Article

Variations Within The Fortin-Flamsteed Atlas of 1776: Taurus Poniatowski

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Abstract

It is usually assumed that all copies of an edition of a star atlas are identical. This paper discusses variations within the Fortin-Flamsteed star atlas of 1776, in particular the alterations made to map 10, where the introduction of Taurus Poniatowski is the most apparent change. These alterations to the printing plates, together with various advertisements by the publishers and reviews in contemporary journals, enable a chronology of the introduction of a new constellation to be established.

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In 1776, a remarkable celestial atlas was published in Paris with the title Atlas céleste de Flamstéed, whose author is given as “J. Fortin”. Until now, it was very often assumed that the author was the instrument maker Jean Nicolas Fortin (1750–1831). We show on the basis of his death certificate and several other indications that the author was the globe maker Jean Baptiste Fortin (1740–1817). We also provide brief biographies of both individuals, an annotated bibliography on their lives and works, and references to archival materials. - For a rough English translation, see "Linked data" or https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366985534.
Chapter
The Golden Age of celestial cartography with constellation images took place in Europe, roughly from 1600 to 1800. During this period, grand sky atlases were produced that attempted to accurately place the stars and planets in the heavens in coordinate systems that paralleled those on Earth. These were influenced by increasingly more accurate placement in new star catalogs that built on that of Ptolemy. Using bigger and better instruments, Tycho Brahe and Johannes Hevelius determined the locations of the stars using naked eye observations. Exemplified by Astronomer Royal John Flamsteed, telescopes and micrometers were added to these instruments, which made their positioning even more accurate. In addition, the rapid advances in printing techniques since the development of movable type procedures in the 1450s led to the ability to depict images with more detail and accuracy. Paralleling developments in terrestrial mapmaking, the use of coarse woodblocks gave way to intaglio processes in celestial maps that allowed fine images on copper and steel plates to be reproduced as fine images on paper. Now, maps of the heavens could be both aesthetically pleasing and technically accurate, and mapmakers increasingly competed with each other to produce bigger and better star atlases. Some of these are truly works of art and will be described in Chapter 7. In this chapter, I will deal with four individuals who are considered to be the most influential during this period for the standards they set and their influence on others. But first, a word about the conventions that will be used.
Chapter
Previously, we considered the indigenous constellation systems that developed in China, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and India. Here, we will trace the development of European constellations, which form the basis of the star maps that will be discussed in subsequent chapters. Like many other things astronomical, we will begin with the ancient Greeks, whose classical 48 constellations greatly influenced star map development and form the core of the system we use today.
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