of Manhattan as an island.

The Osservatorio Astronomico, located near Florence, possesses a fine pair of Blaeu’s large globes, the terrestrial being signed, at the conclusion of the address to the reader, “Guiljelmus Blaeu” instead of “Guiljelmus Caesius,” as on The Hispanic Society’s copy, although as on this copy the signature “Guiljelmus Caesius anno 1622” appears on the celestial globe. The dedications of these Florentine examples read, “Serenissimo Potentissimoque Principi Ferdinando Secondo Magno Etruriae Duci, Domino Suo Clementissimo. Suos hosce Coelestem et Orbis Terrarum Globos accuratius pleniusque quam hanctenus descriptos editosque L. M. D. C. Q. Humillimus Cliens Guilielmus Blaeuw.” “To the Most Serene, Most Powerful Prince Ferdinand II, Prince of Etruria, his Most Clement Lord, these globes, both celestial and terrestrial, more carefully and more accurately depicted and edited than has been done previously, Willem Blaeu His Most humble client dedicates and consecrates.” It may here be noted that Ferdinand II was of the house of Medici and that he came to the throne in the year 1621.

A pair of Blaeu’s globes of 1622, signed “Guiljelmus Caesius,” belongs to the Biblioteca Comunale of Palermo, reported to be without mountings and otherwise in bad condition. Most of the terrestrial globe map is missing but there remains enough of each to determine their original likeness to the preceding pair.

In the archaeological section of the Biblioteca Gambalunghiana of Rimini there may be found a well-preserved pair, each dated 1622.

A terrestrial globe dated 1622, and a celestial clearly intended as its companion but dated 1616 and signed “Guilielmus Janssonius,” belong to the Biblioteca Barbarini of Rome. If correctly dated it is evident that Blaeu completed his work on this globe of large size in the same year that he completed his work on the smallest of all his globes, to which attention has been called above. These examples are in a fair state of preservation, having each a base consisting of a single column supported on the backs of two satyrs who are seated with hands upraised.

A pair of these globes of 1622 may be found in the Museo Civico of Venice with dedication differing from those which have been previously noted. On these globes we read, “Serenissimo Potentissimo Gustavo II ejus nomine Suedorum Gothorum, Vandalorum Regi et Principi hereditario, Magno Duci Finlandiae, Estmanniae, Westmanniaeque Domino Suo Clementissimo, Suos hosce coelestem et Ordis Terrarum Globos accuratius pleniusque quam hactenus descriptos L. M. D. C. Q. Humillimus Cliens Guiljelmus Caesius.” “To the Most Serene and Most Powerful Gustavus II, King and Hereditary Prince of the Swedes, Goths, and Vandals, the Mighty Ruler of Finland, Eastmania and Westmania, his Most Clement Lord, these his celestial and terrestrial globes more accurately and fully depicted and edited than previously, Willem Caesius, his humble client dedicates and consecrates.”

A copy of the 1622 celestial globe, signed “Guilielmus Caesius,” belongs to the Stadtbibliothek of Nürnberg, and a copy of the same, dedicated to Gustavus II of Sweden, is in the possession of Reichsgraf Hans von Oppersdorf in Oberglogau.

Eleven additional pairs of Blaeu’s globes, reprints, and reissues, not all agreeing in details, but alike in their main features, have been located. These belong to the years 1622-1640, having only an occasional record or date in legend to indicate, though indefinitely, the year of construction. A very brief reference to these editions here follows.

A pair may be found in the Osservatorio Astronomico of Bologna, somewhat damaged by neglect and careless handling. It seems probable, though the records are imperfect, that these are the globes referred to in an old catalogue of the Specola Library, and that they have been in the observatory since its founding in the year 1724.[45]