- Title: Revolution Annuelle De La Terre Autour Du Soleil
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Author: J. Andriveau-Goujon
- Date: 1842
- Condition: Excellent - Even, overall age toning with a clean, sharply defined centerfold
- Inches: 23 1/4 x 18 3/8 [Image]
- Centimeters: 59.05 x 46.67 [Image]
- Product ID: 308629
A striking mid-19th century celestial plate, this chart illustrates in meticulous detail the twelve-monthly positions of the Earth as it completes its annual revolution around the Sun, clearly showing how the angle and distribution of sunlight change throughout the year, and it is further enriched by two subsidiary diagrams that clarify specific aspects of this orbital geometry.
Beyond its scientific content, the sheet functions as a highly decorative wall piece, its refined engraving and subtle hand color lending it a strong visual presence that is distinctive within nineteenth-century cosmographic publishing. The design is unique to this atlas, and among his contemporaries Andriveau-Goujon stands out as virtually alone in incorporating such an ambitious and beautifully executed suite of celestial plates into a general geographic atlas.
Background on Creator
J. Andriveau-Goujon (1832-1897) was a prominent Parisian mapmaker and publisher active throughout the 19th century, known for producing numerous maps and atlases that often-featured collaboration with leading French cartographers such as Brue and Levasseur. The publishing house, originally formed when Eugène Andriveau married the daughter of Jean Goujon, became renowned for its high-quality publications under the Andriveau-Goujon name, which was used by multiple generations of the family. The firm's offerings were highly regarded until its stock was acquired by M. Barrère in 1892.