Mr. William R. Hearst of New York possesses an exceedingly fine manuscript celestial globe which circumstances have not left it possible to identify. He has courteously furnished the photograph from which it is here shown in illustration (Fig. [106]). Once belonging to Mr. Stanford White, it probably was purchased in Italy, passing in the year 1907 into the hands of Mr. Hearst. In the sales catalogue of The American Art Society it is referred to as a globe of the sixteenth century. There, however, is reason for assigning it to the latter part of the seventeenth century, as there is reason for attributing it to the Abbot Silvester Amantius Moroncelli. If the authorship is correctly attributed it may be counted one of great value. The figures of the several constellations are well colored. The mounting is of wrought iron, with gilt ornaments. The globe itself has a diameter of about 90 cm., while its entire height, including the tripod base, is about 200 cm.
Fig. 106. Manuscript Celestial Globe (Moroncelli?), Late Seventeenth Century.
Roger Palmer (Fig. [107]), Count of Castlemaine (1634-1705),[81] published, in the year 1679, a work bearing the title ‘The English globe being a stabil and immobil one, performing what the ordinary globes do, and much more.’ In this he described a globe of his own invention, having a diameter of about one foot. It does not appear that the Earl especially distinguished himself in matters either geographical or astronomical. As a diversion from his other interests which claimed his attention, he appears to have turned to the construction of a globe for which he claimed an especial superiority over all others, primarily on account of its simplicity. He set forth in his descriptive text more than twenty of its superior features, and it is interesting to note that Moxon thought well enough of the work to reissue it in the year 1696.[82] (Fig. [108].)
Fig. 107.
