- Subject
- Print Collection
- Item type
- Object
- Makers
- Benjamin Martin
- Primary inscriptions
- "Published May 16th 1757 according to Act of Parliament & Sold by Mr Martin at his Shop in Fleet Street London. Price 1s 6d"
- Physical material
- Paper
- Object type
- Dimensions
- Height: 412mm Width: 512mm
- Inventory No
- 11827
Description
Published by Benjamin Martin in 1757, this print of the paths of all the 17 transits expected from the year 918 to 2117 was based on Edmond Halley’s astronomical tables. Unfortunately one of Halley’s assumptions about the orbit of Venus was incorrect. At the time of the transits in 1761 and 1769 it would have been clear to owners that Martin’s projected paths were misplaced. There are also resulting errors in the dates: most noticeably, there was no transit in 1996.
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Print (Engraving) of Benjamin Martin, by R. Page, London, 1815Inventory Number 50513
Print (Broadside, Framed) Description and Use of an Opake Solar Microscope, Invented by Benjamin Martin 1770Inventory Number 39966