EARLY 19TH CENTURY FRENCH ARMILLARY SPHERE

A 17 1/2 inch diameter wooden and engraved paper armillary sphere, ecliptic ring with months and signs of the zodiac, horizon ring with months, signs of the zodiac, and directions, solsticial colure labeled "Colure des Solstices et Étoiles Fixes", equinoctial colure labeled "Colure des Équinoxes et Étoiles Fixes." Central gilt sun, surrounded by 9 discs rotating on brass arms, representing different planets or astronomical bodies, each printed with an image of the object and accompanying text: the asteroid Pallas (discovered by Olbers in 1802); the asteroid Juno (discovered by Harding in 1804); Saturn; the comet Herschel; Jupiter; Mars; the dwarf planet Ceres (discovered by Piazzi in 1801); Mercury; and Venus; plus, terrestrial globe with meridian ring, and orbited by lunar disc on brass arm, together orbiting the sun with a pulley system, 3/4 ring surrounding the sun representing the orbit of the earth. The whole on ebonized wood stand with 5 turned legs. Housed in the original wooden case (25 x 19 1/2 x 19 1/2 inches).

A wonderful, early 19th century French armillary sphere, ca 1804-1805 as the latest discovery included dates to 1804.