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John Senex

Atlas Coelestis, or charts of the Heavens. Nonce collection of 10 celestial charts by Thomas Wright, John Senex, and Joseph Harris, London 1700-1768

La Library of Princeton University conserva nei suoi fondi una copia rarissima e non ancora digitalizzata di una raccolta di carte astronomiche che gli eredi di John Senex avrebbero pubblicato a Londra nel 1768. Ho usato il condizionale perché non si è proprio sicuri che queste carte componessero effettivamente un atlante. E’ sicuramente più plausibile che con il termine Atlas Coelestis gli autori intendessero nominare un elenco o catalogo di carte ristampate, da vendere anche singolarmente, che riproponeva tutte quelle redatte ed incise da J. Senex durante la sua lunga carriera.

Ringrazio Noah Goldrach della Daniel Crouch Rare Books, London-New York di avermi segnalato l’ importante fonte e ricordo che attualmente questa libreria antiquaria sta proponendo in vendita alcune delle mappe componenti l’Atlas Coelestis di Senex:

http://www.crouchrarebooks.com/atlases/view/senex-is-so-much-a-tool-of-dr.-halleys-and-affronted-mr.-flamsteed-so-much-

https://www.crouchrarebooks.com/atlases/senex-is-so-much-a-tool-of-dr.-halleys-and-affronted-mr.-flamsteed-so-much-in-his-lifetime

Di seguito ripropongo invece la scheda con la quale la Library of Princeton University presenta l’opera in suo possesso:

https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/3942505

Nonce collection of 10 celestial charts by Thomas Wright, John Senex, and Joseph Harris

Description:

1 v. (10 plates) : ill. 62 cm. in portfolio.

Notes:

In 1768, John Bowles advertised eight of the following charts available "whole ... together in a half binding, price 1l. 7s." under the title: Atlas Coelestis, or, Charts of the Heavens. See: D. J. Warner, Sky Explored (New York, 1979), p. 244.

Contents:

1. Wright, Thomas. The Universal Vicissitude of Seasons and the Libration of Light. London: Carington Bowles and Robert Sayre [c. 1750];

2. A Scheme of the Solar System with the Orbits of the Planets and Comets Belonging Thereto Described from Dr. Halley's Accurate Table of Comets, Philosoph. Transact no. 297, Founded on Sr. Isaac Newton's Wonderful Discoveries by Wm. Whiston MA. London: John Bowles, Robert Sayer, Carington Bowles [c. 1720-1725];

3. The Southern Hemisphere Projected on the Plane of the Ecliptic. London: Thomas Bowles, John Bowles and Son, Robert Sayer [c. 1746];

4. The Planisphere on which the Stars visable in the latitude of 51° 30'N. are laid down . ... for the year 1740 ... by the late John Senex. London: John Bowles, Carington Bowles, Robert Sayer, 1746;

5. e

6. Zodiacus Stellatus, fixas omnes hactenus cognitas, ad quas Lunae appulsus ullibi Terrarum Telescopio observari potuerunt, complexus: a I. Senex. London: John Bowles, Carington Bowles, Robert Sayer, [c. 1746];

7. Stellarum fixarum Hemisphaerium Boreale in quo omnes stellae in catalogo Britannico descriptae in plano Eclipticae, eo situ quem anno 1690 habuerunt delineantur. ... The Northern Hemisphere Projected on the Plane of the Ecliptic. London: John Senex, [c. 1721];

8. Harris, Joseph. Stellarum fixarum Hemisphaerium Australe. The Southern Hemisphere Projected on the Plane of the Aequator in which all the Stars contain'd in the Britannick Catalogue and those Observ'd by Sr. Edm. Halley at the Isl. of St. Helena are carefully layd down for the Year 1690 by Joseph Harris. London: Thomas Bowles, John Bowles, Robert Sayre, [c. 17--];

9. Stellarum fixarum hemisphaerium Australe, in plano Eclipticae depictum, omnes catalagi Britannici stellas exhibens, una cum iis quas Cl. Halleius in insula Stae. Helenae observavit, eo situ. London: John Bowles, Carington Bowles, Robert Sayre, [c. 17--];

10. Harris, Joseph. Stellarum fixarum Hemisphaerium Boreale. The Northern Hemisphere Projected on the Plane of the Aequator in which all the Stars contain'd in the Britannick Catalogue and those Observ'd by Sr. Edm. Halley at the Isl. of St. Helena are carefully layd down for the Year 1690 by Joseph Harris. [London: John Senex, c. 17--].

J. Senex è anche l'autore di:

Philosophical Transactions, I. Senex

Observationes Quaedam Accurate Insignis Cometae Sub Finem Anni 1680 Visi, Coburgi Saxoniae A Domino Gottfried Kirch Habitae; Decimo Tertio Die Antequam A Quoquam Alio Observatus Sit, Londra 1714

Kirch Philosofhical 1714.pdf