"Astronomy Tab. III" by John Lodge

"Astronomy Tab. III" by John Lodge

C.1780

Engraving

Two highly detailed mechanical globes anchor the upper register of this circa 1780 copperplate engraving titled "Astronomy Tab. III." The print features an organized array of scientific diagrams mapping early modern physics and observational geometry, showcasing a three-dimensional "Celestial Globe" equipped with adjustable rings alongside a multi-ringed "Planetary Globe." The middle and lower registers present clean, linear schemas mapping natural phenomena and orbital mathematics, including labeled geometric figures for "Gravity," "Heat," "Hour," the "Moon," and the respective parallax lines of Venus and the Moon. Master British printmaker John Lodge hand-carved this complex layout into the metal plate, signing his name in the lower right corner as "Lodge sculp." for the London publisher Charles Cooke.

This plate served as a vital visual reference for an late 18th-century British encyclopedic dictionary, designed to bring advanced Newtonian science to a broad public audience. Charles Cooke operated a prolific publishing business on Paternoster Row, earning a massive reputation for pioneering affordable serial education volumes that regular citizens could collect and bind at home. This specific engraving holds considerable historical importance because it bridges the gap between expensive luxury instruments and accessible classroom print culture. By clearly translating complex three-dimensional physical instruments and astronomical calculations into flat, highly readable graphic formulas, the print helped demystify the mechanical universe for the Enlightenment-era public.

Dimensions: H 15 ¾” x 9 ½” W

Condition: In very good condition