Between the constellations “Cetus” and “Phoenix” on the celestial globe is a cartouch which appears to have been pasted over an older title, reading, “Uranographia Syderum et Stelarum in Singulis Syderibus conspicuarum, exhibens Delineatonem accuratissimam qua ex observationibus Astronomi plane Singularis Johannis Hevelii usque ad finem anni MDCC emendata est. Nova praeterea methodo additus est ex mente Lotharii Zumbach M.D. et Mathem. Cearis Horizon ad Meridianum Amstelaedamensem accurate per annos plures quam ducentos Lunae Syzygias indicans praeter annos communes et bissextiles. Opera et Studio Gerhardi et Leonhardi Valk Amstelaedamensium 17[50].” “Uranography of the constellations and of the single stars, exhibiting an accurate delineation (of the same) corrected from the observations of the renowned astronomer Johannes Hevelius, and conformed to the year 1700. Besides a new method is added, the invention of Lothar Zumbach, M. D., and a renowned mathematician, accurately exhibiting the horizon on the meridian of Amsterdam for more than 200 years, also the changes of the moon in addition to the common years and leap years. By the learning and the labor of Gerhard and Leonhard Valk, citizens of Amsterdam, 1750.”
Near the constellation Argo appears the dedication to the Burgomaster of Amsterdam and President of the East India Company, Johannes Trip J. U. D. (1664-1732). In this there is, of course, conclusive evidence that the globe must have been made before the year 1732. The dedication reads, “Viro amplissima dignitate ac meritorum Splendore, conspicuo Johanni Trip J. U. D. Reipublicae Amstelaedamensis Consuli Gravissimo, Societatis Indiae Orientalis Moderatori integerrimo Toparchae in Berkenroden iustissimo & hanc Universi Orbis Terrarum Faciem eâ quâ par est reverentia D. D. D. Gerhardus et Leonhardus Valk.” “To John Tripp J. U. D., Consul of the Amsterdam Republic, President of the East India Company, the upright and honorable magistrate of Berkenrode, a man conspicuous by reason of his great worth and the splendor of his achievements, this globe is dedicated with reverence which is befitting by Gerhard and Leonhard Valk.”
Near the first legend has been pasted the following brief printed statement, “Propter motum, Stellarum fixarum versus ortum post annum 1750 additione 3/4 gr. Correctio Longitudinum ut instituatur monendus Uranophilus.” “Because of the movement of the fixed stars toward the east since the year 1750, the student of astronomy is advised to correct the longitude by the addition of 3/4 of a degree.” The terrestrial globe map, composed of eighteen gores, is filled with interesting geographical details, with geographical names and brief explanatory legends, being a fine example of the superior cartographical work published in that century in the Netherlands. There is something of an exaggeration in the representation by waving line of the several coasts and river courses, all of which appears to have been done for artistic effect rather than for a desire to be strictly accurate. In the New World we find such regional names as “Penn-Sylvania,” the first part of the name being north of Lake Ontario, also “Carolina,” “Virginia,” “Belgia Nova,” “Anglia,” “Scotia Nova.” Many provincial names are given in South America with boundary lines drawn. California is represented as an island, stretching northward to “Fretum Aniani.” To the west of this stretches as far as the northeast coast of Asia, through about seventy-five degrees of longitude with definitely drawn southern coast line but extending indefinitely northward, a continental region bearing the legend “Terra incognita sive terra Esonis.” Loxodromic lines are represented as on the best globes of the period radiating from numerous compass roses located along the meridians 0 degrees, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees. Frobisher’s Strait is strangely duplicated at the southern extremity of Greenland. The title legend of this terrestrial globe, placed in the southern Pacific, reads, “Universi Orbis Terrarum Facies cum industria ac fide Secundum certissimas et novissimas Praestantissimiorum Geographorum Observationes denuo luci exposita; cuique praeterea longitudinis et latitudinis gradus Secundum Uranographiam novam, ac proinde &c. rei veritate sunt inscripti per Gerhardum et Leonhardum Valk, Amstelaedamenses 1750, cum privilegio.” “A representation of the land of the whole earth exhibited with industry and accuracy according to the most reliable and the most recent observations of the most renowned geographers, on which, in addition the degrees of latitude and longitude according to a new method and also in accord with truth, have been inserted by Gerhard and Leonhard Valk. Amsterdam. 1750. With privilege.”
In the second pair of Valk globes belonging to The Hispanic Society of America (Fig. [121]), both terrestrial and celestial have diameters of about 30 cm. The mounting of these globes is practically the same as that in the larger pair. An author and date legend appearing in the Pacific to the west of South America reads: “Cosmotheore. Coelesti nostro Globo, Par et plane Novus. Hic Terrestris Ut existeret: certo facias: Errore Veterum Sublatô, Non tantum Utrisque Orbis Longitudines ac Latitudines, per reiteratas Neotericorum Observationes. Hiccè esse restitutas; Sed et nullum typis Emendatiorum pro diisse, Hoc igitur Novissimô tam diu fruere, Donec, sub Majori forma, Meō aere Alios excudemus. Ger. et Leon. Valk Calcographi Amstelaedami. Revis. Ao 1750 Cum Privilegio.” “Cosmotherium. That this terrestrial globe might equal (be a companion to) our celestial globe and entirely new, be assured that after correcting the errors of those who have preceded us, not only the longitudes and latitudes of each sphere have been corrected by the repeated observations of later astronomers, but likewise no (globe) has appeared more carefully corrected in the printing. This most recent globe therefore make use of until in a larger form at my own expense we Gerhard and Leonhard Valk, engravers shall construct others. Amsterdam. Revised to the year 1750. With privilege.”
Fig. 121. Terrestrial Globe of Gerhard and Leonhard Valk, 1750 (?).
A dedication, such as appears on the first pair referred to, is wanting. There is no particular improvement to be noted in this revision. California is still laid down as an island. The uncertainty as to the outline of “Holandia Nova” is a striking feature, as is the omission of an austral continent. Geographical details are less numerous than in the larger pair, but in the matter of the engraving of the map it exhibits practically the same characteristics.
The celestial globe map has the author and date legend placed near the constellation “Cetus.” It reads, “Uranographia Coelum omne hic Complectens, illa pro ut aucta, et ad annum 1750 Completum MAGNO ab HEVELIO correcta est; ita ejus ex Prototypis, sua noviter haec Ectypa veris Astronomiae cultoribus exhibet et consecrant GER. et LEON. VALK, Amstelaedamenses. Cum Privilegio.” “Star-Map comprising the entire heavens according as it has been corrected to the end of the year 1750 by the Great Hevelius; so from his prototype Gerhard and Leonhard Valk present and dedicate these their own recent copies to the true lovers of astronomy. With privilege.”
Near this legend, now appearing as a part of the original engraving, is that which, in the larger globe referred to above, had been pasted on as a separate slip, reading “Propter motum ... Uranophilus.” Near the constellation “Hydra” is the legend reading “Monitum Novis hisce Sphaeris Novissimus. Ex praescripto Lotharii Zum-Bach Med. Doct. unus, et alter additus Horizon: Quorum Is, qui huic Caelesti singularis, Praeter Communes atque Bissextilem, Ut exactior, Luminarium indigetur Locus ad Meridianum Amstelodamens. Plus quam per Ducentos Annos, Suis Mensium Diebus Appositas Lunae Syzygias, Mediô Tempore Medias, Ingeniosâ Methodō et eruit, et exhibet.” “Notice. To these our spheres, in accord with the directions of Lothar Zum-Bach, Doctor of Medicine, there has been added one very recent, and also a second horizon; of these two the one which belongs to the celestial globe has in addition the common and bissextile years, in order that the location of the stars may the more exactly be discovered; it both works out and exhibits by an ingenious method, according to the meridian of Amsterdam, over a space of more than two hundred years the syzygies of the moon placed opposite their proper days of the month, the middle ones being in the middle time.”