18TH CENTURY CELESTIAL CHART

"Systema Solare Et Planetarium" circa 1720 hand-coloured celestial chart using calculations appearing in Dutch astronomer and mathematician Christiaan Huygens' 1698 "Cosmotheros", produced by cartographer Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr (1677-1750); the sun is set in centre with planets orbiting around it, showing Jupiter and Saturn with the largest orbits; an interesting point is on the lower left showing a diagram of a solar eclipse with parts of the known world at the time, and depicting California as an island; sight 49.5 x 59.1cm (19 1/2 x 23 1/4in); overall good condition, some foxing and wear commensurate with age