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History of Science Museum

Print (Woodcut) John Blagrave's Mathematical Jewel Astrolabe, by John Blagrave, Reading, 1584

Inventory Number 13599


Acknowledgement: © History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, inv.13599

Item type
Object
Primary inscriptions
Margarita Mathematics. Astronomis noblissimum, Geometris iucundissimum, Navigantibus prestantissimum, Cosmographis commodissimum, Philosophis, Medicis, & a iquid sublimè affectantibus gratissimum, Tyronibusq, facillimum. The handle is heere to be set on. Per Joannem Blagravum Readingensem, conditum, editum, & sculptum. 1584. Pen annotation at bottom: The Mathematical Jewel of John Blagrave of Reading, Cut by his own hand - 1584.
Physical material
Paper
Physical medium
Black ink
Hand-Coloured
Physical technique
Woodcut
Object type
Print
Dimensions
Height: 260mm Width: 185mm
Inventory No
13599

Description

Woodcut (two-sided print) depicting front and back of John Blagrave's Mathematical Jewel (Margarita Mathematica) or English universal astrolabe. A form of universal stereographic astrolabe, similar to Ali b. Khalaf's 'lamina universal'. The reverse of the instrument is an orthographic projection of the sphere. Instrument rete is hand-coloured.