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 In the
early 1680’s Vincenzo Coronelli constructed two vast globes
for Louis XIV
of France - one Terrestrial & the other
Celestial – which were over 15ft in diameter. These were
meticulously hand drawn & coloured. Such was the admiration of
the Globes that in 1688 Coronelli began the engraving &
publication
of 12 full length Globe Gores - stretching Pole to
Pole - including 2 Polar Calottes, for the construction of two
110cm (42in) Terrestrial & Celestial globes.
Coronellis claim to have produced the best globes of any age
was exemplified by the high demand and purchase of the Globes
by various institutions & cities within Europe. Yet many
scholars still did not have the opportunity to visit Paris,
London, Rome or Venice to view them and so Coronelli devised
his famous Libero dei Globi the first atlas of globe
gores ever produced.
Published in 1697 the atlas contained
records of all Coronellis globes from the largest 110cm (42in)
to the smallest 5cm (2in). The Gores from the 42in Globes were
re-engraved into 24 sheets by
Coronelli to fit within the
large folio atlas. The Libro formed part of a great
series
of atlases, the Atlante Veneto, and so Coronelli
was able to combine the two cartographic art forms in which he
excelled, maps & globes.
The engraving of the gores was of the highest standard with
neat contrasting lettering and five large cartouches of a
singular grace and elegance. One cartouche situated below Australia
carries a portrait of the author and Pope Alexander
VI.
Some of the more interesting features contained within the Gores are the
recording of recent French explorations in North America, such
as La Salles journey to the mouth of the Mississippi in
1681-87 & the French possessions within North America.
Elsewhere the Caspian Sea is drawn closer to its modern shape,
the Nile in Africa
is shown without its fictitious source and
the Blue Nile is shown correctly from a large lake in
Ethiopia. The tracks of Le Maire crossing of the Pacific in
1616 are marked, as is the voyage of Chaumont to Siam in
1685-6. There are an unusual number of legends, all
explanatory and informative along with many vignettes of ships
and fishing scenes throughout the globe.
24
globe gores, 2 Polar Calottes, Vincenzo Coronelli (1688) - engraved for
the 110cm
or 42 inch globe, engraved in 1688 - date engraved in title
cartouche
- published in the 1697 edition of Libero dei Globi Venice,
1696. (Gore #4 of India from Coronelli Atlas
Isalario, and gore #8 has been trimmed to the
plate-mark (17 1/4in x 11in). All other gores measure 19 1/2in
x 14in (495mm x 355mm). The two Polar Calottes measure 19 3/4in
x 15 3/4in (500mm x 400mm). Condition overall is fine, fold
repair to North Pole Collette, hand written notations on verso
of #8. All blank verso except # 4 text to verso.
These gores are in magnificent condition printed on heavy, fresh and
clean paper. The impression is heavy and plate-marks distinct.
12 of the gores contain the
triple Crescent Moon water-mark as well
as others appropriate for the period. To find an almost
complete set of gores with Calottes is almost impossible. The
top image above show the gores complete, the second image show the
gores matched in position.
This is an extremely scarce, complete, if partially composite, set of
magnificent globe gores, which inspired Shirley to note,
"the engraving and design throughout is of the highest
standard with neat contrasting lettering and five large
cartouches of singular grace and elegance....Coronelli seems
to have sought to omit nothing that might be of interest to geographers, navigators and explorers".
(Ref: Shirley 538;
Tooley; Dr.
Helen Wallis The Map Collector Dec 1980)
General Description:
Paper thickness and
quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color: - white
Age of map color: -
Colors used: -
General color appearance: -
Paper size: - See description above
Margins: - min. 1/4in (5mm)
Imperfections:
Margins: - See above
Plate area: - See above
Verso: - See above
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